معرفی
Assaf Gilad is a Professor at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences (ChEMS), with joint appointments in Radiology (College of Human Medicine) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (College of Engineering). His research focuses on synthetic biology, medical imaging, and neurobiology, particularly developing genetically encoded biosensors and MRI tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Gilad holds a B.A. from Technion, M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute, and joined MSU in 2017 after faculty roles at Johns Hopkins University.
Education:
- B.A. Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, 1996
- M.Sc. Life Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1999
- Ph.D. Life Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2003
Research Interests:
His interdisciplinary work integrates synthetic biology with MRI to create tools for brain imaging and neuromodulation. Key focuses include constructing synthetic gene circuits, magnetobiomanipulation, and engineering proteins for electromagnetic sensing. Recent advancements include bioremediation of gadolinium waste and magnetogenetic stimulation for epilepsy treatment.
Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with recent contributions on CEST MRI, bioluminescent indicators, and protein engineering. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, emphasizing translational research.
Awards:
- Withrow Distinguished Scholar Award (2025)
- Withrow Excellence in Diversity Sustained Excellence Award (2024)
Advising & Lab Team: Supervises over 20 students/postdocs, including graduate students in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. The Gilad Lab collaborates widely, hosting AGEP scholars and fostering innovation in synthetic biology and medical imaging.
Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator of the Gilad Lab at MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, leading projects on electromagnetic-sensing proteins and MRI reporter genes.
