Zeynep Atamer is an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University's Food Science and Technology Department, affiliated with the Food Innovation Center in Portland, OR. Her research focuses on dairy science and technology, particularly bacteriophage dynamics, spore inactivation, milk protein behavior, membrane processing, and food safety optimization. Primary affiliation: Oregon State University, Food Innovation Center Department: Food Science and Technology Research interests include: Dairy bacteriophages and their thermal/non-thermal inactivation Spore-forming bacteria in dairy processing Milk protein fractionation and functional properties Membrane separation technologies for dairy applications Cheese and fermentation process optimization Development of phage-free dairy products and sensitive detection systems Recent publications highlight advancements in UV-C/phage reduction strategies, casein-based material development, bitter peptide characterization in cheese, and encapsulation technologies for microbial control. Key subfields include dairy processing stressors, whey protein stability, and gut microbiota modulation via phage delivery. Her work integrates industrial-scale validation with lab-to-commercial translation, addressing critical challenges in dairy safety and functionality through interdisciplinary approaches spanning microbiology, biochemistry, and food engineering.
Dr. Juming Tang is a Regents’ Professor and Distinguished Chair of Food Engineering at Washington State University (WSU), leading research in microwave thermal processing and food safety. He holds positions in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering within the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. His roles include former Chair of the department and Director of the USDA-funded Center of Excellence for Food Safety using Microwave Energy. Education: Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, University of Saskatchewan (1991) M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, University of Guelph (1987) B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Central-South University of Technology (1982) Research Focus: Dr. Tang’s work centers on microwave and radio frequency (RF) technologies for food safety, including microwave sterilization/pasteurization of packaged foods and low-moisture food safety. His innovations led to the first FDA-approved microwave sterilization processes in the U.S. He investigates thermal inactivation of pathogens, packaging systems, and emerging technologies for commercial and military food systems. Key Achievements: Over 20 major awards, including membership in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Fellowships in multiple professional societies (IFT, ASABE), and FDA/USDA approvals for novel sterilization methods. He directs consortia involving academia, industry, and government. Grants & Leadership: PI of USDA-funded projects on microbial pathogen control in retail foods Leader of the Microwave Sterilization Consortium (industry-academia collaboration) Labs/Teams: Microwave Sterilization Lab, Food Engineering Group, and collaborations with NASA on space food systems.
Beckman Research Institute of City of HopeUnited States
Stephen J. Forman, M.D. is a Professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. He serves as Director of the Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, Principal Investigator of the Lymphoma SPORE, and Director of the T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory. Dr. Forman has dedicated over 45 years to advancing treatments for blood cancers and has been instrumental in dramatically improving survival rates for patients with hematologic malignancies. Dr. Forman earned his M.D. from the University of Southern California in 1974 and a B.A. in Philosophy from St. John's College in 1970. His medical training includes residency and internship at Harbor UCLA Hospital, fellowship in Hematology at LAC+USC Medical Center, and fellowship in Medical Oncology at City of Hope. Dr. Forman is an international expert in leukemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow transplantation. His research focuses on immunotherapy, particularly using T cells for cancer treatment. He has been deeply involved with translational and clinical research at City of Hope's Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center, Cellular Immunotherapy Center, Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research, and the Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research. His work in CAR T-cell therapy has positioned him at the forefront of cellular immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies. Analysis of Dr. Forman's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advancing T cell immunotherapy, particularly CAR T-cell approaches for hematologic malignancies. His research spans from basic mechanisms of T cell function to clinical applications in leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. A significant portion of his work addresses challenges in immunotherapy, including antigen escape, treatment resistance, and improving the safety profile of cellular therapies. His research demonstrates a clear trajectory from laboratory discoveries to clinical implementation, reflecting his commitment to translational medicine. E. Donnall Thomas Lecture, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (2019) DKMS Mechtild Harf Science Award (2019) Dr. Forman has been a principal investigator on numerous research grants, including the Lymphoma SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence), which represents significant NIH funding for lymphoma research. As Director of the Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute and former Chair of the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, he has overseen extensive research programs and mentored countless clinicians and scientists. His leadership in the field is reflected in his co-editorship of "Thomas' Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation," considered the definitive textbook in the field. Dr. Forman directs the T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, where his team investigates novel approaches to harness the immune system against cancer. He is also co-leader of the Hematologic Malignancies Program within City of Hope's Comprehensive Cancer Center, coordinating a multidisciplinary team focused on improving outcomes for patients with blood cancers. His work bridges basic science and clinical application, with a particular emphasis on translating laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for patients.
