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Erin SchumanView profile

Professor

• Synaptic transmission and plasticity
• Protein synthesis and degradation
• Local transcriptomes and proteomes
• +3 more

Erin Schuman is a distinguished neuroscientist holding multiple prominent academic positions: Professor of Synaptic Functions and Plasticity at Radboud Universiteit (2021-present), Professor for Neuronal Synaptic Dynamics at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (2015-present), and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt (2009-present). Previously, she spent 16 years at California Institute of Technology, rising from Assistant Professor (1993) to full Professor (2004-2010), while simultaneously serving as an HHMI Investigator (1997-2009). Her educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California (1985), a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Princeton University (1990), and postdoctoral training in Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University. Schuman's research program has remained remarkably focused on the molecular mechanisms of synaptic function throughout her career. Her work centers on local protein synthesis at synapses , investigating how neurons regulate mRNA translation, proteome dynamics, and protein degradation within dendritic compartments. This research has established fundamental principles of how synapses maintain their function through local control mechanisms, bridging molecular biology with systems neuroscience. Her laboratory pioneered techniques for visualizing local protein synthesis in neurons and demonstrated its critical role in synaptic plasticity. Analysis of her publication history reveals a consistent trajectory exploring synaptic mechanisms, with recent work (2012-2017) focusing on advanced imaging of local transcriptomes and proteomes, while maintaining the core theme established in her seminal 1995-1996 papers on neurotrophin-induced plasticity requiring local protein synthesis. Her publications span top journals including Science, Nature, Neuron, and Cell, with approximately 150 papers and an h-index of 62. Major Awards: Körber European Science Prize (2024) Foreign Member of the Royal Society (2024) The Brain Prize (2023) EMBO Women in Science Award (2022) Rosenstiel Award (2022) Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2020) Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) Schuman has received sustained funding throughout her career including ERC Advanced Investigator Awards (2012-2016, 2017-2021), HHMI support (1997-2009), and earlier career awards including the Beckman Young Investigator Award and Pew Biomedical Scholar. At the Max Planck Institute, she founded and leads the Department of Synaptic Plasticity, directing a research team investigating the cell biological control of synapses through local transcriptomes and proteomes.

• CRISPR-Cas Systems
• Prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo)
• Bacterial Anti-Virus Systems
• +3 more

John van der Oost is a Professor at Wageningen University's Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, specializing in bacterial genetics and CRISPR-Cas systems. He holds adjunct roles including Visiting Professor at Montana State University. His research focuses on prokaryotic defense mechanisms, enzyme optimization, and CRISPR-Cas applications. He leads a 20-member team and has advised 13 PhD students. Education: PhD from Free University Amsterdam (1989) Postdocs: Helsinki University (1990), EMBL Heidelberg (1991-1992) Research interests span CRISPR-Cas systems, prokaryotic Argonaute proteins, and bacterial anti-viral strategies. He pioneered studies on ThermoCas9 and Cpf1/Cas12, with over 285 publications (>25,000 citations) and 25 patents. Collaborations include EU projects and the NWO-Gravitation consortium for synthetic cell research. Notable achievements include the Spinoza Prize (2018), EMBO membership (2014), and KNAW election (2017). His work bridges fundamental science and biotechnological applications, advancing CRISPR-based tools and microbial engineering.

• Developmental Genomics
• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• +2 more

Kristian Vlahoviček is a tenured Professor and Bioinformatics Group Leader at the Faculty of Science , University of Zagreb, Croatia, with a 18-year track record of leading an internationally competitive research group. He has held international appointments at the ICGEB Trieste (Italy) and the University of Oslo (Norway), and co-founded Exaltum Ltd. in 2013. Education: PhD in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Research Focus: His group combines machine learning with bioinformatics to address key questions in developmental genomics and metagenomics , including protein interaction prediction, histone modification analysis, and retrotransposon dynamics in embryogenesis. Publications: His work appears in top-tier journals like Nature , Cell , and PNAS , with citations exceeding 4,000 (Google Scholar), reflecting significant impact in computational biology, genetics, and epigenetics. Scientific Awards: 2011 Annual National Science Award (Croatia) 2009 Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Award EMBO Young Investigator Installation Grant (2006-2011) ICGEB Fellowship (1996-2000) University of Zagreb Rector’s Award (1995) Service: He has served as a reviewer for major international funding programs including the European Science Foundation, EC FP7/H2020, ZonMw Vidi Programme, and Croatian structural funds. His research group develops computational tools and machine learning frameworks for genomic and metagenomic analysis.

