Jürgen König is a full professor at the Department of Nutritional Sciences , University of Vienna, leading the Research Professorship Specialized Human Nutrition . His work bridges psychological and physiological dimensions of eating behavior, with additional focus on population-level nutritional assessment in Austria. Academic Rank: Professor Department: Nutritional Sciences Research Focus: Hunger/satiety mechanisms, Public health nutrition, Food safety Key research themes include: Psychological drivers of eating behaviors (stress, food craving, sensory cues) Physiological regulation of nutrient homeostasis National nutrition surveys assessing dietary patterns Caloric restriction and metabolic adaptation Child and adolescent hydration/nutrition policies Recent publications highlight: Mechanistic studies on caloric restriction effects (2025) Pandemic impacts on school nutrition (2024) Global obesity/diabetes trends analysis (2024) Behavioral nudging in food selection (2024) Microbiota's role in dietary interventions (2023) Contact: juergen.koenig@univie.ac.at | Sekretariat: sekretariat.ew@univie.ac.at
Prof. Veronika Somoza is a leading academic in Nutritional Systems Biology, currently affiliated with the University of Vienna and Technical University of Munich (TUM). She holds a professorship in Molecular Food Science and has led key research groups such as the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Bioactive Aromatics. Her career includes roles at institutions like the German Research Institute for Food Chemistry (Garching) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Education: Diplom (Justus Liebig University Giessen, 1991), PhD (University of Vienna, 1995), Habilitation (Kiel University, 2002) Research Focus: Bioactive food compounds, flavor chemistry, taste receptor signaling, and gastrointestinal physiology Her work bridges food science and human health, particularly in understanding how food ingredients influence digestion, inflammation, and disease. Notable contributions include discoveries on bitter peptide effects on gastric acid secretion and flavor perception modulation. Awards: FEMA Excellence in Flavor Science (2016), ACS AGFD Fellow (2020), Hans Adolf Krebs Prize (2004) Prof. Somoza has pioneered methodologies in atomic force microscopy for foodborne virus detection and developed bitterness-masking compounds for pharmaceuticals. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates nanobiophysics with nutrition to advance functional food design and clinical applications.
Nancy J. Brown, M.D., is the Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of the Yale School of Medicine and holds the C.N.H. Long Professorship in Internal Medicine. Previously, she served as Chair of Vanderbilt Department of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2010–2020). Her academic career spans over three decades, with leadership roles in clinical care, research, and medical education. Education: MD, Harvard University (1986) AB in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale College (1981) Internship and Residency in Medicine, Vanderbilt University (1989) Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University (1991) Chief Resident, Vanderbilt University (1992) Research Interests: Dr. Brown’s work focuses on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system’s role in cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and thrombosis. Her lab has elucidated mechanisms linking aldosterone, bradykinin, and ACE inhibitors to inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiovascular risk. Current studies explore neprilysin inhibitors in heart failure and incretin-based therapies’ cardiovascular effects. Key Contributions: Identified genetic variants and African ancestry as risk factors for ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema Developed Vanderbilt’s Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program (2000) Advocated for physician-scientist development through leadership roles in NIH councils and professional organizations Recognition: Recipient of the Harriet Dustan Award, August M. Watanabe Prize, and Robert H. Williams Distinguished Chair of Medicine. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine and American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Labs/Teams: Leads the Yale School of Medicine’s cardiovascular research initiatives, focusing on translational studies of RAAS pathways and drug mechanisms.
Dr. Rachel Carmody is the Thomas D. Cabot Associate Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on energy metabolism, gut microbiome interactions, and their evolutionary implications. She leads the Nutritional & Microbial Ecology Lab, exploring how diet, genetics, and microbial communities influence human energy dynamics. Her work integrates evolutionary biology, physiology, and metagenomics to address questions about human uniqueness in digestion, maternal-offspring energy conflicts, and non-caloric dietary components. Office: Museum of Comparative Zoology 542; Email: carmody@fas.harvard.edu. Key research themes include gut microbiome-modulated obesity, placental hormone roles in pregnancy metabolism, and dietary digestibility frameworks. She also investigates evolutionary shifts in gut microbiota during human industrialization and animal domestication. Her lab employs mouse models, comparative studies, and multiomics approaches to dissect host-microbial interactions. Recent articles highlight microbiome effects on exercise-induced weight changes, antibiotic-induced obesity mechanisms, and cross-cultural dietary comparisons. While no awards are explicitly listed, her prolific publications reflect sustained impact in nutritional and evolutionary microbiology. No student advisees or grants are detailed in the provided text.
