Find Academic Supervisors

Simon SchäferView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Stem Cell Research
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Simon Schäfer leads the Schäfer Lab at the Technische Universität München , focusing on engineering advanced organoid systems to study human brain development, disease modeling, and repair mechanisms. His work bridges stem cell biology, gene editing, and bioengineering to develop personalized therapies for brain disorders. Stem Cell & Organoid Technology Neurodevelopmental Mechanisms Neurodegenerative Disease Models Gene Editing & Neuroimmune Interactions Translational Neuroscience Recent research emphasizes brain organoid development, microglia phenotypes, and neurodevelopmental timing anomalies in autism. His team’s work also explores zika virus interactions with glioblastoma stem cells and neuronal plasticity in psychiatric disorders. Scientific awards and funding include support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF), and Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy). Collaborations span institutions like the TUM Center for Organoid Systems. Advises 6 students (2 PhD, 1 MSc, 3 associated) Labs include Schäfer Lab, COS@TranslaTUM Contact: simon.schafer@tum.de

Jörg SchultzView profile

Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Evolutionary Genomics
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Jörg Schultz serves as a Professor for Bioinformatics at the Faculty of Biology, University of Würzburg, a position he has held since 2003. He is also a Group Leader at the Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB) and was a member of the CCTB Managing Board from 2015-2019. His academic journey includes significant roles as Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (2002-2003) and at cellzome in Heidelberg (2000-2002). He completed his PhD studies at EMBL Heidelberg (1996-2000) after conducting his diploma thesis there in 1995-1996, following biology studies at the University of Konstanz (1991-1996). Prof. Schultz's research spans bioinformatics, computational biology, and evolutionary genomics, with notable contributions to protein domain analysis, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics. His recent work has focused extensively on plant genomics, particularly studying carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap to uncover the evolutionary roots of plant carnivory. His research integrates computational methods with biological questions to address fundamental evolutionary patterns and molecular mechanisms across diverse organisms. Prof. Schultz has maintained a prolific publication record since the late 1990s, with his most recent work demonstrating continued innovation in computational approaches to biological questions. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory from foundational work on protein domain evolution (including the development of the SMART database) to current research on plant genomics, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics tool development. His work shows particular strength in bridging computational methodology with biological insight across multiple domains. Among his significant contributions is the development of the ITS2 Database, a widely used resource for phylogenetic analyses, along with various computational tools including ALVIS for sequence alignment visualization, reper for repetitive element analysis, and BCdatabaser for DNA barcoding. These resources have advanced methodological capabilities in the bioinformatics community. As an academic mentor, Prof. Schultz has guided numerous students and researchers through his laboratory at the University of Würzburg, contributing significantly to the education and training of the next generation of bioinformaticians. His leadership roles demonstrate his commitment to advancing computational and theoretical biology as academic disciplines while maintaining strong connections between computational approaches and biological discovery.

G. Petur NielsenView profile

Professor

• Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology
• Molecular Genetics of Bone Tumors
• Chordoma Research
• +5 more

G. Petur Nielsen, MD is a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and serves as Subspecialty Head, Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital . With a clinical focus on bone and soft tissue tumors, his expertise spans diagnostic pathology, molecular genetics of neoplasms, and ancillary testing applications. Research interests center on Pathology and biology of bone/soft tissue tumors Molecular genetics of bone and soft tissue neoplasms Chordoma and sarcoma research Epithelioid vascular tumor differentiation Mesenchymal tumors of the female genital tract His work includes landmark studies on tumor misdiagnosis rates, immunohistochemical profiling, and genomic analysis of chordomas. Scientific contributions appear in leading journals like Nature and American Journal of Surgical Pathology , with major emphasis on Molecular tumor classification Mutational signature analysis Translational oncology Diagnostic accuracy improvement Genomic instability mechanisms