Lopez-Garcia PurificacionView profile

Researcher

• Microbial diversity
• Geobiology
• Extreme environments
• +5 more

Purificación López-García is a Researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), leading the DEEM group (Diversity, Ecology, Evolution Microbiennes) since 2019. Her career spans 25+ years, including roles as Research Director (Classe Exceptionnelle DRCE), Assistant Professor at Universidad de Alicante, and postdoctoral fellowships at Université Paris-Sud and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Current affiliation: CNRS, France Research focus: Microbial evolution, geobiology, origin of life Research Interests : López-García investigates microbial diversity in extreme environments, geobiological processes, and evolutionary transitions underlying eukaryotic and microbial origins. Her work integrates metagenomics, phylogenomics, and field studies across global extreme ecosystems like the Danakil Depression and Lake Baikal. Scientific Awards : Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2020) EMBO Member (2019) CNRS Silver Medal (2017) ERC Advanced Grant ProtistWorld (2013-2019) Grants and Leadership : She has led major grants including the French ANR Microbialites project (2019-2023) and the Marie Curie SINGEK ITN (2015-2019). Her team has hosted 6 current PhD students and organized 15+ international symposia.

Tomas Marques-BonetView profile

Professor

• Comparative genomics
• Conservation genomics
• Evolutionary genomics
• +4 more

Tomas Marques-Bonet is a Full Professor in the Department of Genetics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), specializing in comparative, conservation, and evolutionary genomics. He has held prestigious roles including directing the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (2016-2020) and serving on scientific councils for LABEX CeMEB (Montpellier) and CENIEH (Center for Human Evolution). Currently, he advises Flomics (Spain) and Colossal Genomics (USA), while participating as a panelist for the European Research Council and the External Scientific Panel for developmental gTEX (NIH). Research Focus: His work explores genome diversity in primates and other species, human-specific genomic features, and the evolution of epigenetics and gene regulation. This includes pioneering contributions to primate genomics, ancient DNA analysis, and transcriptome innovations using long-read sequencing technologies. Scientific Awards: City of Barcelona Award in Sciences (2023) ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) AAAS Breakthrough of the Year (2019) Howard Hughes International Early Career Award (2017) EMBO Young Investigator Award (2013) ERC Starting Grant (2010) Grants & Patents: Recipient of HHMI Early International Career Award, two ERC grants (2010, 2019), two NIH R01 grants (2016, 2019), and Revive&Restore funding (2023). Holds a European patent (EP22382590, 2022). Founded Cryozoo (2019), a cell line banking infrastructure partnered with UPF, Barcelona Museum of Natural Science, and EMBL. Mentorship: Mentored 10 PhD students and 5 postdocs, many of whom now hold successful academic careers. Organized symposia including the 2015 EMBO Young Investigator meeting in Barcelona. Recent Publications: Coordinated a 2023 Science special issue on primate genomics with 5 manuscripts (3 corresponding authorships). Published 40 high-impact papers in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Research , including 1 first-author and 7 senior-author publications.

