Find Academic Supervisors

• Human Genetics
• Genetic Mapping
• Inherited Disorders
• +7 more

Professor Tayfun Özçelik serves as Dean of the Faculty of Science at Bilkent University, where he chairs the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. A distinguished human geneticist, his career spans foundational work in identifying genes for inherited disorders and pioneering DNA identification in Turkish judiciary systems. He has led diagnostic genetics laboratories at both Istanbul and Bilkent Universities. 1986: MD, İstanbul University Medical School Postdoctoral: Physiology (Munich), Human Genetics (Yale), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Stanford) His research focuses on molecular characterization of inherited disorders including Prader-Willi syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and Parkinson’s. Current projects examine complex phenotypes like obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome through genetic mapping and reverse phenotyping in consanguineous families. Recent work explores type I IFN immunity in severe COVID-19 cases. Key scientific contributions include discoveries of SNRPN for PWS, PMP22 for CMT1A, and HTRA2 for Parkinson’s. His lab also identified genes VLDLR , WDR81 , and ATP8A2 linked to cerebellar hypoplasia. Scientific Awards TÜBİTAK Young Investigator Award (1996) Bayındır Medical Award (2006) TÜBİTAK Science Award (2012) Dr. Özçelik has advised numerous graduate students and collaborates internationally, particularly with Rockefeller University. His work extends to X chromosome inactivation patterns in autoimmune diseases and establishing genomic medicine infrastructure in Turkey.

• Genomics
• Primate Evolution
• Computational Biology
• +5 more

Timothy H. Webster is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Utah, where he directs the Primate Evolution and Genomics Lab (PEGL). He holds an adjunct faculty position at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences. Webster earned his PhD in Anthropology from Yale University in 2015, following an M.Phil from Yale and a BA in Anthropology and Zoology from Miami University. His research integrates genomics, computational biology, and evolutionary anthropology to study primate behavior, ecology, and adaptation. Key focus areas include: Primate genomics and speciation mechanisms Evolution of immune genes in response to pathogens Development of bioinformatics tools for NGS data Conservation genomics of endangered species 3D genome architecture in hominids Webster's publications emphasize computational approaches to evolutionary questions, with recurring themes in comparative genomics, host-pathogen interactions, and methodological innovations. His work spans diverse taxa including primates, reptiles, and humans. He has secured multiple grants including NSF funding for projects on social integration in primates and Leakey Foundation awards for microbiome and X-inactivation studies. Current doctoral students focus on primate genomics and desert tortoise ecology. The PEGL lab develops open-source bioinformatics tools and collaborates internationally on conservation genomics initiatives.

• Epigenetics
• X Chromosome Inactivation
• Genome Organization
• +9 more

Edith Heard is a Professor at the Collège de France since 2012, holding the Chair in Epigenetics and Cellular Memory . She also serves as Head of the Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit and leads the Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Team at the Institut Curie . Since 2019, she has been the Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) , an intergovernmental research organization involving 29 countries.

• Structural Virology
• Electron Microscopy
• X-ray Crystallography
• +8 more

Sarah Butcher is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme. She serves as a supervisor for doctoral programmes in Integrative Life Science and Microbiology and Biotechnology. Her research focuses on structural virology, particularly using electron microscopy to study virus structure, assembly, and host interactions. She leads the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility and coordinates the FINStruct Structural Biology Finland infrastructure. Her research interests span structural virology with emphasis on picornaviruses , coronaviruses , and flaviviruses . She applies advanced techniques including cryo-electron microscopy , X-ray crystallography , and image processing to understand viral architecture, host-pathogen interactions, and mechanisms of viral entry and assembly. Her work has significant implications for antiviral drug development and vaccine design. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on viral structure-function relationships, particularly in tick-borne encephalitis virus, coxsackieviruses, and SARS-CoV-2. Her research bridges structural biology with virology, producing insights into viral maturation, membrane interactions, and antiviral strategies. She has been instrumental in developing community standards for cryo-EM data validation and archiving. Alfred Kordelin Prize (2017) Maikki Friberg award (2013) Professor Butcher has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students and serves on multiple doctoral thesis committees. Her research has been supported by major competitive funding including Academy of Finland grants, Biocenter Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and European Commission projects. She currently leads the FINStruct infrastructure and the Instruct-ERIC Centre Finland. She directs the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility at the Institute of Biotechnology and coordinates the FINStruct Structural Biology Finland infrastructure, which provides state-of-the-art structural biology resources to researchers across Finland. Her team specializes in advanced cryo-EM techniques for studying complex biological structures, particularly viral particles and membrane proteins.

