Maude Baldwin is the Director of the Evolution of Sensory and Physiological Systems department at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. Her research focuses on the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying sensory receptor evolution in vertebrates, particularly in birds. Education : Ph.D. from Harvard University (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 2007-2014); B.A. from New York University (Gallatin School of Individualized Study, 2005). Research Interests include: Evolution of taste receptors, such as the repurposing of savory receptors for sweet detection in hummingbirds. Convergent evolution in sensory systems across vertebrates. Integrative approaches combining molecular methods, cell culture, and behavioral studies. Impact of dietary shifts on ecological and physiological adaptations. Publication Trends reveal a focus on comparative genomics , protein evolution , and sensory system adaptation , with specific attention to bird taste receptors , gene loss , and echolocation genetics . Labs & Teams : Baldwin leads a multidisciplinary team at the Max Planck Institute, recruiting researchers in comparative genomics , organoid technology , and vertebrate natural history . The group investigates sensory-diet coevolution and physiological trade-offs.
Tanja Narancic is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at University College Dublin (UCD). She is also an academic collaborator at the Bioeconomy Research Centre BiOrbic, where she coordinates multiple research projects among PIs, PostDocs, PhD students, and designs projects proposed by industrial partners. Dr. Narancic earned her PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 2012, followed by postdoctoral research at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Belgrade. In 2013, she joined University College Dublin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow under Prof. Kevin O'Connor, where she investigated microbial metabolic pathways using proteomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology tools as part of FP7 and H2020 projects. She became a Research Fellow at BiOrbic in 2019 before advancing to her current position as Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on elucidating bacterial metabolism and leveraging synthetic biology tools to exploit bacteria for producing high-value products. Key research areas include: Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Transcriptomics for microbial pathway analysis Metabolic engineering for bioproduction Biocatalysis and enzyme optimization Protein engineering and purification Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from waste streams Plastic upcycling and biodegradation technologies Dr. Narancic's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on converting plastic waste into valuable biodegradable materials through innovative biotechnological approaches. Her recent work has centered on developing microbial systems for upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins, and other recalcitrant plastics into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and other high-value products. She has made significant contributions to understanding the metabolic pathways involved in plastic monomer conversion and has developed engineered strains with enhanced capabilities for plastic upcycling. As a principal investigator, Dr. Narancic leads multiple significant research projects including the Ad Astra Studentship (2023-2028), the UPLIFT project on sustainable plastics for food packaging (2021-2025), and the PROMOFER project (2024-2028) on optimizing PHB production. She also serves as a reviewer for numerous prestigious journals including Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Journal of Applied Microbiology, and Microbial Biotechnology. Her teaching portfolio includes coordination of multiple modules such as Bioprocessing, Metabolism and Disease, and SynBio for Bioeconomy, demonstrating her commitment to educating the next generation of scientists in both fundamental and applied aspects of biomolecular science.
Dr. Fumiya Iida is a researcher affiliated with the University of Cambridge , contributing to interdisciplinary research through Cambridge Reproduction and the Department of Engineering . His work spans bio-inspired robotics , soft robotics , and embodied intelligence , with a focus on biomechanics and human-robot interaction. His research integrates evolutionary robotics , reservoir computing , and tactile sensing , aiming to bridge engineering, physiology, and synthetic biology. Recent publications highlight innovations in Soft robotic actuation Robust control systems Multimodal sensor integration Human-robot collaborative tasks Dr. Iida's 15 most recent 2025 articles emphasize reservoir computing , soft sensor design , and adaptive motor coordination , reflecting his commitment to advancing embodied intelligence in robotics. No formal awards or student advisement details were found in the provided texts.