• Bioinformatics
• Transcriptomics
• Gene Expression Analysis
• +4 more

David Philip Kreil is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology within the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . He holds a joint appointment as Chair of Bioinformatics at the University of Warwick (2012-2014) and has held research positions at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) and the University of Cambridge . His work bridges computational biology, transcriptomics, and plant-nematode interactions. 2012-2014: Chair of Bioinformatics, University of Warwick 2005: WWTF Vienna Science Chair at BOKU 2001-2004: MRC Research Fellow, University of Cambridge 1997-2001: EMBL PhD Programme, EBI Kreil's research focuses on transcriptomic analysis of plant-pathogen interactions (e.g., Fusarium resistance in wheat, nematode-induced syncytia) and computational methods for microarray calibration, data normalization, and statistical modeling. He has applied machine learning to weather forecasting and biomedical data. Scientific Awards : Research Fellow, Darwin College, University of Cambridge (2002-2005) His 15 most recent articles emphasize bioinformatics tools, plant immunity, and interdisciplinary applications of machine learning in biology and climate science. He has supervised theses on wheat transcriptomics and nematode-induced gene expression.

• Immunology
• Neuroscience
• Entomology
• +2 more

Rodolphe Poupardin is a Research Fellow at Paracelsus Medical University 's University Institute for Experimental and Clinical Cell Therapy. His research spans immunology, neuroscience, entomology, and biomedical applications of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Research Areas : Immunology, Neuroscience, Entomology, Cell Therapy, Biomedical Research Poupardin's work focuses on: EV standardization and functional analysis for regenerative medicine Mechanisms of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases Insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti Role of T-cell repertoires and cytokine imbalances in multiple sclerosis Botanical synergists for vector control Recent publications (2025) examine EV documentation tools (EV-Checklist) T-cell dynamics in neurological disorders Anatomical variations linked to carpal tunnel syndrome Alzheimer's serum effects on microglia Activities include speaking engagements on EV research standards (2021-2022). No formal student advisement or awards documented in available records.

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Clinical Research
• +3 more

Damian Meyersburg is a Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Physician in the Department of Dermatology and Allergology . His work bridges clinical practice and research in skin infections, immunological disorders, and pharmacological interventions. Education : MD (Medical Doctorate) Research Interests: Dermatology , Allergology , and Clinical Research , with a focus on: Infectious Skin Diseases (e.g., bacterial infections, scabies) Immunological Skin Disorders (e.g., acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, atopic dermatitis) Pharmacological Interventions (e.g., biologics, topical treatments) Recent publications highlight his expertise in transcriptomic analysis , randomized controlled trials , and clinical guidelines for complex skin conditions. His work is frequently cited and referenced in clinical guidelines and social media platforms like X and Facebook. Collaborations include institutions across Europe, with a strong emphasis on multicenter studies and cross-disciplinary research .

Anja HörgerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant-pathogen Coevolution
• Plant Adaptation to Biotic Stresses
• Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stresses
• +4 more

Dr. Anja Hörger serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment & Biodiversity at the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Salzburg, Austria, where she has maintained her position since October 2014. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Biology (Dr. rer. nat.) from LMU Munich (2011) and a Master of Science in Biology from the same institution (2007). Her research program focuses on understanding the genetic, evolutionary, and ecological mechanisms driving plant adaptation to both biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Specifically, Dr. Hörger investigates how plant immune systems evolve in response to changing pathogen populations (viruses, bacteria, fungi) and how environmental stressors such as salt, drought, and metalliferous soils impact these evolutionary processes. Her work has significant implications for understanding climate change effects on species persistence, particularly for plants in fragmented or anthropogenically influenced habitats. Dr. Hörger's laboratory employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates population genetics/genomics, transcriptomics, experimental evolution, biochemical assays, and plant-microbial bioassays. This methodological diversity allows for comprehensive investigation of plant-pathogen interactions and provides students with training across molecular, biochemical, computational, and ecological techniques. Current main project: Role of heavy metals in plant disease resistance and interplay between abiotic stress adaptation and pathogen resistance Additional research: Impact of coevolution with pathogens on plant genome evolution using wild tomato species as model systems Dr. Hörger contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer for prominent journals including Molecular Biology and Evolution, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Flora, Tree Genetics and Genomes, and Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. Her research has been supported by prestigious funding mechanisms including the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship.

