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Andrea TarneckiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Aquaculture
• Marine Microbiology
• Shellfish Health
• +3 more

Andrea Tarnecki is an Assistant Extension Professor at the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences , Auburn University. Her work bridges academic research and industry needs, focusing on shellfish farming challenges, microbiome dynamics, and sustainable aquaculture practices. Her research emphasizes improving shellfish health through genomic selection, microbial community analysis, and environmental resilience strategies. She collaborates closely with farmers and stakeholders, leveraging field trials, extension publications, and social media to disseminate practical solutions. Key research areas include disease resistance in oysters , microbial ecology in aquaculture systems , and environmental stress impacts on marine species . Recent work addresses genomic approaches to combat Dermo disease and explores probiotic applications to enhance shellfish immunity. Her publications reflect a focus on microbial diversity , oyster physiology , and toxicology of oil spills . She directs the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, a facility dedicated to applied research and industry partnerships. Dr. Tarnecki’s outreach efforts include managing social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram: @AUShellfishLab) and hosting seminars to connect academic findings with coastal communities.

Abdul Latif KhanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Biotechnology
• Plant Physiology
• Environmental Sciences
• +6 more

Abdul Latif Khan is an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Engineering Technology at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Kyungpook National University (South Korea) and has extensive international experience, including roles as Associate Professor at the University of Nizwa (Oman) and Research Assistant Professor in medicinal plant research. His research focuses on plant-microbiome interactions, stress tolerance mechanisms, and agricultural biotechnology, particularly in crop improvement under environmental challenges like flooding, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. He leads the Microbiome and Genomics Lab, studying microbiome dynamics, genomic sequencing of plants (e.g., Boswellia, date palm), and the role of silicon and phytohormones in plant resilience. Dr. Khan has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work on microbiome diversity under climate stress, algal biomass applications, and silicon-mediated stress tolerance. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Journal of Plant Growth Regulation and Frontiers in Plant Sciences . His lab collaborates globally, including visiting positions at the University of Nebraska and Kyungpook National University. Key research themes include genomic analysis of invasive species, phytohormone regulation, and sustainable agriculture through microbial and genomic innovations.

Samantha PaulsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Immunometabolism
• Fatty acids in immunity
• Metabolic disease inflammation
• +3 more

Samantha Pauls is an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba's Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research examines links between innate immune cell activation and metabolic states, particularly in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease contexts within the Molecular Biotherapeutics research theme. Her laboratory investigates two primary questions: 1) How metabolic states of monocytes and macrophages influence disease progression, and 2) How pharmacological and dietary interventions can restore health through immune-metabolic pathway modulation. Research employs molecular biology techniques, bioenergetic profiling, and lipidomics to analyze immune cell function. Dr. Pauls' publication record demonstrates expertise in fatty acid immunology, with studies comparing effects of different omega-3 sources on macrophage function, oxylipin profiles, and metabolic outcomes. Her work appears in journals including BMC Health Services Research and Scientific Reports. With cross-disciplinary training in biochemistry and medical genetics, she mentors graduate students exploring immune-metabolic relationships and maintains affiliations with the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine. Current projects focus on pharmacologic modulation of monocyte bioenergetics in metabolic disorders.

Byron N. Van NestView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroethology
• Behavioural Ecology
• Insect Neuroscience
• +3 more

Byron N. Van Nest serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba. His laboratory, housed in the Biological Sciences Building (Office 314), conducts research at the intersection of neurobiology and animal behavior with primary focus on invertebrate models. Dr. Van Nest's research program investigates fundamental questions about how brains select appropriate behavioral responses to environmental conditions, how neural architecture produces species-specific behaviors, and how neural systems change with age and experience. Using honey bees and cockroaches as model organisms, his lab employs multidisciplinary approaches including immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, electrophysiology, and sophisticated behavioral assays. Key research areas include time-memory processing in foragers, neural plasticity in mushroom bodies, sensory integration of olfactory and gustatory cues, and the neurotoxic effects of pesticides on insect cognition. Analysis of his publication record (2011-2023) reveals consistent contributions to insect neuroscience, particularly in understanding the neural basis of foraging behavior. His work demonstrates how experience shapes time-memory management in honey bees, how pesticide exposure alters synaptic organization, and how sensory modalities interact during decision-making. The research integrates molecular, anatomical, and behavioral methodologies to address questions about neural plasticity in changing environments. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While the Van Nest Laboratory acknowledges funding sources, specific grant details and student mentorship records are not specified in the available text. The lab maintains active research operations focusing on neuroethological questions using invertebrate models. The Van Nest Laboratory operates within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, utilizing specialized equipment for neural imaging and behavioral analysis. Current research directions include investigating pesticide impacts on neural circuits, decoding time-memory mechanisms in social insects, and exploring sensory processing pathways in honey bees under controlled laboratory conditions.