Eduardo Azevedo is the John M. Bendheim and Thomas L. Bendheim Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School , University of Pennsylvania. He holds a courtesy appointment as Professor of Economics and was awarded the 2016 Sloan Foundation Fellowship. His research integrates economic theory with practical applications across science and business domains. His research interests include: Market design Selection markets Social science genetics Experimental economics Game theory Recent publication trends focus on: Economic theory applications to healthcare and digital markets Empirical Bayes methods in A/B testing Adverse selection in insurance markets Strategic behavior in two-sided matching Evolutionary behavioral economics He serves as an instructor for BEPP2500 - Managerial Economics , emphasizing real-world application of microeconomic theory to business problems. His work also involves software development for economic research, including MATLAB-based empirical Bayes tools for analyzing treatment effects in large-scale experiments. Scientific awards : Sloan Foundation Fellow (2016)
Prof. Dr. André Bardow is a Full Professor in Energy and Process Systems Engineering at ETH Zurich , leading research at the intersection of thermodynamics, machine learning, and sustainable energy systems. Previously, he held professorships at RWTH Aachen University (2010-2020) and TU Delft (2007-2010). He also served as part-time director at Forschungszentrum Jülich (2017-2022) and visiting professor at UC Santa Barbara (2015/16). His work focuses on energy systems optimization , computer-aided molecular design , and CO2 capture & utilization . PhD from RWTH Aachen University Current ETH Zurich affiliation Former roles at RWTH Aachen, TU Delft, Jülich Research Center His research integrates machine learning with thermodynamic modeling to optimize processes like crystallization and electrochemical cooling . Recent publications demonstrate advancements in solvent design, CO2 transport LCA, and ORC working fluid optimization. He chairs the VDI Technical Committee for Thermodynamics (2016-2024) and has received multiple awards including the Covestro Science Award and Arnold-Eucken-Award . Current projects address carbon circular economies , electrified chemical production , and AI-driven process optimization . His lab at ETH Zurich develops cutting-edge technologies like ML-CAMPD frameworks for sustainable separation processes and photoacid-based CO2 capture systems. Funding from the H2020 Systemic Expansion of Circular Ecosystems (grant 101036854) supports these initiatives. 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2022 Inaugural Lecture: "To sustainability and beyond: A computer-animated story on energy & chemicals" Recipient of multiple teaching and research excellence awards
David S. Eisenberg is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he also serves as Director of the UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics and as an HHMI Investigator. His research focuses on protein interactions, particularly the structural basis for conversion of normal proteins to the amyloid state and conversion of prions to the infectious state. Dr. Eisenberg earned his undergraduate degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard College and his D.Phil. degree in theoretical chemistry from Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. His postdoctoral research was on ice and water with Walter Kauzmann at Princeton and in protein crystallography with Richard Dickerson. He joined the UCLA faculty after his postdoctoral studies. Dr. Eisenberg and his research group focus on protein interactions in amyloid and prion diseases. These diseases involve protein aggregation where normal functional proteins convert to abnormal aggregated forms. Systemic amyloid diseases like dialysis-related amyloidosis result from fiber accumulation until organ failure, while neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and prion conditions appear to be caused by smaller oligomers. In 2005, his team determined the atomic-level structure for the amyloid fiber spine, revealing a 'steric zipper' of two parallel beta sheets packed across a dry interface. Since then, they've determined approximately 90 amyloid spines from 15 disease-related proteins. In 2010, they identified the structure of a toxic amyloid-related oligomer consisting of six anti-parallel beta strands forming a cylindrical barrel. His recent publications demonstrate continued innovation in amyloid research, with focus areas including structural prediction of amyloid formation, mechanisms of tau fibril disassembly in Alzheimer's disease, cryo-EM analysis of amyloid polymorphism, and structure-based design of inhibitors for amyloid toxicity. His work integrates computational, structural, and biochemical approaches to understand protein aggregation across multiple disease contexts. Dr. Eisenberg has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: National Academy of Sciences Member American Philosophical Society Member Institute of Medicine Member Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Biophysical Society Emily M. Gray Award Harvard Westheimer Medal UCLA Seaborg Medal Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Harvey Prize in Human Health As Director of the UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics and an HHMI Investigator, Dr. Eisenberg leads significant research initiatives in protein structure and aggregation. His laboratory combines X-ray crystallography, bioinformatics, and biochemical techniques to investigate protein interactions, with particular emphasis on amyloid-forming proteins and their role in disease. The Eisenberg Lab, located in Boyer Hall at UCLA, maintains an active research program investigating the structural basis of protein aggregation. The lab continues to build on its landmark discoveries of amyloid structures while exploring new frontiers in understanding protein misfolding diseases and developing potential therapeutic interventions.