Thomas LeonardView profile

Professor

• Lipid signaling
• Protein kinases
• Signal transduction
• +5 more

Thomas Leonard is a tenured Professor at the Max Perutz Labs (University of Vienna), where he leads a research group focused on lipid-mediated signal transduction and structural mechanisms of kinase regulation . His lab combines structural biology , biochemistry , and cell biology to dissect how cells integrate spatial and temporal signals. PhD in Structural Biology (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge) Postdoctoral work at NIH, Bethesda His research explores how lipid second messengers like PIP3 and PI3P control kinases such as Akt, PDK1, and Sgk3, with implications for cancer , neurodevelopmental disorders , and metabolic diseases . Recent work redefined PHLPP1/2 as pseudophosphatases and revealed novel activation mechanisms in Protein Kinase D (PKD) and DMPK kinases. The lab's publication trends highlight structural phylogenomics , membrane scaffolding , and allosteric regulation . Collaborations with institutions like LMU Munich and FWF-funded projects underscore their interdisciplinary approach. Lab Manager: Ronja Reinhardt PhD Students: Sumire Antonioli, Magdalena Otto, Lucas Piech, Eva Krotenheerdt, Felix Wolkenstein Master Students: Gabriela Ariza, Emese Galgóczi, Stefan Lenz The lab actively recruits at Master, PhD, and Postdoc levels for molecular signaling research.

• Reproductive biology
• Uterine biology
• Transcriptomics
• +11 more

Professor Niamh Forde serves as Professor of Molecular Reproductive Biosciences within the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds. She co-founded and co-directs LeedsOmics, a virtual research institute advancing interdisciplinary omics applications. Her work bridges human and animal reproductive sciences through comparative molecular physiology across mammalian species. Education: BA (Mod) Biochemistry from Trinity College Dublin PhD from University College Dublin Research Focus: Professor Forde pioneers investigations into embryo-endometrial molecular crosstalk during early pregnancy using multi-omics approaches. Her lab integrates in vivo studies with cutting-edge in vitro platforms including microfluidics, organoids, and extracellular scaffolds to dissect non-coding RNA mechanisms and protein signaling. Key emphases include species-comparative analysis (human, bovine, porcine, murine), maternal metabolic impacts, embryo sex effects, and extracellular vesicle-mediated communication—all with implications for fertility, food security, and developmental origins of health and disease. Publication Trends: Recent work (2022-2025) demonstrates consistent innovation in modeling conceptus-maternal interactions through engineered systems like endometrium-on-a-chip. Publications reveal growing emphasis on conserved molecular pathways (e.g., PDI/CAPG proteins), microRNA networks in implantation, and translational applications for livestock fertility and human reproductive health. Her team increasingly leverages cross-species genomic analyses to identify evolutionary innovations underpinning placental mammal pregnancy. Leadership and Collaboration: As Associate Editor for Reproduction and member of SSR/SRF/Biochemical Society, she shapes reproductive science discourse. Her affiliations with Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre foster translational synergies. Current PhD projects focus on 3D uterine modeling and non-coding RNA function, training next-generation scientists in advanced reproductive technologies.

• RNA Splicing
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• +3 more

Andrey Damianov is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the MIMG School of Medicine at UCLA. His research focuses on identifying novel splicing regulatory complexes, particularly investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying RNA splicing and its role in cancer, neurodegeneration, and genetic disorders. He leads an NIH/NIGMS-funded project (R01GM127473) exploring splicing regulatory complexes. Damianov's work has been published in high-impact journals such as Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , Nat Struct Mol Biol , and Cell , with research emphasizing RNA splicing factors, spliceosome components, and their interactions with chromatin. Key research interests include the role of mutations in splicing factors (e.g., SF3B1), the regulation of synaptic transmission via Rbfox proteins, and the mechanism of Xist-mediated gene silencing. His collaborations with researchers like Black DL and Wohlschlegel highlight interdisciplinary efforts in molecular biology and cell biology. Publications span topics such as cancer biology, neurodegenerative diseases, and the structural biology of RNA-binding proteins. His work bridges basic molecular mechanisms with translational insights into genetic disorders and cancer.