Mette Marianne SvenningView profile

Professor

• Microbial Ecology
• Arctic Biogeochemistry
• Methane Cycling
• +3 more

Mette Marianne Svenning is a Professor at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research focuses on microbial communities in Arctic and high-latitude ecosystems, particularly methanotrophs and their roles in methane cycling, permafrost dynamics, and climate change feedbacks. She investigates microbial adaptations to extreme environments, including cold-adapted methanotrophs and their metabolic pathways. Her work integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and biogeochemical approaches to understand microbial contributions to global carbon cycles. Key research themes include methane oxidation mechanisms, microbial community responses to environmental changes, and symbiotic relationships in Arctic seep ecosystems. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in Svalbard and other Arctic regions, contributing to long-term ecological studies at Ny-Ålesund. Her research also explores applications in biotechnology, such as microbial consortia for methane conversion to industrial products. Dr. Svenning collaborates internationally on projects addressing permafrost thaw impacts, microbial biogeography, and the interplay between vegetation, herbivory, and soil microbiota. Her findings highlight the critical role of Arctic microorganisms in modulating greenhouse gas emissions under climate change scenarios.

Patrik RydénView profile

Professor

• Mathematical Statistics
• Data Analysis
• Ambulance Care Optimization
• +3 more

Patrik Rydén is a Professor of Mathematical Statistics at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Umeå University, where he applies statistical methods to complex datasets. He also directs the Industrial Doctoral School for Research and Innovation , fostering academia-industry collaboration. His research spans healthcare (ambulance logistics, cancer diagnostics), industrial optimization (automotive quality control), and bioinformatics. Research Focus Rydén develops data-driven methodologies for: Healthcare : Optimizing ambulance deployment, predicting patient care times, and modeling disease spread. Industry : Statistical process control for manufacturing and quality improvement. Bioinformatics : Cancer subtype identification and vaccine efficacy modeling. Publication Trends His recent work emphasizes applied statistics in healthcare (40%), industrial machine learning (30%), and genomic analysis (30%), with strong themes in predictive modeling, spatio-temporal analysis, and high-dimensional data interpretation. Leadership & Projects As director of the Industrial Doctoral School, he bridges academic research with industry needs. Key projects include: Predicting post-anesthesia care time using ML (2022–2027) Data-driven prehospital care optimization (2018–2028) Statistical learning for industrial defect detection (2017–2023)

Leighton CoreView profile

Associate Professor

• RNA transcription
• Gene expression regulation
• Genomic techniques
• +4 more

Leighton Core is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Genomics at the University of Connecticut. His research focuses on understanding how RNA transcription and processing influence cellular states during development and disease progression. Using genomic techniques and bioinformatics, his lab identifies transcriptional signatures of cell types and elucidates fundamental transcription mechanisms. Education: PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University Postdoctoral Training: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Boston College Research Interests: Core’s lab investigates RNA transcription dynamics, particularly how changes in transcription and processing drive cellular responses. Key areas include enhancer activity, paused RNA polymerase II regulation, and the interplay between transcriptional mechanisms and cellular states. Techniques employed include PRO-seq and chromatin run-on sequencing to map transcriptional landscapes. Publications: Recent work highlights contributions to understanding transcriptional regulation in cancer (e.g., glioblastoma), epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., histone acetylation), and novel methodologies like optimized PRO-seq. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles span topics from centromere biology to stem cell differentiation. Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on transcriptional genomics, collaborating on projects involving cancer epigenetics and developmental biology.

Pei Fen KuanView profile

Professor

• Statistical Genomics
• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• +3 more

Pei Fen Kuan is a Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics at Stony Brook University. She holds a Ph.D. in Statistical Genomics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on developing statistical methodologies for analyzing high-throughput omics data, particularly in genome biology and psychiatric/cancer-related studies. She leads projects on ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq, and DNA methylation analysis, with significant contributions to the WTC Wellness Program studying trauma-related disorders. Education: Ph.D. in Statistics (2009), University of Wisconsin-Madison; B.S. (details not specified). Research interests include computational biology, epigenetics, and integrative omics, with a focus on PTSD, cognitive aging, and melanoma genetics. She has developed R packages like methylGSA and RNAAgeCalc for bioinformatics analysis. Current grants include NIH/NIA and CDC/NIOSH funding for PTSD and aging studies. Lab involvement: Directs the WTC Wellness Program research team, focusing on gene-environment interactions in responders' health. Collaborates internationally via the InterMEL consortium for melanoma studies. Teaching: Courses in computational statistics and statistical genomics (details inferred from departmental role).