Michele Klingbeil is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she leads the Klingbeil DNA Replication Laboratory. She received her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toledo in 1996 and previously worked at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine before moving to UMass in July 2007. Her educational background includes: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Toledo, 1996 Dr. Klingbeil's research focuses on the unique biology of trypanosomatid parasites, particularly Trypanosoma brucei , the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. Her laboratory investigates two main areas: (1) replication of the unusual mitochondrial DNA network called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), and (2) nuclear DNA replication initiation. Her work on kDNA is particularly significant as this structure is essential for parasite survival but has no counterpart in mammalian hosts, making it an attractive drug target. She employs a combination of reverse genetics (RNAi), cell biology, and biochemistry to understand the replication and repair mechanisms of kDNA, with a special focus on a family of four DNA polymerases related to bacterial Pol I. Dr. Klingbeil's recent publications reveal her laboratory's deep investigation into mitochondrial DNA polymerases in trypanosomatids, with discoveries showing multiple polymerases having specialized functions in kDNA replication and repair. Her research has established that several of these polymerases are essential for parasite viability, opening new avenues for drug development. She has also made significant contributions to understanding the simplified Origin Recognition Complex in trypanosomatids compared to other eukaryotes. Dr. Klingbeil has received the Thomas G. Lessie Distinguished Lectureship Award for her impact on teaching at the graduate level. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Joeph P. Healey Endowment, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, including current PhD candidates Dave Bruhn, Jeniffer Concepción, and Juemin Luo, as well as visiting scholar Eva Vidal Rico. Her former students have gone on to positions at institutions including Dana Farber/Broad Institute, Regis College, and Flagship Ventures. The laboratory regularly participates in scientific conferences including the Molecular Parasitology Meeting at Woods Hole and the Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology conference. Dr. Klingbeil teaches several courses including Parasitology (MICRO 590S), Parasitology Lab (MICRO 590L), Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis (MICRO 797P), Advanced Cell Biology (MCB 641), and Writing in Microbiology (MICRO 360). Her laboratory organizes regular social events including pumpkin carving parties and outings to Six Flags New England and Mt. Sugarloaf.
Dr. Eli Strauss is a behavioral ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University , where he is establishing a lab focused on the evolution and ecology of social behavior. He co-directs the Mara Hyena Project , a long-term study of hyena behavior and ecology in Kenya. His research spans dominance hierarchies, longitudinal studies of animal societies, and computational methods for analyzing social dynamics. He has developed tools like the DynaRankR R package for inferring longitudinal dominance hierarchies and DomArchive for compiling dominance data. His work addresses challenges such as mismatched timescales in behavioral studies and demographic drivers of hierarchy dynamics, often using spotted hyenas as a model species. Dr. Strauss is currently recruiting lab members for graduate student, postdoc, and technical roles, with lab establishment planned for late 2025–Fall 2026. His publications reflect interdisciplinary interests in behavioral ecology, animal societies, and data-driven approaches to understanding dominance and social networks.
Krista Milich is an Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in primate behavioral ecology and socioendocrinology. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin. Her work integrates field studies with laboratory analyses to understand primate social systems, reproductive strategies, and conservation challenges. Her research focuses on reproductive physiology, sexual selection, and zoonotic diseases in nonhuman primates. Key projects include long-term studies of red colobus monkeys in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, collaborative community conservation efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and investigations into Zika virus in Amazonian primates. She also examines hormonal correlates in spider monkeys and woolly monkeys, linking social behavior to ecological and physiological factors. Her academic trajectory includes postdoctoral fellowships at the Institute for Mind and Biology (University of Chicago) and the Department of Anthropology (UT Austin), where she expanded into genetics and microbiome research. Her lab emphasizes comparative approaches to primate behavioral ecology, with fieldwork in Africa, South America, and Puerto Rico.
Weiqiang Chen is a Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering and Director of Research and PhD Programs. He holds a joint appointment at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center as a Faculty Member of the Tumor Immunology Research Program. B.S. in Physics (Nanjing University, 2005) M.S. in Electrical Engineering (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2008) M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Purdue University, 2009) Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Michigan, 2014) His research focuses on Lab-on-a-Chip , Organ-on-Chip systems, Biomaterials , and Mechanobiology , with applications in cancer biology, stem cell engineering, and immune monitoring. He pioneers microfabrication technologies for real-time observation of cellular interactions, including CAR T-cell immunotherapy efficacy and tumor microenvironment dynamics. Recent grants include NSF funding for leukemia bone marrow niche modeling, NIH Trailblazer Awards for glioblastoma immunotherapy research, and collaborations with the Arthritis Foundation for synovium-on-chip rheumatoid arthritis studies. His work has been supported by over $2M in federal and institutional research funding. National Science Foundation (NSF) grants for leukemia-on-chip and glioblastoma modeling National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards for immunotherapy research American Heart Association fellowships and institutional training programs Chen's scientific awards include the American Heart Association Fellow distinction, multiple Young Investigator Awards from Lab on a Chip and Biomedical Engineering Society, and recognition for his dissertation on nanotopography in stem cell differentiation. He leads the Applied Micro-Bioengineering Laboratory (AMBL) , which develops microphysiological systems for drug testing and personalized medicine. His team has created the first immunocompetent leukemia-on-a-chip for CAR T-cell therapy screening and glioblastoma models that enable patient-specific immunotherapy validation.
Giuseppe Carlo Marano is a Full Professor at the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He is also a component of the SISCON Interdepartmental Center for Infrastructure Safety. With expertise in civil and structural engineering, his work focuses on machine learning applications, seismic risk reduction, and sustainable structural optimization. Education Graduated cum laude in Structural Engineering from Polytechnic University of Bari PhD in Structural Engineering from University of Florence (2000) Research Interests Marano's research spans structural optimization, seismic engineering, and machine learning applications in civil infrastructure. He develops advanced computational models for: Seismic retrofitting of existing structures Optimization of steel and masonry structures Recycled materials in concrete production AI-driven structural health monitoring Multiobjective design methodologies Publication Trends His recent work emphasizes: Machine learning for concrete mix design and damage assessment Optimization of gridshells and arch structures Seismic isolation systems and vibration control Sustainable construction practices with recycled materials Multiobjective genetic algorithms for structural design Scientific Recognitions National Scientific Qualification - First Band (2013, MIUR Italy) Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Lecture (2012, China) Academic Contributions As an educator, he teaches: Consolidamento Strutturale (Structural Consolidation) Dinamica delle Vibrazioni Random (Random Vibration Dynamics) Progettazione Generativa (Generative Design) He also leads Challenge@PoliTo initiatives and contributes to national infrastructure safety regulations. Research Projects ADAPT4CE - Adaptive Digital Systems for Circular Economy (2025-2028) AI-ENVISERS - AI for Seismic Retrofit Environmental Impact (2023-2025) ADDOPTML - Additive Manufacturing Optimization (2021-2025)
Réka Albert is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Eberly College of Science. Her research focuses on the application of network science to biological systems, including signal transduction networks, ecological interactions, and cancer systems biology. She holds editorial roles at npj Systems Biology and Applications , IET Systems Biology , and Bulletin of Mathematical Biology . Education: Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame (2001), M.S. and B.S. from Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania (1995-1996). Research Interests: Modeling complex systems using network theory; Boolean network analysis of biological pathways; ecological community dynamics; systems-level understanding of disease mechanisms (e.g., cancer, AML). Her work bridges theoretical physics, computational biology, and experimental data to predict system behavior and therapeutic strategies. Awards: External member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2016), APS Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award (2011), NSF CAREER Award (2007), and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2004). Grants/Support: NSF awards (MCB 1715826, IIS 1814405), ARO MURI on hyperuniform systems, and collaborations with biologists like Sarah Assmann (plant signaling) and Katriona Shea (ecology). Labs/Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary research group at Penn State, mentoring over 20 PhD alumni and current students like Eli Newby and Fatemeh Nasrollahi. Active in developing tools like pystablemotifs for Boolean network analysis.
Johannes Larsch is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrative Genomics within the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at Université de Lausanne (UNIL). His research focuses on understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying social interactions, using larval zebrafish as a model organism. He employs advanced techniques like virtual reality and optical imaging to study how social signals are processed in the brain. Education: Bachelor of Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany PhD in Neurobiology, Rockefeller University, USA (lab of Cori Bargmann) Postdoc at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Germany (with Herwig Baier) Research interests center on neuronal circuits driving group behavior, social recognition, and the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping behavior. His lab investigates how individual brains coordinate collective social behaviors through studies of neuronal activity and circuit dynamics. Current lab openings include fully funded PhD and PostDoc positions focused on social neuroscience and neurogenomics. Contact: johannes.larsch@unil.ch .
Georgia Perakis is the John C Head III Interim Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management and a Professor of Operations Management and Operations Research & Statistics. She has been on MIT Sloan's faculty since 1998, contributing extensively to research in analytics/AI, optimization, and machine learning applications in pricing, supply chains, healthcare, and energy. Recognized as a leading academic, she has won numerous awards, including the INFORMS Fellow and Distinguished MSOM Fellow, along with multiple best paper awards. Perakis has supervised 30 PhD and 59 master's students, fostering lifelong academic relationships. Her administrative roles include co-director of the Operations Research Center and Associate Dean for Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of M&SOM and has held editorial leadership roles in top journals like Operations Research and Management Science. Her education includes a BS in Mathematics from the University of Athens and advanced degrees in applied mathematics from Brown University. Research Interests : Perakis focuses on solving complex problems at the intersection of optimization and machine learning, with applications in retail promotions, healthcare operations (e.g., emergency department management), and energy systems. Her work emphasizes practical solutions to real-world challenges, leveraging data-driven analytics and prescriptive models. Recent projects include optimizing patient placement in emergency departments and modeling demand for new products in retail. Grants & Awards : Her accolades include the NSF CAREER Award, PECASE Award, and over a dozen best-paper recognitions. Notable contributions include a finalist position in the JD.com Competition (2019) and winning first place for Johnson & Johnson’s demand-prediction work (2018). She has also pioneered methodologies for equitable resource allocation in healthcare. Education & Leadership : Perakis holds leadership roles in interdisciplinary initiatives like the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and the Food Supply Chain Analytics and Sensing Initiative. Her teaching excellence is underscored by awards such as the Jamieson Prize and Teacher of the Year (MIT Sloan). She has directed major programs like the MIT Leaders for Global Operations and the Executive MBA program. Labs & Teams : She is affiliated with the Operations Research Center (an interdepartmental PhD program) and collaborates with institutions like UMass Memorial Hospital on healthcare optimization projects. Her work integrates ethics into AI development, emphasizing fairness, bias mitigation, and societal impact.
Rotem Karni, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He leads a research lab focused on understanding how alternative RNA splicing contributes to cancer and genetic diseases, with a strong emphasis on translating these findings into RNA-based therapies. Karni's lab develops decoy oligonucleotides, small molecules, and splice-switching technologies to modulate splicing factors and enhance immunotherapy. Education BSc in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1997) PhD in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2002) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY (2002-2007) Karni's research explores the deregulation of alternative splicing in oncogenesis, particularly how splicing factors like RBFOX2 and S6K1 influence metastasis, DNA repair, and immune checkpoint modulation. His team investigates m6A RNA modifications for stabilizing mutant genes, with applications in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and pancreatic cancer. The lab's work is commercialized through biotech companies: SKIP Therapeutics, Andlit Therapeutics, and RNAble. Selected Research Trends RNA mis-splicing and neoantigen generation (2025) Splicing factor inhibition for tumor suppression (2023) Metastatic splicing signatures in pancreatic cancer (2023) Immune checkpoint splicing in cancer immunotherapy (2021) m6A modulation for mRNA stabilization (2023) Advising & Collaborations Karni has mentored numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, biotech, and medical institutions globally. His lab collaborates extensively on projects involving RNA innovation, including partnerships with the Institute for RNA Innovation. Contact Department of Genetics & Institute for RNA Innovation, One uCity Square, Room 4018, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-898-5072 Email: Rotem.Karni@Upenn.edu