Andrew Rowe is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria (UVic), with affiliations to the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) and the Advanced Mechanical Research Laboratory (AMRLab). He holds a BEng from the Royal Military College of Canada, MASc and PhD from UVic, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng). His research focuses on thermodynamics, energy systems, cryogenics, and heat transfer, with particular expertise in caloric cycles, hydrogen systems, and energy systems analysis. His research emphasizes decarbonization strategies, including hydrogen integration into natural gas networks, grid flexibility under electrification scenarios, and the optimization of magnetocaloric materials for energy-efficient cooling. AMRLab, led by Rowe, develops technologies for energy conversion, storage, and system optimization, addressing challenges in low-temperature thermal systems and integrated energy networks. Recent work explores the systemic impacts of electrification in transportation and buildings, leveraging open-source tools like the NExus Solutions Tool (NEST) for multi-scale energy-water-land system modeling. His projects often address regional energy challenges, such as British Columbia’s transition to renewable energy and grid infrastructure resilience. Key contributions include studies on gas system decarbonization via hydrogen blending, thermal-hydraulic modeling of energy systems, and experimental validation of magnetocaloric materials. Rowe’s publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to climate mitigation, emphasizing the interplay between technological innovation and systemic policy frameworks.
Dr. James W. Navalta is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on physiological responses to outdoor exercise (hiking, trail running) and the validity/reliability of wearable technology. He earned his B.S. in Physical Education and Biology from Brigham Young University–Hawaii, M.S. in Kinesiology from UNLV, and Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Purdue University. Education: B.S. - Physical Education & Biology, Brigham Young University–Hawaii M.S. - Kinesiology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Ph.D. - Exercise Physiology, Purdue University His research portfolio includes: Wearable technology validation for physiological measurements Comparative studies of indoor vs outdoor exercise environments Impact of gender-inclusive approaches on sports science Metabolic and cardiovascular responses to unconventional workouts Psychological benefits of nature immersion Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Wearable device accuracy testing VO2max and lactate threshold validation Environmental influence on exercise physiology Methodological improvements in data collection Gender-inclusive research design Outdoor activity impact assessment As co-founder and executive editor of the International Journal of Exercise Science, he contributes significantly to academic discourse. He also serves on editorial boards for journals related to digital health and exercise technology.
Dr. Bradley Schoenfeld is a Professor of Exercise Science at Lehman College, serving as Graduate Director of the Human Performance and Fitness program. He previously acted as Sports Nutritionist for the New Jersey Devils hockey team. His research focuses on the effects of exercise on body composition, particularly muscle hypertrophy and fat loss, along with related nutrition interventions. Schoenfeld has authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers and the influential textbook Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy . He has received notable awards including the 2016 Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award and 2018 NSCA Young Investigator of the Year. His work examines muscular adaptations from exercise variables manipulation, body composition changes, and supplementation effects. Key research themes include resistance training protocols, load progression strategies, and the physiological mechanisms underlying muscle growth. Education: Doctoral degree in Exercise Science Key Affiliations: National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA Fellow) Publications consistently address practical applications of resistance training science, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to optimize muscle development. His studies frequently explore training variables like volume, frequency, intensity, and rest periods. Grants and collaborations have supported investigations into deload strategies, isometric training effects, and nutritional strategies for hypertrophy. Labs/Teams: Conducts research through Lehman College's Human Performance Lab Future Work: Continuing exploration of training variables optimization and nutritional ergogenic aids
Andréanne Sharp, PhD, is Assistant Professor at Université Laval’s Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation, where she leads the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience research axis. Her program explores auditory and multisensory processing across the lifespan, with emphasis on music perception, hearing loss, cochlear implants and vibrotactile technologies. Research interests: Auditory-vibrotactile interactions and sensory substitution Music cognition and neural plasticity in musicians Aging, hearing impairment and rehabilitation Temporal processing and EEG correlates of perception Clinical translation toward improved prosthetic and therapeutic devices Recent work (2023-2025) combines psychophysics, electrophysiology and qualitative methods to understand how musical experience protects perceptual skills in older adults with hearing loss, how frequency cues modulate auditory illusions, and how COVID-19 public-health measures affected communication in the hearing-impaired community. Sharp’s output appears in high-impact journals including Brain Research , Cerebral Cortex , Ear & Hearing , JSLHR and Psychological Research , demonstrating a trajectory that bridges basic cognitive neuroscience and clinical audiology. She maintains an active interdisciplinary laboratory, mentoring numerous graduate students and collaborating with engineering and rehabilitation teams to develop vibrotactile gloves and other sensory-augmentation devices. Grant and funding details are not disclosed in the supplied text.