Kathryn LilleyView profile

Professor

• Spatial biology
• Quantitative proteomics
• Subcellular biology
• +7 more

Kathryn Lilley is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, where she has held academic positions since 2004. She is Director of the Cambridge Centre for Proteomics and a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. She also serves as a Member of the Milner Therapeutics Institute and previously led the Mass Spectrometry theme at the Rosalind Franklin Institute. Her research focuses on developing innovative technologies for spatial proteomics and transcriptomics, with particular emphasis on understanding the dynamic organization of proteins and RNA within cells. Her group creates robust open-source informatics pipelines that enable end-to-end analysis of proteomic data, making their methods widely accessible to the research community. Recent work has expanded into investigating the subcellular spatial transcriptome and its interactions with the proteome, generating significant interest in RNA biology. Lilley's publications reveal a strong focus on advancing spatial proteomics methodologies, with recent work emphasizing computational approaches, neural networks for data analysis, and novel techniques for studying RNA-protein interactions. Her research bridges biochemistry, computational biology, and cell biology, with applications in understanding cellular perturbation responses and disease mechanisms. 2020 Elected as a member of EMBO 2018 Human Proteomics Organisation, Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences Award 2017 European Proteomics Association Juan Pablo Albar Proteomics Pioneer award 2012 Fellow of the Royal Society of Biologists Lilley receives considerable funding from the Pharmaceutical Industry and collaborates widely both nationally and internationally. She heads a large research group that develops technologies for interrogating spatial distributions of the proteome and its reorganization upon cellular perturbation. Her work is highly regarded in the field, as evidenced by numerous plenary and keynote invitations at international conferences.

• Animal cell technology
• Systems biology
• CHO cell engineering
• +8 more

Nicole Borth is Associate Professor (associate Univ.Prof.) at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) and Deputy Head of the Institute of Animal Cell Technology and Systems Biology . Her work sits at the intersection of cell engineering, systems biology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with CHO and HEK293 cells as primary platforms. Research in a nutshell: Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas deletion and activation screens to map essential loci and boost recombinant protein titres. Epigenetic and synthetic-biology toolboxes (dCas9-DNMT, synthetic promoters, RNA devices) for multiplexed gene-control. Glyco-engineering and biomarker discovery to optimise critical quality attributes of monoclonal antibodies. Low-cost, animal-component-free media design and microfluidic single-cell cloning to shorten development timelines. Between 2022-2025 her group released a rapid succession of papers exploiting nanopore Cas9-targeted sequencing to pinpoint transgene integration sites, unveiled novel stress-biomarkers for difficult-to-express mAbs, and provided public-domain glyco-analytics for the NIST CHO reference line. Parallel projects apply similar tool-chains to AAV production in HEK293 and characterise human diamine oxidase biopharmaceuticals. Awards & funding: Specific prizes not enumerated in supplied text; however, the volume and recency of high-impact publications indicate sustained competitive funding. Contact: nicole.borth@boku.ac.at | Tel +43 1 47654-79064 | Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria.

Gerald StriednerView profile

Professor

• Bioprocess Engineering
• Upstream Process Development
• Recombinant Protein Production
• +5 more

Gerald Striedner serves as Professor and Head of the Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He leads a comprehensive research group focused on upstream process development for the production of recombinant proteins, plasmid DNA, and virus-like particles using bacterial, insect, and mammalian cell systems. His research interests span advanced process characterization , E. coli expression system design , rational bioprocess development , process monitoring and control , continuous biomanufacturing , and synthetic biology applications . His work integrates PAT/QbD concepts to create efficient production platforms for bio-pharmaceutical, industrial, and environmental applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on cutting-edge bioprocess technologies including non-canonical amino acid incorporation, advanced protein purification methods, continuous manufacturing platforms, and enzyme engineering for polymer degradation. His research demonstrates a consistent emphasis on both fundamental process understanding and practical applications for industrial biotechnology. As an academic leader, Professor Striedner supervises a diverse team including PhD students, postdocs, and senior scientists. His research group maintains active collaborations with academic partners across Europe, including institutions in Austria, Portugal, and Germany, reflecting the international scope of his work. His laboratory operates within BOKU's Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering, which features advanced pilot plant facilities for training and research purposes, providing an integrated environment for both fundamental research and practical application development in bioprocess engineering.

