Kelly Arnold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research integrates systems engineering principles with immunology to investigate variability in immune responses across infection, vaccination, and injury, with a focus on computational modeling and clinical translation. Research Focus Systems-level immune response modeling Vaccination and antibody functionality Vaginal microbiome-host interactions Chronic lung disease progression Computational serology and proteomics Recent Work Her 2025 studies examine SARS-CoV-2 vaccination responses in cancer patients and computational frameworks for vaginal probiotics. Earlier works (2024-2007) span COPD progression, lupus fibrosis, HIV susceptibility, and tissue engineering for fertility preservation. Methodologies include proteomic profiling, network modeling, and microfluidic systems.
Guoyao Wu is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Nutrition at Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, holding dual appointments in the Department of Animal Science and the Graduate Faculty of Nutrition. His expertise spans nutritional biochemistry, protein metabolism, and reproductive physiology. Dr. Wu earned his B.Sc. from South China Agricultural University, M.Sc. degrees from Beijing Agricultural University and the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, followed by postdoctoral training at McGill University and Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research focuses on amino acid and protein metabolism across molecular, cellular, and whole-animal levels, using models like cattle, pigs, and aquatic species. Key areas include placental nutrient transport, fetal programming, and the role of amino acids in mitigating conditions like sarcopenia and intrauterine growth restriction. He has pioneered studies on glycine, creatine, and citrulline supplementation in livestock and aquaculture. Dr. Wu has received over 15 prestigious awards from China, Canada, and the U.S., including the Thousand-People-Talent Award and Changjiang Scholar Award. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Amino Acids and Frontiers in Bioscience , and teaches graduate courses in protein metabolism. His work bridges basic science and applied nutrition, with implications for improving livestock productivity, human health, and aquaculture sustainability. Current projects address amino acid requirements of companion animals, microgravity effects on metabolism, and placental biology in ruminants.
Margaret Bublitz is Associate Professor at Brown University with joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior , Department of Medicine , and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . She holds secondary appointments at the School of Public Health as Senior Investigator and Behavioral and Social Sciences faculty member. Dr. Bublitz earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology (2010) from the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at Brown Medical School. Her research focuses on: Psychological stress pathways to adverse perinatal outcomes Maternal childhood maltreatment effects on neurobiology Mindfulness interventions for hypertension and preterm birth prevention Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in perinatal mental health , sleep-disordered breathing , HPA axis regulation , and fetal neurodevelopment , with significant collaborations in neuroendocrinology and maternal-infant health disparities . Scientific recognition includes: 2024-2025 Global Fulbright Scholarship 2022 Brown Early Career Research Achievement Award Multiple NIH and foundation grants exceeding $6 million Bublitz leads NIH-funded projects examining mechanisms of mindfulness training (R01HL157288) and serves as mentor in the MORPHE Trial for digital maternal health innovations. She is a licensed psychologist and active member of Brown's Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Institute and Mindfulness Center .
Eric J. Gangloff is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU). His research focuses on understanding how organisms adapt to environmental changes, particularly in reptiles and amphibians, using integrative approaches combining field studies, lab experiments, and molecular techniques. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Dr. Gangloff leads a lab investigating physiological and ecological adaptations in species such as the common wall lizard, garter snakes, and red-backed salamanders. Notably, his work on Ohio’s invasive wall lizards has been funded by the NSF, exploring their evolutionary success in urban environments. Collaborations span institutions worldwide, including France, Canada, and Australia. His recent studies examine how temperature, oxygen availability, and urbanization influence lizard physiology, behavior, and survival. Key themes include thermal biology, ecological traps, and resilience to pollutants like lead. The lab actively involves undergraduate students in field and lab research, emphasizing hands-on learning. Gangloff’s lab website (https://glare-owu.wixsite.com/glare) showcases ongoing projects and publications. His work bridges basic science and applied conservation, addressing global challenges in biodiversity and climate change.
Laura E. Brumariu is a Professor and Associate Dean for Professional Programs and Student Advancement at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University. She holds a Ph.D. from Kent State University and completed postdoctoral research fellowships at Harvard Medical School. Her office is located in the Hy Weinberg Center, and she is licensed as a psychologist in New York State. Education: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School/CHA/MGA (2013) Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Clinical Attributions, Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School (2012) Ph.D., Kent State University (2010) Her research adopts a developmental psychopathology perspective, focusing on how parent-child attachment influences emotional and social development, particularly in middle childhood. She investigates emotion regulation, anxiety, disorganized attachment, role-confusion, and family processes related to borderline personality features and dissociation. She developed the Middle Childhood Attachment Strategies Coding System and leads the Child and Adolescent Research (CARE) Lab. Her recent work emphasizes meta-analytic reviews on emotion socialization, attachment, anxiety, and empathy. Her most recent publications reflect trends in attachment theory, emotion regulation, parenting, and internalizing disorders across development, often using meta-analytic and longitudinal methods. Much of her work integrates international collaboration, especially with Romanian researchers. Scientific Awards and Honors: Clinical Research Training Program, Harvard Medical School, Research Fellow (2010–2012) The Jeanette and Louis Reuter Fellowship in Developmental Sciences, Kent State University (2008–2009) She has mentored numerous doctoral students whose research spans topics such as gratitude, empathy, emotion socialization, and trauma. She teaches courses in psychological research, family therapy, and doctoral thesis supervision. She has secured research funding and collaborates extensively on studies related to child and adolescent mental health, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. Her professional activities include frequent presentations at major psychological conferences such as the Association for Psychological Science and the International Attachment Conference. Labs and Research Teams: She directs the Child and Adolescent Research (CARE) Lab at Adelphi University, which focuses on attachment, emotion regulation, and psychopathology in children and adolescents. The lab conducts both observational and survey-based research and trains graduate students in developmental and clinical methods.
Peter A. Jones is President and Chief Scientific Officer at the Van Andel Institute (VAI) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he leads the Department of Epigenetics. He previously served as Director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center from 1993 to 2011 and has been a central figure in advancing epigenetics research, particularly in cancer. His laboratory investigates DNA methylation, chromatin dynamics, and epigenetic therapies. Research Interests: Dr. Jones's work centers on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, and the therapeutic potential of epigenetic drugs. His research has pioneered the use of DNA methylation inhibitors like 5-azacytidine and explored viral mimicry as a mechanism for immune activation in cancer. He also studies transposable elements and their role in gene regulation and immune response. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2021–2024) reveal a strong focus on the interplay between epigenetics and immunotherapy, particularly how DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) induce viral mimicry, enhance immune recognition, and improve responses to checkpoint blockade. Studies span hematological malignancies, solid tumors, and T cell biology, with frequent collaboration with Stephen Baylin and others. Scientific Awards: Member, National Academy of Sciences Member, National Academy of Medicine Fellow, AACR Academy Fellow, AAAS Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research (2009) Medal of Honor, American Cancer Society (2011) Outstanding Investigator Grant, NCI Harvey Prize (2024) Advising and Grants: Dr. Jones mentors multiple postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research scientists. His lab is supported by major grants, including the VAI-SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team, which has launched 15 clinical trials. He has received sustained funding from the National Cancer Institute and collaborates with institutions worldwide to advance epigenetic therapies. Labs and Teams: He leads the Peter Jones Laboratory at VAI, a multidisciplinary team investigating epigenetic regulation in cancer. The lab includes computational biologists, clinical researchers, and molecular biologists, working on both basic mechanisms and translational applications. The team is part of larger collaborative initiatives such as the VAI-SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team and the International Linked Clinical Trials Program.
Montserrat Anguera, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation underlying sex differences in development and disease, with particular emphasis on X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) and its implications for female-biased autoimmune disorders. Dr. Anguera investigates how gene expression from the X-chromosome is regulated to ensure dosage compensation between males and females, and how these mechanisms become altered in diseases exhibiting sex-bias. Her laboratory has established novel epigenetic pathways involving the X-chromosome that impact human development, immune responses, and lymphocyte function. She employs advanced techniques including RNA/DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and allele-specific RNA sequencing to achieve single-cell resolution of epigenetic characteristics of the inactive X chromosome. Her research reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of X-chromosome biology and immunology, particularly regarding sex-biased autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus. Key findings include the discovery that lymphocytes maintain X-chromosome inactivation differently than other somatic cells, with the inactive X exhibiting euchromatic features in female lymphocytes that may underlie female bias in autoimmune disorders. She coined the term 'dynamic XCI maintenance' to describe how T and B cells relocalize Xist RNA and heterochromatic marks to the inactive X chromosome following antigen-mediated stimulation. Dr. Anguera's laboratory includes postdocs Katherine Forsyth and Nikhil Jiwrajka, research specialist Zowie Searcy, graduate students Isabel Sierra and Natalie Toothacre, postdoctoral researcher Nuriban Valero-Pacheco, and PhD student Emma Welter. Together, they investigate epigenetic regulation of X-linked genes in development and disease contexts. She is an active member of multiple prestigious research institutes at Penn, including the Epigenetics Institute, Institute for Immunology, Center for Research on Reproduction & Women's Health, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Her work bridges epigenetics, immunology, and developmental biology, providing novel insights into mechanisms underlying female-biased autoimmune disorders.