LIU BoxiangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Machine Learning
• +3 more

Asst Prof LIU Boxiang holds the position of Assistant Professor and NUS Presidential Young Professorship at the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS), within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on integrating multi-omics approaches with computational methods to study complex diseases such as coronary artery disease and age-related macular degeneration. He specializes in developing statistical and machine learning tools for genomic analysis, including eQTL mapping and deep learning architectures for gene expression regulation. Education: BA in Biophysics (Illinois Wesleyan University), MS and PhD in Bioinformatics (Stanford University). He contributed to the GTEx consortium and is part of the Asian Immune Diversity Atlas (AIDA) initiative. His lab develops methods like ANTseq for ancestry determination and scPrediXcan for cell-type-specific transcriptome studies. Research Interests: Functional genomics, eQTL analysis, deep learning in biomedicine, and computational tools for omics data integration. His work bridges disciplines such as natural language processing and computer vision with biological questions. Scientific Awards: NUS Presidential Young Professorship (2021). His lab's innovations include ParaMed, a biomedical translation dataset, and LinearDesign for optimized mRNA stability. Advising and Grants: Leads the Liu Lab (boxiangliulab.com), focusing on single-cell genomics, mitochondrial dynamics, and computational biomedicine. Collaborates on projects like the RESET cohort study for cardiovascular disease prevention.

Bradley MarksView profile

Professor

• Food Safety Engineering
• Microbial Inactivation Modeling
• Thermal Processing Validation
• +3 more

Dr. Bradley P. Marks, P.E., is a Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) with a dual appointment in Food Science and Human Nutrition. As Chairperson of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering in the College of Engineering, he leads research in food safety engineering, focusing on microbial inactivation modeling and process validation for ready-to-eat foods. His work spans low-moisture foods, meat/poultry, and fresh produce, and has secured over $20M in federal and industry grants. Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University (1993) M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University (1992) B.S. in Biosystems Engineering, Michigan State University (1989) Dr. Marks’ research encompasses: Thermal inactivation modeling for Salmonella and other pathogens Predictive microbiology uncertainty quantification Low-energy x-ray irradiation for food pasteurization Bacterial transfer/transport modeling in fresh-cut produce Thermal process validation for meat, poultry, and nut products Recent publications analyze Salmonella inactivation trends across food matrices and storage conditions. Awards include the MSU William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award (2017), multiple Withrow Teaching Awards (2002-2018), and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (1989). He served as Biosystems Engineering Undergraduate Program Coordinator for 13 years, guiding ABET accreditation cycles. Scientific Awards: ASABE A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award (2006) CIC Academic Leadership Program Fellow (2013-2014) 20+ industry and academic partnership awards MSU Food Fellow

Manish B. ShahView profile

Associate Professor

• Drug Metabolism
• Structural Biology
• Cytochrome P450 Enzymes
• +3 more

Manish B. Shah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS). He specializes in structural biology and drug metabolism, with a focus on Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2U1). His research explores genetic polymorphisms' impact on drug metabolism and pharmacogenomic applications. Dr. Shah holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK, and has held postdoctoral positions at institutions including UC San Diego and the University at Buffalo. Education: PhD, University of Nottingham, UK MSc, University of Nottingham, UK BPharm, Karnatak University, India Research Interests: Dr. Shah's work centers on understanding enzyme structure-function relationships, particularly in CYP enzymes. He investigates genetic variations' effects on drug metabolism efficiency and explores ligand binding mechanisms using X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling. His studies aim to improve personalized medicine through pharmacogenomic insights. Awards and Recognition: Best Abstract Award (ASPET 2012) Invited Reviewer for American Heart Association grants (2024) Councilor, ASPET Drug Metabolism Division (2020–2023) NIH MSFA Study Section Reviewer (2020) Professional Contributions: Judged student/postdoc research at major conferences (2020, 2013) Member: American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, American Heart Association Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on structural enzymology and pharmacogenomics at ACPHS. His lab employs advanced biophysical techniques to study enzyme-drug interactions.

• Virology
• Structural Biology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Brenda Hogue is a Professor in the School of Life Sciences and the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on coronavirus assembly, viroporin function, and structural biology using advanced techniques like cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). She collaborates across disciplines to develop therapeutic targets and vaccines. Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCLA School of Medicine (NIH NRSA, 1987–1989) PhD, University of Tennessee, Knoxville MEd, Duke University Research Interests: Coronavirus assembly mechanisms at intracellular membranes Role of viroporins in inflammation and viral release XFEL-based structural studies of viruses and proteins Her work bridges virology, structural biology, and engineering, with applications in antiviral drug design. Articles: Focus on structural analysis of viruses using XFELs, protein localization, and vaccine component development. Awards: 2014 ASU Devils’ Advocates Apple Polishing Faculty Recognition 2013 ASU Commission on the Status of Women Award 2013 Excellence in Diversity Nominee Grants/Advising: Leads NIH- and NSF-funded projects on viral structure, collaborates with engineers, and mentors students in virology and structural biology. Labs/Teams: Active in the Biodesign Center and XFEL facilities at SLAC and European XFEL.