• Evolutionary Biology
• Social Insect Behavior
• Termite Ecology
• +6 more

Judith Korb is a Professor at the University of Freiburg, working within the Institute of Biology I in the department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology. She leads the Korb Lab, which focuses on social insects, particularly termites, examining their evolution, ecology, and sociobiology. Her research spans multiple areas of evolutionary biology and social insect behavior, with a particular emphasis on termite societies. Dr. Korb has made significant contributions to understanding social evolution, caste differentiation, reproductive division of labor, and the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior in termites. Her work explores the exceptional longevity of social insect queens, termite mound architecture, chemical communication in social insects, and the genomic basis of eusociality. Dr. Korb's research combines field studies in Africa with molecular and genomic approaches to unravel the complexities of social insect biology. Dr. Korb's publication record demonstrates consistent scientific productivity, with numerous high-impact papers in leading journals across evolutionary biology, ecology, and genomics. Recent work has focused on the genomic basis of social evolution, aging in social insects, and termite ecology, revealing important insights into how sociality reshapes fundamental biological processes like aging and development. Over 200 publications including high-impact papers in Nature Ecology and Evolution, PNAS, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Contributor to authoritative references including the Encyclopedia of Social Insects Extensive international collaborations across Europe, Africa, and North America Dr. Korb has supervised numerous students and collaborated extensively with researchers worldwide, contributing significantly to our understanding of social evolution in termites and other insects. Her laboratory employs a range of methodological approaches, including behavioral observations, molecular techniques, genomic analyses, and field ecology to investigate the evolution and maintenance of sociality in insects.

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• One Health
• Sensor Technology
• +7 more

Tina Kabelitz is a Researcher at the Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB) , leading the working group Infections and AMR in Farm Animals since September 2021. Her work integrates sensor technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock systems through a One Health approach. Education : PhD in Epigenetics of Plants (University of Potsdam, 2011-2015) MSc Molecular and Cellular Biology (University of Potsdam, 2009-2011) BSc Molecular Biology/Physiology (University of Potsdam, 2006-2009) Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance dynamics in livestock, particularly through environmental pathways in pig and poultry farming. She investigates resilient housing design for biosecurity and animal welfare, microbiome changes in manure storage , and machine learning-based mastitis risk assessment using multisensor systems. Her projects include LeibnizLabPP (pandemic preparedness), AirBarn (bioaerosol AMR transmission), ENVIRE (AMR control in chicken systems), and AMR-PIG (AMR spread mechanisms). Recent publications analyze AMR gene dynamics in manure systems (2025), machine learning applications for mastitis prediction (2025), and environmental impacts of dairy farming mitigation strategies (2024). Her work emphasizes systemic solutions like anaerobic digestion plants and slurry injection techniques to reduce emissions.

• Transposable elements
• Somatic mutations
• Cancer genomics
• +7 more

Eunjung (Alice) Lee, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She serves as a member of the Global Faculty at the University of Cologne, specifically affiliated with their Core Profile Area on Aging-Associated Diseases and the CECAD Cluster of Excellence focused on cellular stress responses in aging-associated diseases. Dr. Lee received her PhD in Bioinformatics from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), conducting research in integrative systems biology with Trey Ideker at the University of California, San Diego. She completed her postdoctoral training with Peter J. Park at Harvard Medical School. Her educational background combines computational expertise with biological applications, establishing her unique position at the intersection of bioinformatics and disease mechanisms. Dr. Lee's research program centers on elucidating the role of transposable elements and somatic mutations in human pathologies including cancer, aging processes, and neurodegenerative conditions. Her laboratory has pioneered computational methods for analyzing cancer whole genome and single-neuron genome sequencing data, making landmark discoveries about somatic retrotransposition in human cancers and the brain. Her team has demonstrated how transposons influence disease through multiple mechanisms including shaping cancer immunity, generating novel molecules via alternative splicing in human tissues and cancers, and contributing to rare diseases through RNA splicing alterations. Currently, her research focuses on developing intervention strategies targeting these mechanisms and investigating somatic mutation patterns in neurodegenerative conditions using cutting-edge single-cell genomic technologies. Analysis of Dr. Lee's publication record reveals a strategic progression from foundational discoveries about somatic retrotransposition in cancers to increasingly sophisticated investigations of genomic mosaicism across diverse disease contexts. Her work consistently bridges computational innovation with biological insight, with recent publications emphasizing single-cell resolution of somatic mutations in neurodegeneration and DNA repair disorders. The research demonstrates growing methodological sophistication and clinical relevance, particularly in connecting genomic instability mechanisms to potential therapeutic approaches. NIH New Innovator Award (DP2) recognizing high-impact, early-stage investigation Leadership of transposon analysis working group in the SMaHT (Somatic Mosaicism Across Human Tissue) Network, an NIH consortium Co-organizer of the inaugural Keystone meeting on somatic mosaicism (2025) Regularly invited speaker at major international conferences on transposons, genomics, and genetics Dr. Lee leads an active research program developing and applying computational genomics methods to investigate somatic genomic variation. Her laboratory maintains strong connections with the broader scientific community through leadership roles in national consortia and conference organization. She is actively shaping the emerging field of somatic mosaicism research, with particular emphasis on translating basic genomic discoveries into potential clinical applications for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Her work bridges multiple disciplines including computational biology, cancer genomics, neuroscience, and aging research.