Wu TuoqiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Immunology
• Cancer Immunotherapy
• T-cell Biology
• +3 more

Tuoqi Wu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. He is also a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Previously, he held an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (2019-2021), alongside memberships in the Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative and University of Colorado Cancer Center. His expertise bridges immunology and molecular biology with a focus on T-cell functionality in chronic infections and cancer. Dr. Wu earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology and Computer Science from Peking University in 2007. He completed his Ph.D. in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Emory University (2013) under Dr. Rafi Ahmed in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Postdoctoral training at NIH (2013-2019) further refined his research skills in immunological mechanisms. His research investigates molecular pathways governing CD8+ T-cell differentiation, exhaustion, and stemness using cutting-edge techniques like single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics. Key areas include STING signaling, KEAP1/NRF2 redox regulation, and BACH2/FOXP1 transcriptional control. Applications span antiviral immunity, cancer immunotherapy (CAR T cells), and immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in melanoma. Recent publications highlight T-cell immune landscapes in cancer patients, aging effects on cytotoxic T-cells, and computational tools like Benisse for B-cell analysis. His work emphasizes translating molecular insights into clinical immunotherapies to improve treatment outcomes. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. His advising includes PhD students Ziang Zhu (focused on T-cell immunology) and Safuwra Wizzard (clinically oriented research). Postdoctoral researchers Ying Luo and Taidou Hu contribute expertise in T-cell exhaustion and epigenetic regulation. Grant funding details are not included here, though institutional memberships suggest active research support. Dr. Wu leads the Wu Lab at UTSW, a multidisciplinary team exploring T-cell biology, CAR T-cell engineering, and immune dysfunction in chronic diseases. The lab’s work integrates experimental immunology with bioinformatics to address unresolved challenges in antitumor and antiviral immunity.

Kai JensenView profile

Professor

• Coastal Ecology
• Salt Marshes
• Climate Change
• +10 more

Prof. Dr. Kai Jensen is a Professor and Head of Research Unit at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg. He leads the Applied Plant Ecology research group, focusing on coastal and salt marsh ecosystems, climate change impacts, microbial interactions, and carbon dynamics. His work integrates field studies, experimental approaches, and interdisciplinary collaborations to address global environmental challenges. Key areas include salt marsh biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles, and the effects of human activities on wetland ecosystems. Research Interests: Coastal ecology, salt marsh dynamics, climate change mitigation, microbial-plant interactions, urban ecology, and wetland conservation. His team explores topics such as root exudation, greenhouse gas fluxes, and the role of vegetation in carbon sequestration. The Applied Plant Ecology group collaborates with the Elbe Wetland Station Pevestorf and other institutions to advance ecological understanding and management strategies. Advising & Grants: Supervises multiple doctoral researchers and postdoctoral fellows, including studies on blue carbon, tidal wetland biogeochemistry, and plant-soil interactions. His projects often involve third-party funding and international partnerships. Technical and administrative support is provided by staff like Claudia Mählmann and Merle Steinhagen. Labs & Facilities: Research is conducted at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology (IPM), utilizing state-of-the-art equipment in the Otto Warburg House. Collaborative efforts extend to the Wadden Sea and Elbe River estuary systems, focusing on field experiments and sensor networks to monitor ecosystem responses to environmental changes.

Ahmad AzizView profile

Professor

• Biotechnology
• Sorghum Genetics
• Biofuel Feedstock
• +3 more

Dr. Ahmad Aziz is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering at Tennessee State University (TSU), part of the College of Agriculture. His research focuses on Biotechnology, Sorghum Genetics, and Biofuel Feedstock, with significant contributions to plant genomics and crop improvement. He has authored over 32 refereed journal articles, numerous books, and presented at 51 conferences. Education: B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Barani Agricultural College, Pakistan (1988) M.Phil. Molecular Biology, Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan (1991) Ph.D. Molecular Genetics, University of New Brunswick, Canada (1998) Teaching: Courses include Biotechnology and Society, Bioinformatics, Research Ethics in Agricultural Sciences, and Advanced topics in Agricultural Biotechnology. Research Grants: 2024: Innovative Pre-Breeding of Corn for Middle Tennessee (Tennessee Corn Promotion Board) 2022: Sorghum microspore bank and USDA/NIFA Climate Smart Initiative 2015: Genome-wide miRNA analysis for biofuel sorghum (NAS) Research Focus: Dr. Aziz pioneers genetic profiling of plant gametes, biofuel crop development, and epigenetic stress responses. His work integrates lab-to-field approaches, emphasizing sustainable agriculture and community outreach. Awards: 2023 Travel Grant for CRISPR Education Workshop 2013 Poster Award for Innovation in Feasibility Evaluations 1988 Gold Medalist, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Outreach: Conducts biotech training in underserved Tennessee communities and Ghana, developing DNA-fingerprinting curricula for high schools via mobileag.org.