Dr. Kerry K Cooper is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona's School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Sterling College (1998) and a Ph.D. in Pathobiology from the University of Arizona (2007). His research focuses on food safety, bacterial foodborne pathogens, and the microbiome of fruits and vegetables. Dr. Cooper’s work spans necrotic enteritis in poultry, Campylobacter genomics, and produce safety interventions. His postdoctoral training included studies at the USDA’s Produce Safety and Microbiology Unit. Research interests include bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms, microbiome dynamics in agricultural products, and antimicrobial resistance. Recent studies examine microbiome shifts in tree fruits and melons, as well as Campylobacter’s role in human infections and environmental transmission. Dr. Cooper’s lab investigates foodborne epidemiology, whole-genome sequencing, and outbreak source tracking using innovative genomic and bioinformatics approaches. Key contributions include developing molecular diagnostics for Campylobacter species and analyzing genomic determinants of drug resistance in low-resource settings. His work bridges basic science and public health, addressing global challenges in food safety and zoonotic disease control.
Professor Roman Buckow is a Professor of Practice in Food Engineering at The University of Sydney's Centre for Advanced Food Enginomics and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He holds a PhD in Food Process Engineering from Berlin University of Technology (Germany) and a Diploma in Brewing Engineering. His career includes leadership roles at CSIRO, where he pioneered food processing innovations for industries like meat, dairy, and legumes. He has led major collaborations with global partners and co-led CSIRO’s strategic program on precision health foods. Research focuses include high-pressure processing, sustainable food systems, and plant-based product development. He has authored over 100 publications and received awards such as the 2020 CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award, IFT Nonthermal Processing Division honors, and multiple 'Highly Cited Paper' recognitions. His work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing commercialization of novel technologies. Education: PhD (Food Process Engineering, TU Berlin), MSc (Engineering/Brewing) Leadership: Former Head of CSIRO Food Transformation Group (2014–2019); CSIRO Strategic Science Programs Affiliations: President of Australian Food Engineering Association (2014–2017), IFT Nonthermal Processing Division Chair (2012–2015) Publications span food safety, enzymology, and processing innovations. Key projects include HPP applications in meat tenderization, plant protein emulsions, and sodium-reduced meat alternatives. His work on high-pressure sterilization and enzymatic hydrolysis has advanced functional food development. Grants include CSIRO's Julius Career Award ($150k) and strategic funding for precision health foods. Current interests include nutrition engineering and consumer behavior change through food technology.