Claude BeckerView profile

Professor

• Plant Epigenetics
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Allelopathy
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Claude Becker is a faculty member at the Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , specializing in plant genetics and epigenetics. His research focuses on biochemical interactions in plant communities and the role of epigenetic marks in environmental adaptation. Specializations: Epigenetic regulation, allelopathy, plant-microbe interactions, DNA methylation dynamics Key Projects: Studying heritable phenotypic variation in clonal plants, analyzing stress-responsive epigenetic hotspots, and investigating gene cluster evolution in Oryza species. Recent publications highlight his work on transposable element dynamics, microbiome feedback mechanisms, and metabolic specialization in plant interactions. His research combines molecular biology with ecological perspectives to understand plant adaptation strategies. Contact: claude.becker@biologie.uni-muenchen.de

Andreas P.M. WeberView profile

Professor

• Plant Biology
• Photosynthesis Research
• Plant Metabolism
• +5 more

Professor Andreas P.M. Weber is a leading researcher at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany. His work focuses on unraveling the genetic design principles underlying photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathways in land plants, with particular emphasis on the evolution of C4 photosynthesis via C3-C4 intermediate photosynthesis and the ecological role of these intermediates. Dr. Weber's research spans multiple interdisciplinary areas: Evolutionary and comparative transcriptomics and genomics of photosynthetic pathways Systems biology approaches to understanding plant metabolism Biochemical and physiological mechanisms of C3, C4, and C3-C4 intermediate photosynthesis Synthetic biology applications for improving photosynthetic efficiency Plant adaptation to environmental conditions through metabolic regulation Analysis of Professor Weber's publication record (2013-2024) reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis. His work demonstrates increasing integration of genomic, evolutionary, and synthetic biology approaches to address fundamental questions in plant metabolism while developing practical applications for improving crop productivity. The research shows particular strength in C4 photosynthesis evolution, photorespiratory pathways, and metabolic engineering. Professor Weber leads research within the Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Facility and is actively involved with the CEPLAS (Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences) initiative at Heinrich Heine University. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach integrating evolutionary biology, systems biology, biochemistry, and plant physiology to address questions at the interface of plant development and metabolism.

Mariya LogachevaView profile

Associate Professor

• Plant Genomics
• Non-photosynthetic Plants Genomics
• Invasive Plants Genomics
• +3 more

Mariya Logacheva is an Associate Professor at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, where she leads a research group at the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology. Her work focuses on understanding plant genome dynamics with applications to both fundamental and practical aspects of plant biology. Dr. Logacheva's primary research interests include: Genomics of non-photosynthetic plants Genomics of invasive plants Buckwheat genomics and mapping genes for agriculturally important traits Her research addresses the enormous complexity of plant genomes characterized by segmental and whole-genome duplications, as well as the activity of transposable elements. She employs high-throughput sequencing approaches to study genome evolution in challenging plant systems, particularly mycoheterotrophic species that have undergone significant genome reduction. Dr. Logacheva's publication record shows consistent contributions to plant genomics, with recent work spanning from 2015 to 2022. Her research demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between molecular biology, evolutionary studies, and practical agricultural applications, particularly in buckwheat genomics. She actively collaborates with international researchers from institutions across Russia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Thailand, and Japan, reflecting the global nature of contemporary genomic research.

• Fungal Genomics
• Plant Pathology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Eva Stukenbrock leads the Max Planck Fellow Group Environmental Genomics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. Her research focuses on the genomic evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi, particularly Zymoseptoria tritici , using population genomics and comparative approaches to unravel mechanisms of host specialization, virulence, and genome plasticity. Key Research Areas: Fungal plant pathogens, evolutionary genomics, population genetics, host-pathogen interactions, and microbiome dynamics Academic Leadership: Supervised 15+ PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s students in fungal pathogenesis and genomics Technical Innovation: Developed confocal microscopy pipelines for plant-fungal interaction analysis Her recent work reveals how domestication history shaped pathogen emergence, with studies on barley net blotch and oat crown rust in 2024. She has also uncovered roles of horizontal chromosome transfer in asexual pathogens and accessory chromosome loss leading to endophytic lifestyle shifts. Current projects include AI-assisted infection dynamics and tRNA composition analyses in fungal adaptation. Selected scientific trends from her 15 most recent articles include: Host specialization linked to vernalization requirements Segmental duplications driving accessory genome evolution Hybrid incompatibilities as speciation drivers Seed microbiome differences between wild and domesticated wheat Her lab collaborates with institutions like Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and CRC Press , focusing on fungal effector biology , chromatin regulation , and agricultural disease management .