Julia SalzmanView profile

Associate Professor

• RNA Biology
• Computational Biology
• Genomics
• +4 more

Julia Salzman is an Associate Professor at Stanford University, affiliated with the School of Medicine in the Departments of Biomedical Data Science and Biochemistry , with courtesy appointments in Statistics and Biology . She serves as a member of interdisciplinary centers including Bio-X , Stanford Cancer Institute , and Sarafan ChEM-H . Salzman's research focuses on statistical computational biology , particularly RNA splicing , cancer genomics , and microbial systems . Her lab develops algorithms like SPLASH (Statistically Primary aLignment Agnostic Sequence Homing) and SICILIAN for precise splice junction detection, enabling reference-free analysis of genomic data across human , non-model organisms , and planetary health applications (e.g., oceanic systems , plants ). Her 15 most recent publications span 2024–2016, covering topics from cell-free RNA diagnostics to circular RNA in disease . Key methodologies include DEEPEST for gene fusion detection and SQUICH for logarithmic molecular sampling. These works highlight her contributions to cancer biology and viral pandemic response . Scientific Awards include Arc Ignite Investigator (2023) NSF CAREER AWARD (2016) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2014) Baxter Faculty Scholar Award (2014) Salzman's funding history includes NIH Pathway to Independence and NSF grants . She mentors PhD and Master’s students through courses like BIOMEDIN 290 and BIODS 228 , while leading the Salzman Lab in advancing computational genomics and biological modeling .

Patricia SchulteView profile

Professor

• Comparative Physiology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genomics
• +5 more

Dr. Patricia Schulte is a Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on physiological adaptations in fish, particularly how animals respond to environmental changes such as temperature and salinity. Using integrative approaches including genomics, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology, her lab studies species like killifish, rainbow trout, and stickleback to understand mechanisms of thermal and environmental tolerance. She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from UBC and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Research projects include thermal adaptation in killifish, conservation genomics of rainbow trout, and epigenomic studies in stickleback. Her work bridges ecology and physiology to address climate change impacts on aquatic species. The Schulte Lab collaborates widely, with funding from initiatives like the Biodiversity Research Centre. Students and lab members actively contribute to projects on fish physiology and environmental resilience. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising and grants: The lab supports multiple graduate students (listed above) and focuses on grants related to conservation physiology and climate adaptation. The lab’s website ( https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/schultelab/ ) provides further details on ongoing projects and collaborations.

Jazmina Gonzalez CruzView profile

Research Fellow

• Cancer Immunology
• Vaccine Development
• Immunotherapy
• +3 more

Dr. Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz is a Senior Research Fellow at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, leading the Cancer Immunology and Therapy group. Her research focuses on immunotherapies for virally associated cancers and skin carcinomas, utilizing high-throughput technologies like 10X Genomics and Nanostring DSP. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology with honors from the National Centre of Biotechnology, Spain, and received postdoctoral training at Heinrich Pette-Institute, Germany. Her work explores T-cell regulation, cytokine immunocomplexes, and tumor microenvironment modulation. Current projects include spatial-omics profiling of head and neck cancers to develop personalized therapies. She collaborates internationally with institutions like Monash University and Technical University of Denmark. Honors and Awards: Garnet Passe & Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Grant (2019-2023) UQ Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016) Bayer-Humboldt Foundation Fellowship (2013) EEE Department Ph.D. Scholarship

Dequina NicholasView profile

Assistant Professor

• Immunometabolism
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• +5 more

Dequina Nicholas is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), affiliated with the Samueli School of Engineering and the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on the interplay between chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and endocrine disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Her lab employs molecular and cellular biology techniques, transgenic mouse models, and human sample analysis to study immunometabolism. Key projects include investigating pituitary immune cell populations influencing gonadotropin secretion, lipid antigen presentation mechanisms in human diseases, and the role of glucose metabolism in reproductive hormone regulation. Notable achievements include publications in Cell Metabolism and Nature Reviews Endocrinology , and recognition at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology Conference. Her work aims to identify therapeutic targets for metabolic and immune-related diseases, with a focus on translational research.