Stanley Brul is Professor and Director of the College of Life Sciences at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science, where he chairs the Molecular Biology & Microbial Food Safety group at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences. Based at Science Park 904 (Room C3.263), he leads the Gut Microbiome Interaction Lab (Gumi lab) and maintains active research programs in microbial physiology and food safety. His research spans bacterial sporulation/germination mechanisms, antibiotic resistance evolution, and gut microbiome dynamics, with emphasis on molecular physiology of spore-formers (Bacillus, Clostridioides). He employs multi-omics approaches (proteomics, metabolomics), single-cell analysis, and molecular genetics to investigate stress adaptation, host-microbe interactions, and food safety applications. Current projects focus on spore germination receptors, bacterial persisters, and microbiome perturbations in Crohn's disease. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals consistent themes: molecular dissection of germinant receptors (particularly GerAB), evolutionary dynamics of antibiotic resistance, and integrated omics for gut microbiome disorders. His work bridges fundamental spore physiology with translational applications in food safety and clinical microbiology, featuring quantitative single-cell methods and systems-level modeling of microbial communities. Professor Brul actively mentors PhD students through multiple open projects including spore germinant receptor functioning, bacterial persister analysis related to healthcare resistance, and proteome-metabolome structural analysis of gut-relevant spore formers. He collaborates on large-scale programs investigating microbiome stability, antimicrobial mechanisms, and synthetic microbial communities, with strong emphasis on experimental innovation and interdisciplinary approaches.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterUnited States
Dr. Rajal Shah is a Professor of Pathology and Senior Pathologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. He holds the Dr. Charles T. Ashworth Professorship in Pathology. He leads the Genitourinary Pathology Fellowship Program and directs the Genitourinary Pathology Clinical Service and the SPORE in Prostate Cancer tissue core. His work bridges academic research and clinical practice, with a focus on urologic cancers, particularly prostate cancer. Education: MBBS from Gujarat University (India), pathology residency at Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (India) and St. John Hospital (Detroit, MI), and a fellowship in Genitourinary Surgical Pathology at the University of Michigan. Formerly served as faculty at the University of Michigan, reaching the rank of Associate Professor. Industry experience includes roles as Vice President and Medical Director of Urologic Pathology at Caris Life Sciences. Research Interests: Prostate cancer diagnostics, molecular pathology, and improving diagnostic standards in urologic cancers. He has authored over 175 peer-reviewed articles, two books on prostate pathology, and multiple book chapters. His work emphasizes genomic characterization of tumors and reproducibility in pathology reporting. Awards: Distinguished Service Award (GUPS), Team Science Award (AACR), Excellence in Service Award (AIPNA). Serves on editorial boards of Human Pathology and Path Presenter . Professional Roles: Chair of the Texas Society of Pathologists education committee, former President of GUPS. Leads initiatives to standardize prostate cancer grading and reporting practices. Labs/Teams: Directs the Genitourinary Pathology Fellowship Program and collaborates on the SPORE in Prostate Cancer initiative. Active in multidisciplinary cancer care teams.
Professor Sivananthan Siva Sarasanandarajah is an internationally recognized Medical Physicist and Adjunct Associate Professor at RMIT University (Australia) and Mentor Professor at Bharathiar University (India). He is a Senior Medical Physicist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, one of Australia's leading cancer centers. With over 30 years of clinical and academic experience across institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Canada, and Sri Lanka, his expertise spans medical physics, radiation oncology, and radiation protection. Education: B.Sc (Physics), PGDipSc (Medical Physics), M.Sc (Medical Physics), PGCert (Physics Education), Ph.D (Medical Physics) Fellow of Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (FACPSEM) Former International Expert at IAEA (United Nations), coordinating medical physics projects across 21 countries His research focuses on radiation dosimetry, brachytherapy, machine learning in medical imaging, and optimizing medical imaging radiation exposure. He has authored/co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds two international patents commercialized from his PhD research on bacterial spore detection systems. Key Projects: IAEA-WHO Radiotherapy dosimetry audits, establishment of diagnostic reference levels in Sri Lanka Global Impact: Guided radiation safety practices in Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions Awards include Australia's Endeavour Executive Award and recognition for innovation in medical physics education and clinical practice.
Prof. Dr. rer. pharm. Jeroen Buters is the Deputy Director of the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) since 2015 and Chair of the Section "Umwelt und Arbeitsmedizin" (Environmental and Occupational Medicine) at the German Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI). His research focuses on biological air quality, allergenic pollen, airborne bacteria, and the development of forecasting methods for allergies. PhD in Pharmacology (Switzerland) Former Visiting Scientist at NIH (1991-1996) Board-certified Toxicologist (Germany) His work targets estimating allergic risks, primary prevention strategies, and uncovering mechanisms for allergy treatment. He pioneered robotic pollen monitoring networks (ePIN, PollenScience.eu) and coordinated the EU-wide HIALINE project (2009). Current research explores climate change impacts on allergen distribution and the role of the biological exposome in allergic diseases. Recent publications address Alternaria spore dispersal patterns, preschool childhood allergies, and urban greenspace effects under climate change. He advocates for open-access biological air quality data akin to chemical pollution monitoring. Collaborations span institutions like the Finnish Meteorological Institute and MeteoSwiss.
Allison Weis is an Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Utah. She leads a research laboratory investigating the gut microbiome, mucosal immune system, and their roles in gastrointestinal diseases such as colon cancer and colitis. Her work also explores tumor immunology and microbiome-based therapies. Education includes a B.A. from Lewis & Clark College and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. Research focuses on: Mechanisms of microbiome-immune interactions in gastrointestinal diseases Impact of commensal microbes on cancer immunotherapy responses Microbial regulation of metabolic and behavioral health Development of microbiome-derived therapeutics for colitis and cancer Recent publications (2022-2025) cluster in immunology and microbiome research, with emphasis on: cancer immunotherapy modulation, microbial genomics, colitis mechanisms, and gut-brain axis communication. Earlier work includes pathogen genomics and zoonotic transmission dynamics. No awards or grants are detailed in available sources. Dr. Weis directs an active research team (Weis Lab) studying fundamental questions in mucosal immunology and microbiome science. Current work examines how specific commensal organisms influence anti-tumor immunity and gastrointestinal inflammation.
Ole Andreas Løchen Økstad is a Professor at the Department of Pharmacy , University of Oslo , with a research focus on microbial biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and genomic evolution of pathogenic bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii and Bacillus cereus . His work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics to address antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-related infections. PhD in Microbiology (University of Oslo, 2000) MSc in Biochemistry (University of Oslo, 1995) His research explores regulatory networks governing biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance through efflux systems and adjuvants, and phylogenetic analysis of the Bacillus cereus group. Current projects include genomic dynamics of pathogenic spore-formers, anti-biofilm agents , and metallobeta-lactamase inhibitors . Recent publications highlight his team's work on biofilm disruption using alginate polymers, phylogenetic tools like core genome MLST schemes, and novel drug targets in Gram-negative pathogens. His collaborations span institutions in France, Australia, Germany, and Norway, focusing on microbial evolution and clinical microbiology. Member, BACELL and Bacillus ACT steering committees Board representative for permanent academic staff, UiO Key educator in pharmaceutical microbiology and biochemistry
Michael McMurray, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He holds graduate program affiliations with the Biomedical Sciences Program, Cell Biology Stem Cells and Development Program, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Molecular Biology Program, and Structural Biology Biochemistry and Biophysics Program. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of septin proteins and their role in cellular processes. Dr. McMurray earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 2004. His research focuses on identifying molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly of macromolecular complexes, with particular emphasis on septin proteins. His laboratory primarily uses budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a model system for genetic analysis. Key research areas include GTP binding and hydrolysis in septins, chaperone-mediated quality control of septin assembly, chemical rescue of mutant protein function, and the establishment of sexual identity and cell polarity during yeast gametogenesis. Analysis of Dr. McMurray's recent publications reveals consistent themes in septin assembly pathways, protein folding mechanisms, and the relationship between nucleotide binding and complex formation. His work demonstrates how GTP binding guides de novo folding toward oligomerization-competent states, how slow GTP hydrolysis enforces assembly order, and how chaperones mediate quality control over septin assembly. His laboratory has pioneered methods for determining temporal order of protein-protein interactions in living cells and discovered chemical rescue mechanisms for mutant proteins using naturally occurring small molecules. NSF award 1928900 for Wild Yeast Outreach Program NIH R01 GM035010 NIH R01 GM124024 NIH R35 GM148198 Dr. McMurray has mentored numerous students and postdocs who have gone on to diverse careers in academia, industry, and medicine. Current lab members include Alya Hussain and Michael Brown (PhD students) and Marc Steingesser (Lab Manager). Former lab members include Lydia Heasley (now Assistant Professor at CU AMC), Andrew Weems (Instructor at UT Southwestern), and Ashley Denney (Resident Physician). His lab is supported by multiple NIH grants that fund research on septin assembly mechanisms and protein quality control pathways. The McMurray Lab maintains the Wild Yeast Outreach Program, which engages middle school students in yeast isolation and identification. This NSF-funded initiative connects public education with cutting-edge research on natural yeast populations and their genetic diversity. The lab also utilizes advanced techniques including in vivo crosslinking, in vitro reconstitution, and split-YFP systems to study protein complex assembly in living cells.
Prof. Christoph Mayer is an Associate Professor at the University of Tübingen’s Faculty of Science, affiliated with the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT). He leads the research group AG Mayer, focusing on bacterial cell wall metabolism and enzymology. His academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Zürich, postdoc work at the University of British Columbia, and prior roles at the University of Konstanz. He is a recipient of the DFG Heisenberg Fellowship (W2). Education: Studied Chemistry and Microbiology at Albert Ludwigs University (Freiburg) and University of Zürich. Completed his Habilitation in 2009 (Venia Legendi in Microbiology and Biochemistry). Research : Investigates bacterial cell wall dynamics, peptidoglycan recycling, and antibiotic mechanisms. Current projects include studying cell wall metabolism in pathogens like Tannerella forsythia , enzymatic degradation pathways, and antibiotic resistance. Key interests span carbohydrate-acting enzymes and molecular mechanisms of bacterial survival strategies. Teaching & Leadership : Teaches the Master Block Module “Microbial Glycobiology” and supervises PhD students (e.g., Martina Bianchi, Yannis Stahl). Former students include 13 doctoral graduates since 2008. Active in editorial roles for journals like Microbial Physiology and PNAS . Grants & Funding : Supported by DFG, SFB TRR 261, and CMFI Cluster of Excellence. Research emphasizes translational applications in antibiotic development and bacterial pathogenesis. Labs & Teams : Hosts a lab focused on bacterial cell wall enzymology, with collaborations on structural biology and synthetic enzyme engineering. Former group members have contributed to over 75 publications since 2000.
Dr. Md Zahidul Alam serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University (ECU). His primary research focuses on macrophage-mediated tissue injury and repair mechanisms using mouse models of pulmonary and intestinal damage. With dual postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Alam brings expertise in both pathological mechanisms and microbial interactions to ECU's medical research enterprise. Dr. Alam's educational journey includes an MBBS from Dhaka Medical College (Bangladesh), a PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington, and specialized postdoctoral training in the Haldar lab (Pathology) and Abt lab (Microbiology) at the University of Pennsylvania. These experiences established his foundation in macrophage biology and host-pathogen interactions. His research program centers on identifying molecular cues—including cytokines and stress signals—that drive macrophage polarization toward reparative phenotypes during tissue injury. This work bridges immunology, microbiology, and translational medicine, with particular emphasis on Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis and lung injury models. Dr. Alam employs multidisciplinary approaches combining in vivo modeling, immune cell profiling, and molecular signaling analysis to uncover therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Analysis of Dr. Alam's 15 publications (2014-2024) reveals consistent productivity with 5 papers in 2024 alone. His recent work demonstrates deep expertise in C. difficile infection mechanisms (host immunity, toxin interactions, therapeutic challenges) while expanding into macrophage roles in cancer (medulloblastoma) and heme metabolism. The publication record shows strong collaboration networks and increasing first/corresponding author contributions in high-impact journals. As an active investigator, Dr. Alam's laboratory provides training in advanced immunological techniques and disease modeling. His research program likely receives external funding given the consistent publication output and complex experimental approaches described. The lab maintains productive collaborations with his former institutions while establishing new partnerships at ECU. Dr. Alam's laboratory operates within ECU's Brody Building (Lab 7S 11), focusing on the intersection of innate immunity and tissue repair. The research environment emphasizes translational discovery, with findings directly addressing clinical challenges in infection management and inflammatory disease treatment. Current projects continue to explore macrophage reprogramming strategies for therapeutic intervention in pulmonary and gastrointestinal pathologies.