Justyna RechthalerView profile

Researcher

• Chromatography & Mass Spectrometry
• Bio Data Science
• Proteomics
• +5 more

Dr. Justyna Rechthaler is a Research Associate at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, specifically based at the Biotech Campus Tulln. She specializes in Chromatography & Mass Spectrometry and contributes to the Master's Program in Bio Data Science. Her research focuses on proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics applications across multiple domains. Dr. Rechthaler leads and contributes to several significant research projects including CIM (Tumor stroma analysis using nano LC-MS/MS), Myko-Ten (investigating mealworms for mycotoxin degradation), and OMICS 4.0 (bioinformatics in life science research). Her work combines advanced analytical techniques with computational approaches to address complex biological questions. Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a strong focus on optimizing protein identification in proteomics, particularly for insect models, with emphasis on sample preparation techniques and data processing methodologies. She also publishes extensively on metabolomics approaches for studying plant-pathogen interactions and novel microbial species with pharmaceutical potential. Her scientific contributions demonstrate expertise in: Nano LC-MS/MS methodologies Proteomics and metabolomics data analysis Mycotoxin research and food safety Cancer diagnostics and tumor microenvironment analysis Interdisciplinary bioinformatics approaches Dr. Rechthaler maintains active research collaborations, particularly with the University of Applied Sciences IMC Krems on cancer diagnostics projects that combine Raman microscopy with artificial intelligence. Her work bridges analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, and practical applications in healthcare and food safety. Her laboratory, known as Ra-Dia_M, focuses on advanced analytical techniques for biological research, particularly in the areas of proteomics and metabolomics, supporting multiple research projects across different scientific domains.

Wolfram WeckwerthView profile

Professor

• Metabolomics
• Systems Biology
• Proteomics
• +5 more

Wolfram Weckwerth is a Full Professor at the University of Vienna, Austria, and Head of the Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology since 2013. He founded the Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME) in 2015, integrating environmental, biotechnological, and biomedical research. His work spans plant, microbial, and human systems, focusing on genotype-environment-phenotype relationships using metabolomics, proteomics, and systems biology.

Andreas WanningerView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EvoDevo)
• Invertebrate Morphology
• Comparative Neuroanatomy
• +5 more

Andreas Wanninger is a full Professor and Head of the Department of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Vienna, Austria. His research focuses on Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EvoDevo) and MorphoEvoDevo , particularly in aquatic invertebrates with ciliated larvae (lophotrochozoans) and other protostomes. He leads the Wanninger Lab, which employs cutting-edge techniques such as immunolabeling, confocal microscopy, in situ hybridization, and single-cell RNA sequencing to explore comparative developmental genetics and morphology across diverse species. Editorial Leadership : Editor-in-Chief of Organisms Diversity and Evolution since 2011, Associate Editor for multiple journals. Research Impact : Over 150 peer-reviewed publications spanning molluscan neuroanatomy, Hox gene evolution, larval development, and environmental adaptation. Collaborative Networks : Coordinated the EU MOLMORPH network (2005–2010); active in international societies like the International Society for Invertebrate Morphology. Key Research Themes : Evolution of nervous and muscular systems in lophotrochozoans, molecular mechanisms of larval metamorphosis, comparative transcriptomics of shell and muscle formation, and phylogenetic implications of developmental patterns. His work bridges traditional morphology with modern molecular tools to address fundamental questions in animal evolution. Scientific Contributions : Notable for advancing understanding of molluscan Hox gene expression, neurogenesis in non-model taxa (e.g., bryozoans, sipunculans), and integrating morphological data with genomic insights. His lab maintains extensive stage-specific transcriptome databases for comparative studies. Contact & Affiliation : Based at the Unit for Integrative Zoology (Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna), he collaborates globally and invites researchers to join his team for projects on marine and freshwater invertebrates.