• PET Imaging
• Bio-organic Chemistry
• Probes for Imaging Enzyme Activity
• +4 more

Christopher Phenix is a Lecturer at Lakehead University, where he has taught courses in Biochemistry (I and II) and Drug Design since 2010. He also served as a Guest Lecturer on PET molecular imaging and tyrosine kinase receptors at Lakehead University and the University of Regina. Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry (2007), University of Saskatchewan B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry (2000), University of Regina Dr. Phenix specializes in PET imaging , bio-organic chemistry , and the development of probes for enzyme activity imaging . His work integrates radiochemistry , drug design , and enzymology to create molecular tools for cancer and neurodegenerative disease imaging. His recent publications focus on enzyme-targeting probes , covalent inhibitors , and noninvasive imaging techniques . Research Supervision: Dr. Phenix has mentored graduate students such as Daniel Tesolin (M.Sc.), Sepideh Dagdar (Ph.D.), Brenda Huska (M.Sc.), and Brady Vigliarolo (Ph.D.), alongside postdoctoral fellows and research associates.

Michael O'NeillView profile

Associate Professor

• Epigenetics
• Genomic Imprinting
• Sex Chromosome Biology
• +3 more

Michael O'Neill is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut , affiliated with the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology / Genetics and Genomics . His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders and sex chromosome biology, particularly the role of X-linked imprinted genes in transgenerational effects and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). PhD: University of Texas at Austin Post-doctoral study: University of Melbourne, Princeton University Research highlights include: Elucidating the X Chromosome Imprinting Hypothesis through Turner Syndrome mouse models Discovering the role of Xlr3 in MSCI and its transgenerational consequences Investigating epigenetic transmission across generations Characterizing retroelement dynamics in speciation and genome evolution His recent publications emphasize X-linked gene regulation , retrotransposon activity , and transgenerational epigenetic effects across mammals, fish, and oceanic species. Contact: michael.oneill@uconn.edu | Phone: 860-486-6856

Jose PoloView profile

Professor

• Epigenetics
• Stem Cell Biology
• Cell Reprogramming
• +5 more

Professor Jose Polo is the inaugural Director of the Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics (ACE) and group leader at the South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI) at the University of Adelaide. He holds appointments in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and School of Biomedicine. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms governing cell identity, reprogramming, and cancer. Key achievements include co-founding Mogrify Ltd to translate reprogramming technologies into therapies and pioneering induced trophoblast stem cell (iTSC) research. Education: Biochemistry degree from Buenos Aires University, PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2008). Postdoctoral training at Harvard Stem Cell Institute (2008–2011). Established independent research groups at Monash University (2011–2021) and now at the University of Adelaide since 2021. Research Interests: Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency, cellular reprogramming, cancer initiation/progression, and synthetic cell biology. Techniques include stem cell models, genomic approaches (ChIP, CUT&RUN, single-cell omics), and novel methods like TINC for protein complex analysis. Grants & Awards: Over 15 grants including NHMRC, ARC, and industry partnerships. Recognitions include the Metcalf Award, Victorian Tall Poppy Award, and Scrip Innovation Award. Advising & Labs: Supervised over 20 PhD/Masters students and postdocs. Current lab projects include iBlastoid development, iTSC models for placental research, and epigenetic mechanisms in cancer.

• Nanomaterials
• Materials Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• +5 more

Muhammet S. Toprak is a Professor of Materials Chemistry at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, leading the Nanochemistry Research Group within the Bio-Opto-Nano Physics (BON) department. His research focuses on nanoscale material design, high-throughput synthesis methodologies, and advanced characterization techniques for energy and biomedical applications. He holds a PhD from KTH and conducted postdoctoral research at UC Santa Barbara. His academic roles include teaching courses like Chemistry of Nanomaterials and Nanothermodynamics . Toprak's academic journey includes a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Middle East Technical University (Turkey) and a Docent title (2009) before becoming a full Professor (2015). His work spans nanomaterials for thermoelectrics, biomedical imaging, and sustainable materials processing. Key research areas include bismuth chalcogenides, magnetic-core nanocomposites, and X-ray fluorescent nanoparticles for diagnostic applications. His group emphasizes scalable synthesis routes and green chemistry principles. Notable projects include developing thermoelectric materials for energy harvesting and designing multifunctional nanoprobes for bioimaging. He collaborates internationally on nanotoxicology studies and material characterization standards. Toprak oversees the KTH Nanochemistry Lab and contributes to initiatives like SPFIT (Swedish Platform for Functional Imaging Technologies). His teaching integrates advanced nanotechnology concepts with practical laboratory training in nanomaterials analysis and device fabrication.