Akram N. Alshawabkeh is the George A. Snell Professor of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University's College of Engineering, where he also serves as Senior Vice Provost and Director of the PROTECT Superfund Research Center. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University (1994), an MS from Jordan University of Science & Technology (1990), and a BE from Yarmouk University (1988). His research focuses on geoenvironmental engineering, soil and groundwater remediation, and electrochemical processes. Alshawabkeh has led major research initiatives, including the PROTECT Superfund Research Center (since 2010) and the CRECE Children's Environmental Health Center (since 2015). He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has advised numerous PhD, MS, and undergraduate students. His honors include the ASCE Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award (2014), Fulbright Scholar (2005-2006), and National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2001). His service roles include Chair of the Superfund Research Program Conference (2015), Technical Program Co-Chair for GeoCongress 2008, and editorial board memberships in journals like Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering . He has also held leadership positions in professional societies, including Fellow status in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Alshawabkeh's work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing environmental health challenges in Puerto Rico and beyond. His research integrates engineering, toxicology, epidemiology, and social science to tackle issues like preterm birth linked to environmental contaminants and karst aquifer remediation.
Dr. Jacinta C. Beehner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology & Psychology at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on sexual conflict theory, reproductive strategies in primates, and the physiological and behavioral mechanisms underlying these dynamics. She directs the Core Assay Facility/Beehner Endocrine Laboratory and co-directs the Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project, Capuchins at Taboga, and the Evolution and Human Adaptations Program. Her work examines non-human primates like geladas, capuchins, and baboons in natural African and American habitats. Key themes include infanticide avoidance, hormonal responses to environmental stress, and the evolutionary implications of reproductive trade-offs. Recent studies highlight the impact of climate change on primate health, the role of social status in parasite resistance, and hormonal adaptations to high-altitude environments. Beehner has contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed articles since 2015, spanning topics from primate social networks to genomic adaptations. Her fieldwork emphasizes integrative methods combining endocrinology, genetics, and behavioral observation. She has presented at international forums like the National Geographic Explorer’s Festival and collaborates across disciplines to advance primate conservation and evolutionary biology.
Shanna Swan is a renowned epidemiologist and Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She holds a PhD in Statistics from UC Berkeley (1963), an MA in Biostatistics from Columbia University, and a BA in Mathematics from City College of New York. Her career spans academia, public health institutions, and research on environmental health impacts. Notable roles include work at Kaiser Permanente, California Department of Health Services, University of Missouri, and University of Rochester. Her research focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), sperm count decline, and reproductive health. Her groundbreaking 2017 study revealed a 50% sperm count drop in Western men over 40 years, later updated to show acceleration since 2000. She authored the influential book Count Down (2021), addressing environmental threats to human fertility. Key contributions include forming California’s reproductive health group and leading National Academy of Sciences committees on EDCs. Swan advocates for science-driven public health policy, emphasizing the need to address chemical exposures. Her work bridges statistical rigor with real-world impact, influencing global discussions on fertility and environmental safety. Awards include the Ward Medal in Logic (CCNY). She remains active in advancing research, education, and community action to safeguard human health and reproduction.
Xian Wu, Ph.D., serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine. Her research leverages human stem cell models to investigate developmental vulnerabilities to environmental contaminants in cardiovascular and neural systems, with emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms and disease modeling. Dr. Wu's academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Georgia M.S. in Biomedicine from East China Normal University B.S. in Biotechnology from Anhui University Her postdoctoral training comprised a Fellowship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and an ORISE Fellowship at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Research focuses on creating human stem cell-derived organoid systems to model developmental toxicology, particularly examining cardiac and neural development under chemical exposure. The laboratory employs fluorescence reporter systems and RNA-seq to identify critical vulnerability windows during early development, with recent work targeting Parkinson's disease mechanisms through dopaminergic neuron models and cardiac fibrosis via advanced organoids. Methodological innovations include high-content imaging for neurogenesis quantification and epigenetic pathway analysis. Publication trends (2016-2025) demonstrate consistent advancement in stem cell-based toxicology testing, with increasing emphasis on micro/nanoplastics risk assessment, arsenic neurotoxicity mechanisms, and doxorubicin cardiotoxicity modeling. The work bridges environmental health, epigenetics, and regenerative medicine through interdisciplinary approaches. Scientific recognition includes: 2025 SPARC Award (ECU) 2024 Top Abstract Award (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Society) 2024 NIEHS P30 Center Travel Award 2023 ECU Research and Creative Activity Award Dr. Wu actively mentors graduate researchers including Ph.D. candidate Cate Duncan and M.S. students Kamilah Muhammad and Bailey Skeen, alongside undergraduate Bryce Tilghman. Former trainees McKyrah Brown and Monica Cross completed honors theses in the laboratory. Current grants include ECU's SPARC Award funding stem cell model development for environmental contaminant testing. The BSOM 6S-11 laboratory maintains specialized capabilities in cardiac and cerebral organoid generation, fluorescence-based toxicity screening, and RNA-seq epigenetic analysis. Collaborative networks include the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and ECU's Center for Human Health and the Environment, supporting translational research on developmental vulnerability periods.
Mienah Z. Sharif serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of California - Berkeley in the School of Public Health - Division of Community Health Sciences, with an affiliate appointment in Epidemiology at the University of Washington. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of California Los Angeles (2016), an MPH from the same institution, and a BA in Economics and Government from Smith College. PhD, University of California Los Angeles, 2016 MPH, University of California Los Angeles BA, Economics and Government, Smith College Dr. Sharif employs a social justice, global, and intersectional approach to examining health inequities among racial and ethnic minority groups across the lifecourse. Her research centers on structural factors, differential exposure to adverse social conditions, and psychosocial factors influencing health and wellbeing. She extends her work on racism and discrimination to examine religious identity as structural inequality through the racialization of religion. As a mixed-methods researcher, she prioritizes community-engaged research aimed at guiding health and social policies addressing systemic inequities. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on structural determinants of health, with recent work examining Palestinian health equity, immigrant and refugee health during the pandemic, and critical race approaches to health research. Her articles span public health, epidemiology, and social justice domains, with increasing emphasis on practical applications for policy development and health equity interventions. Dr. Sharif's scholarly contributions reflect a commitment to addressing health disparities through rigorous research grounded in critical race theory and social justice frameworks. Her work bridges academic research with community needs, emphasizing the importance of structural interventions to address systemic health inequities.
Jessica Mayhew is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Central Washington University. She specializes in primate behavior, biological anthropology, and cognitive ethology, with a focus on social play, dominance hierarchies, and communication patterns in primates such as chimpanzees, macaques, lemurs, and gorillas. Her research integrates field studies, captive observations, and interdisciplinary approaches to understand primate social dynamics and conservation challenges. Her work extends to historical analysis, such as interpreting Bronze Age wall paintings depicting primates, and modern contexts like examining the impact of human caregivers on captive primates and the portrayal of nonhuman primates in digital media. She has conducted studies in diverse locations including China, Madagascar, and sanctuaries in the United States. Mayhew’s publications span topics like lateralization in lemurs, dominance behavior in Tibetan macaques, and paternal care in orangutans. She teaches courses on biological anthropology, primate origins, nonverbal communication, and primatology, reflecting her expertise in both academic instruction and applied research. Her advising and grants focus on primate behavior studies, with notable projects including camera trap deployments in China and collaborative work at sanctuaries. No specific labs or teams are listed, though her collaborative nature is evident through joint publications with institutions like Duke Lemur Center and international field collaborations.
Kara McKinley is an Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University , joining the department in 2021. She is a Principal Faculty member at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute , an Associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , and a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute . Her research focuses on the regenerative capacity of the human uterus , particularly the endometrium, which undergoes ~400 cycles of tissue remodeling, shedding, and repair during the reproductive lifespan. Using rodent models , genetic, molecular, and live microscopy tools, her lab investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms of regeneration, defects leading to diseases like endometriosis, and applications in regenerative medicine . Her work also explores cell division , centromere biology , and CRISPR genome engineering . Current research trends in her publications include epithelial zonation in the small intestine , mechanisms of endometrial regeneration , macropinocytosis in Hydra , and academic mentorship strategies . Her studies span cellular biomechanics , mitotic regulation , and translational approaches for tissue repair. NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (terminated in 2025 litigation with federal government) Freeman Hrabowski Scholar (Broad Institute) Kara mentors Harvard undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows through rotations and research opportunities. Her lab is based at Harvard’s Bauer 306 and advocates for gender equity in life sciences faculty via the Leading Edge initiative. Funding includes a now-terminated NIH New Innovator grant aimed at menstrual health research.
Gary M. Shaw is the Rosemarie Hess Professor and Professor (Research) at Stanford University , with courtesy appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine . He serves as Co-PI of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford and PI of the California Center for Finding Causes and Preventives of Birth Defects . His research focuses on the Epidemiology of birth defects Gene-environment interactions in perinatal outcomes Nutritional factors in reproductive health . He has developed machine learning approaches for precision parenteral nutrition and predictive models for preterm birth, while investigating persistent metabolomic signatures following hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Shaw's recent work explores Climate change impacts on reproductive health Maternal-fetal immune interactions Epigenetic mechanisms in perinatal disease with applications of multiomics to neonatal intensive care units. As a member of Bio-X and the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute , he contributes to translational research networks while serving as Associate Editor for Birth Defects Research and American Journal of Medical Genetics . He supervises Med Scholar Project student Richard Liang Doctoral co-advisor for Saskia Comess and Richard Liang Master's advisor for Lenae Joe while leading the Division of Neonatology as Associate Chair for Clinical Research (2012-2025). His laboratory work integrates Metabolomic profiling Proteomic analysis Computational modeling Machine learning for biomedical data to advance neonatal care through precision medicine approaches.