Mary A. Carskadon is Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School and Director of the EP Bradley Hospital COBRE Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Her distinguished career spans over five decades with foundational contributions to sleep science. Her educational background includes a BA in psychology from Gettysburg College (1969) and a doctorate with distinction in neuro- and biobehavioral sciences from Stanford University (1979), earned under William C. Dement. She is a distinguished alumna of Gettysburg College and holds an honorary doctor of sciences degree from that institution. Carskadon's research focuses on circadian timing systems and sleep/wake patterns in children, adolescents, and young adults. Her work on school start times has significantly influenced public health policy, prompting organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC to advocate for later school schedules. She developed the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) with Dr. Dement, which remains a global standard for assessing sleep disorders. Current research examines sleep-health disparities in urban children with asthma, sleep patterns in suicide risk populations, and the impact of sleep restriction on adolescent performance. Her extensive publication record shows consistent focus on adolescent sleep physiology, circadian rhythms, and public health implications. Recent work explores connections between sleep timing, mental health, and academic performance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining her foundational work on sleep measurement methodologies. Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Sleep Foundation Distinguished Scientist and Outstanding Educator Awards of the Sleep Research Society (the latter now presented in her name) 2023 Brown University Distinguished Research Achievement Award William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award (2023) V. Sagar Sethi, M.D., Mental Health Research Award Leadership in Sleep Medicine Award from American Academy of Physicians of Indian Origin-Sleep Elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Carskadon directs the NIH/NIGMS-funded Bradley Hospital COBRE Center, mentoring junior researchers in pediatric sleep and circadian rhythms. She serves as inaugural editor-in-chief of SLEEP Advances and has secured multiple NIH grants including R01 HL142058 examining ethnic differences in children's sleep patterns with asthma, P20 GM139743 for the COBRE center, and R01 HD103665 investigating sleep restriction effects using neuroimaging. Her work bridges laboratory research with real-world applications, particularly in school policy reform and health equity initiatives. She leads multiple research teams including the CLASS Study (Circadian Light in Adolescence, Sleep and School), projects on sleep disruption in urban children with asthma, and studies examining sleep's role in opioid use disorder treatment. Her laboratory continues to innovate in sleep measurement techniques while maintaining longitudinal studies on adolescent sleep patterns across developmental stages.
Dr. Kathryn Kaiser is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She holds concurrent appointments in multiple research centers including the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC). Her research focuses on meta-research methodologies, race/sex disparities in obesity, systematic reviews of nutrition interventions, and advancing FAIR data principles for scientific communication. Education: B.S. Microbiology (Texas A&M), B.S. Medical Technology (University of Texas Health Science Center), Ph.D. in Health Psychology (University of North Texas Health Science Center). Postdoctoral training in Vascular Biology/Hypertension at UAB. Extensive background in medical diagnostics instrumentation and laboratory science prior to academia. Research Interests: Systematic review methodologies, FAIR data standards, obesity disparities with a focus on neuroendocrine mechanisms, and translational research in bariatric surgery outcomes. Specializes in methodological rigor for clinical trials and evidence synthesis. Grants: NIH-funded projects on FAIR principles implementation, dairy intake research, obesity energetics, and lifespan studies. Recent grants include $2.1M for metadata education programs and $1.8M for knowledge mapping initiatives. Awards: Recognized as 2015 Top Reviewer for American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Nutrition. Active member of Cochrane Collaboration and multiple professional societies. Teaching: Graduate courses in Health Program Evaluation, Psychophysiology, and Systematic Review Design. Supervises doctoral students in health behavior research through 30+ dissertation committees since 2011. Labs/Teams: Key contributor to UAB's Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) and Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research (COERE). Collaborates with international metadata initiatives like Metadata 2020 and science dialogue mapping projects.
Dr. Irma D. Fleming serves as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where she maintains clinical practice at the University of Utah Hospital Burn Center in Salt Lake City. Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and its Surgical Critical Care subspecialty, she specializes in acute burn care, burn reconstruction, critical care trauma management, and necrotizing soft tissue infections. Her academic training includes: B.S. in Biology from Spelman College M.D. from Meharry Medical College General Surgery Residency at the University of Chicago Burn Surgery Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Anesthesia Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Chicago Dr. Fleming's research integrates clinical burn care with microbiome science, focusing on how microbial communities influence wound healing, sepsis, and surgical outcomes. Her work examines nutritional interventions in burn recovery, electrical injury complications, frostbite management, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in burn units. She investigates the intersection of trauma, critical illness, and host-microbe interactions using multi-omic approaches and clinical database analysis. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2016-2024) reveals consistent emphasis on burn care optimization through microbiome modulation, infection control in burn units, and metabolic/nutritional support. Key trends include translational studies on fecal microbiota transplants for sepsis, outbreak management of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and innovative techniques like botulinum toxin application in acute burn care. Her work spans clinical trials, multi-omic tissue analysis, and hospital environmental microbiome studies. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While no student mentorship or grant details were specified, Dr. Fleming's collaborative publications suggest active participation in multi-institutional research teams focused on surgical infections and critical care outcomes. Her clinical role involves telemedicine applications and comprehensive burn center care coordination.
Dr. Shahaf Peleg is the Head of the Energy Metabolism and Epigenetics Working Group at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN). His research focuses on aging biology, epigenetic mechanisms, and metabolic interventions. Key areas include histone acetylation regulation, mitochondrial function, and dietary effects on longevity. He uses models like Drosophila, C. elegans, and mice (e.g., Titan mouse) to study aging pathways. Leading interdisciplinary projects on energy metabolism and epigenetic interactions. Developing optogenetic tools for mitochondrial research. Expertise in lipidomics and circadian metabolism. Recent work emphasizes dietary interventions in obesity-related aging and optogenetic rejuvenation of cellular energetics. Active in collaborative networks like ARDD Emerging Science workshops. Publications span metabolic pathway analysis, alcohol's epigenetic impacts, and longevity biomarkers. His team's Titan mouse model is a key tool for testing frailty attenuation strategies.
Anna H. Grummon is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics) and Health Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine. She serves as Director of the Stanford Food Policy Lab , conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of nutrition science, public health, and environmental sustainability. PhD & MSPH in Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School (2019) BA with Honors in Human Biology, Stanford (2011) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2019) Her research focuses on evaluating policy interventions to improve dietary quality through: Experimental studies of food labeling (e.g., nutrient warnings, ecolabels) Beverage taxation and food assistance programs Environmentally sustainable diets using simulation modeling Health communication effectiveness across diverse populations Recent publications in Nature Food and JAMA Network Open demonstrate: 35% reduction in dietary carbon footprint through simple substitutions Graphic labels increase attention to nutrition warnings (Appetite 2024) Weight-neutral labels reduce stigma while maintaining effectiveness Major recognitions include: 2024 Clinical Science Research Award (Stanford Pediatrics) 2023 Jules Hirsch Research Innovation Award (The Obesity Society) 2020 UNC Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award Dr. Grummon's work has been funded by: National Institutes of Health Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New York City Department of Health and featured in New York Times , Washington Post , and NPR coverage.
Anisha I. Patel is a Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, holding appointments in Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Population Health. She directs the Partnerships for Research in Child Health Lab and serves as Associate Dean of Research and Co-Director of the Office of Child Health Equity. Her work addresses health inequities through community-engaged research, focusing on chronic disease prevention in underserved populations. Undergraduate, Medical, and Public Health degrees from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Completed Clinical Scholars Program at UCLA and Health Policy Studies at UCSF Dr. Patel's research examines how community partnerships can improve child health outcomes through policy interventions related to school nutrition, drinking water access, and obesity prevention. She has led initiatives like Agua4All, which provided filtered water stations in schools, and evaluated universal free school meal policies. Her studies often involve randomized trials in schools and childcare centers. Recent publications analyze institutional barriers to community-engaged research, newborn temperature norms, and policy impacts of universal school meals. She has received national recognition for her work, including awards from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Outstanding Achievement Award, American Academy of Pediatrics (2025) Sidney S. Chipman Award, UNC-CH (2025) K24 Midcareer Investigator Award, NHLBI (2025) ELAM Program Fellow (2025) As a mentor, Dr. Patel supervises postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty in community-engaged research. Her projects have been funded by NIH, RWJF, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She also practices clinical pediatrics at Gardner Packard Children’s Health Center. Key collaborations include Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Office of Community-Engaged Research, and partnerships with California and national school nutrition programs.
Anna Weinberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill University. Her research focuses on identifying biological pathways underlying disordered emotional experiences, particularly in mood and anxiety disorders. She employs neurophysiological methods like event-related potentials (ERPs) to study neural systems involved in processing errors, emotional stimuli, and rewards, linking these to behavioral outcomes. Key interests include distinguishing neural markers between anxiety and mood disorders, and determining whether these biological correlates represent vulnerability factors or symptoms. Her work has examined the impact of childhood maltreatment, social stress, and the intergenerational transmission of depression risk. She leads the TRAC Lab and collaborates on large-scale projects like the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Education details are not explicitly listed in the provided text, but her academic career includes extensive postdoctoral and faculty roles in clinical and developmental neuroscience. Her research has been published in high-impact journals such as Biological Psychiatry , Clinical Psychological Science , and Psychophysiology . Research interests emphasize translational neurophysiology, with a focus on developmental trajectories of neural systems and their modulation by stress, trauma, and social environments. Recent studies investigate how neural responses to rewards and errors predict symptom progression during stressful events like the pandemic. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the text. Her advising and grants involve collaborations on ERP methodologies, risk markers for depression, and adolescent neurodevelopment. She directs the TRAC Lab, which focuses on translational research in affective neuroscience.