• Genomics
• Transposable Elements
• Somatic Mutations
• +3 more

Eunjung (Alice) Lee is an Associate Professor in Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her NIH-funded research investigates transposable elements and somatic mutations in cancer, aging, and neurodegeneration. Research Breakthroughs: Pioneered computational methods proving somatic retrotransposition in human cancers and neurons. Demonstrated how transposons shape cancer immunity and generate novel RNA isoforms through alternative splicing. Leadership: Leads transposon analysis for NIH's SMaHT Network and co-organizes the inaugural Keystone meeting on somatic mosaicism (2025). Received NIH New Innovator Award for high-impact genomic research.

• Molecular Plant Physiology
• Molecular Systems Biology
• Plant Metabolism
• +3 more

Prof. Lisa Fürtauer is an Assistant Professor at RWTH Aachen University, affiliated with the Department of Molecular Plant Physiology. Her research focuses on molecular systems biology and plant metabolism, particularly investigating carbohydrate metabolism regulation, stress responses, and subcellular dynamics. She leads studies on sucrose biosynthesis, vacuolar functions, and plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Her work integrates computational tools like TEtrimmer for genomic analysis and develops educational platforms such as Computational Photosynthesis to model photosynthesis processes. She also explores halophyte biology and plant immunity mechanisms, contributing to advancements in plant science and biotechnology.

• Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Computational Biology
• +5 more

Jorge Duitama is an Assistant Professor at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, where he has been employed since 2018. He previously held a Visiting Professor position at the same institution from 2016 to 2018. His academic and professional journey includes roles as a Researcher in Bioinformatics at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) (2012–2016) and a Postdoc in Bioinformatics at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2011–2012). He completed a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Connecticut (2007–2010), a Magister in Systems Engineering (2003–2004), and a Bachelor of Systems and Computing Engineering (1998–2002) at Universidad de los Andes. Research Interests : Bioinformatics, genomics, and computational biology with applications in plant genetics, structural variant analysis, and tropical disease pathogens. His work integrates machine learning and algorithm development for genotyping-by-sequencing data. Recent Publications : His 15 most recent articles focus on structural variants in rice genomes, transposable elements in lima beans, genome assembly algorithms (NGSEP 4), lipidomic profiling in cocoa, and genomic resources for crop improvement. Peer Review : Active reviewer for journals including Advanced Science , Communications Biology , and Nature Communications .

Ralph PanstrugaView profile

Professor

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Fungal Pathogenesis
• Plant Immunity
• +3 more

Ralph Panstruga is a Professor at RWTH Aachen University, leading the Unit of Plant Molecular Cell Biology within the Institute for Biology I. His research focuses on plant-pathogen interactions, particularly powdery mildew fungi, and the molecular mechanisms of plant immunity. Key areas: host susceptibility factors, effector proteins, and evolutionary genomics Current projects: investigating MLO proteins, extracellular vesicles, and nitrogen-dependent resistance trade-offs Recent publications highlight his work on fungal virulence strategies, cross-kingdom signaling via MIF/MDL proteins, and advanced methodologies in plant pathogen genomics. Panstruga's team develops tools for transposable element analysis and studies genome evolution in obligate biotrophs. Contact: panstruga@bio1.rwth-aachen.de

• Stem Cell Metabolism
• Mitochondrial Disorders
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• +7 more

Alessandro Prigione is a Professor at the Department of General Pediatrics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, leading the Stem Cell Metabolism research group. His work focuses on bridging human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based neuronal disease modeling with mitochondrial metabolism to address neurodegenerative diseases in children. Key affiliations: University Children’s Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Research Interests: Investigating mitochondrial disorders such as Leigh syndrome and Huntington’s disease in early-onset neurodegeneration. Utilizing patient-derived iPSCs to generate neuronal/glial cells and cerebral organoids for disease-specific modeling. Identifying therapeutic compounds through high-throughput screenings targeting mitochondrial and neuronal function. Integrating CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, mitochondrial assays, and high-content analysis for mechanistic studies. Lab & Collaborations: His lab develops innovative models for mitochondrial diseases, emphasizing metabolic coupling in human neurons and astrocytes. Collaborations include institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin.