Kelly Arnold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research integrates systems engineering principles with immunology to investigate variability in immune responses across infection, vaccination, and injury, with a focus on computational modeling and clinical translation. Research Focus Systems-level immune response modeling Vaccination and antibody functionality Vaginal microbiome-host interactions Chronic lung disease progression Computational serology and proteomics Recent Work Her 2025 studies examine SARS-CoV-2 vaccination responses in cancer patients and computational frameworks for vaginal probiotics. Earlier works (2024-2007) span COPD progression, lupus fibrosis, HIV susceptibility, and tissue engineering for fertility preservation. Methodologies include proteomic profiling, network modeling, and microfluidic systems.
Sushmita Roy is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the Department of Computer Sciences and the College of Letters and Science. Her research focuses on developing computational methods in statistical machine learning to understand gene regulatory networks in living cells, particularly under environmental, developmental, disease, and evolutionary contexts. She explores bulk and single-cell genomic data integration to study processes like cell fate specification, host-microbe interactions, and diseases such as cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work emphasizes three key areas: inference of genome-scale transcriptional networks, evolutionary analysis of regulatory networks, and 3D genome organization dynamics. Roy’s lab collaborates across disciplines, leveraging genomic data from plant and mammalian systems. She has contributed to methodologies for analyzing chromatin accessibility, single-cell profiling, and network-based models of pathogen systems. Her affiliations include Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, and she is a leader in computational biology and systems genomics research.
Chang-Jun Liu is a Senior Scientist in the Plant Science Group of the Biology Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he has conducted research on plant phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and lignin metabolism since joining in 2005. He also holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Biochemistry & Cell Biology Department at Stony Brook University and serves as Associate Editor for Plant Cell & Environment (2024-present) and Frontiers in Plant Sciences (2015-present). Dr. Liu's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology, Chinese Academy of Science (1999) Dr. Liu's research integrates approaches from biochemistry, molecular genetics, biophysics, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to investigate phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis in plants. His laboratory addresses fundamental questions about how lignin and related compounds are synthesized and incorporated into cell walls, how regulatory networks govern metabolic activity, and how lignification influences cell wall structure and function. A central aim of his research is optimizing plant feedstocks for efficient lignocellulosic biomass utilization. Analysis of Dr. Liu's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from fundamental biochemical mechanisms to applied bioenergy solutions. His recent work focuses on cytochrome b5 diversity, electron transfer mechanisms in phenolic biosynthesis, and metabolic engineering approaches to modify lignin composition. This research spans from evolutionary studies of lignin biosynthesis across plant lineages to practical applications in bioenergy crop improvement. Dr. Liu has received recognition for his contributions to science, including: Brookhaven National Laboratory Science and Technology Award (2018) Dr. Liu serves as Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2020-present), PNAS Nexus (2024-present), and Plant Physiology Journal (2025-). He is Scientific Lead at the Joint BioEnergy Institute, Feedstocks Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Project Lead at the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through multiple Bioenergy Research Centers. Dr. Liu leads a research group at Brookhaven National Laboratory focused on elucidating the posttranslational regulation and macromolecular organization of lignin biosynthesis, with applications toward developing designer lignins and reducing biomass recalcitrance for sustainable biofuel production. His work addresses the critical challenge of lignin's dual nature: while it impedes enzymatic access to polysaccharides in biofuel production, it also represents the most abundant renewable source of aromatic carbon for high-value bioproducts.
Prof. Dr. Helmuth Gehart is a faculty member at the Institute of Molecular Health Sciences , ETH Zurich . He leads the Tumor and Stem Cell Dynamics research group, focusing on dynamic cell identity in regeneration and cancer. Research Interests : Stem cell-environment interactions, organoid technology, single-cell sequencing, and mechanisms of tissue repair/tumorigenesis. Publications : 10+ articles (2015-2024) on organoid models, stem cell dynamics, and cancer biology.
Prof. Karen Alim is a Professor of Biological Physics and Morphogenesis at the Department of Physics, Technische Universität München (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Natural Sciences. She holds a PhD from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2010) and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University (2010–2015) before leading a Max Planck Research Group in Göttingen. Her research focuses on non-neuronal information processing in living systems, particularly using Physarum polycephalum to study physical principles of network adaptation, fluid dynamics, and morphogenesis. Education: PhD in Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2010) Studies at Universität Karlsruhe, LMU München, and University of Manchester Research Interests: Prof. Alim explores how biological systems process information without neurons, emphasizing adaptive flow networks, mechanical signaling in plants, and collective behavior in active matter. Her work combines theoretical modeling with experimental systems like slime molds and plant tissues. Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2020) Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg Fellowship (2013–2018) DAAD Stipendium (2011–2014) John Birks Award (2004) Advising & Grants: While specific grant details beyond the ERC award are not listed, her research has been supported by major funding bodies. No student advisees are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Labs/Teams: Leads the Biological Physics and Morphogenesis group at TUM, focusing on interdisciplinary studies of living systems' physical principles.
Daiwei (David) Zhang, PhD, is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Department of Genetics. His research focuses on developing AI frameworks for analyzing high-dimensional biomedical data, particularly in spatial omics, computational pathology, and medical imaging. Education: MS (Biostatistics) and PhD (Biostatistics and Scientific Computing) from the University of Michigan. Postdoctoral Training: University of Pennsylvania. Research interests include applying machine learning to address biomedical challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, immune interactions, and tissue architecture. His work spans computational methods for spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and histology integration. Recent publications emphasize spatial multi-omics analysis of cancer ecosystems, tertiary lymphoid structures, and metabolic coordination. These studies leverage advanced machine learning algorithms and interdisciplinary approaches to advance precision medicine. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, but his work reflects significant contributions to biomedical AI research. Grants and advising details are not provided in the text.
Manuel R. Amieva is a Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine , holding joint appointments in Pediatrics - Infectious Diseases and Microbiology & Immunology . He is also a member of the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) . His clinical practice at Stanford Medicine Children's Health focuses on pediatric infectious diseases. Education: Medical Education: Stanford University School of Medicine (1997) Fellowship: Stanford University Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship (2004) Internship & Residency: Stanford Health Care at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (1998-1999) Dr. Amieva's research investigates host-pathogen interactions at epithelial barriers, with specific expertise in Helicobacter pylori , Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella enterica , and Staphylococcus aureus . His lab develops innovative organoid culture systems with controlled polarity to study microbial colonization and oncogenic mechanisms. Key discoveries include: H. pylori's manipulation of epithelial junctions via the CagA protein Listeria's exploitation of cell extrusion sites for invasion Staphylococcus toxin interactions with adherens junctions Gastric stem cell activation by pathogens Recent publication trends show continued leadership in infectious disease mechanisms (2020-2025), with a focus on: Pathogen-specific epithelial breach strategies Organoid modeling of viral/bacterial interactions Redox-dependent host factor regulation Single-cell spatial transcriptomic analyses Multi-institutional educational frameworks His scientific collaborations span disciplines including: Gastric cancer genomics initiatives COVID-19 lung infection models Stem cell-microbe interactions Medical education reform projects Dr. Amieva maintains active clinical research while mentoring students in both the Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics programs. His lab at Stanford employs advanced 3D confocal microscopy and organ-on-a-chip technologies to visualize epithelial colonization dynamics.
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.
Changhuei Yang is the Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Medical Engineering at California Institute of Technology, serving as Executive Officer for Electrical Engineering and Investigator at Heritage Medical Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. and three master's degrees from MIT, with appointments at Caltech since 2003. Research focuses on: Advanced microscopy techniques including Fourier Ptychography Wavefront shaping for biological tissue imaging Optical phase conjugation for deep-tissue applications Compact medical devices for cerebral monitoring Publications demonstrate leadership in computational imaging, with recent advances in stain-free embryo analysis, portable cerebral blood flow monitors, and high-resolution volumetric imaging techniques using neural representations. Honored as National Academy of Inventors member. Research applications span deep-tissue biochemical imaging, incisionless surgery, and optogenetic activation systems.
Professor Matthias Mann is a world-leading scientist serving as Director of the Proteomics and Signal Transduction department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, and Director of the Proteomics department at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. With an h-index exceeding 277 and over 350,000 citations, he is recognized as the highest cited German researcher and one of the most influential scientists globally in proteomics. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Yale University (1988) Master's Degree in Physics from Georg August University Göttingen (1984) Bachelor's of Arts in Mathematics from Georg August University Göttingen (1982) Professor Mann's research focuses on advancing mass spectrometry-based proteomics to understand biological systems at the protein level. His work spans technological developments in mass spectrometry, bioinformatics and computational analysis, signal transduction and posttranslational modifications, and clinical proteomics applications for disease diagnosis and treatment. The Mann lab has pioneered groundbreaking methods like SILAC for quantitative proteomics and MaxQuant for proteome data analysis. Their vision is to translate proteomics knowledge into clinical practice for predictive, diagnostic, and preventive medicine, with recent work focusing on AI-guided platforms for analyzing proteomes from minimal tissue samples. Analysis of Professor Mann's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward clinical applications of proteomics, particularly in cancer research, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. His work increasingly integrates spatial proteomics, single-cell resolution techniques, and artificial intelligence approaches to uncover disease mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers, with a clear shift from basic technology development toward direct clinical applications and personalized medicine. Professor Mann has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career: 2025: Elected member of the American National Academy of Sciences 2024: Dr. H.P. Heineken Award for Biochemistry and Biophysics 2023: Otto Warburg Medal 2019: Nominated member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences 2013: Elected member of Leopoldina German National Academy of Sciences 2012: Körber European Science Award, Louis-Jeantet Foundation Prize for Medicine, Ernst Schering Prize, and Leibniz Prize Professor Mann leads a highly collaborative research team involved in multiple international networks including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, CLINSPECT-M, and Munich Heart Alliance. His lab has mentored numerous successful researchers, with several former postdocs receiving prestigious ERC Starting Grants. The Mann group has developed innovative clinical proteomics pipelines for analyzing archived tissue specimens and body fluids, aiming to identify protein markers for early detection of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The Mann lab operates across two major research centers with state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facilities. Their Clinical Knowledge Graph platform integrates multi-omics data with extensive metadata, creating an ecosystem for machine learning applications in proteomics. Current research focuses on developing highly sensitive methods that can profile thousands of proteins from minimal cell samples, enabling the identification of critical disease-related proteins and supporting the development of individualized therapies.
Prof. Knut Drescher is an Associate Professor at the Biozentrum, University of Basel , leading a research group focused on bacterial biofilms , swarming , and microbial multicellularity . Previously, he served as a Professor of Biophysics and Max Planck Research Group Leader at Philipps-Universität Marburg (2015-2021) and conducted postdoctoral research at Princeton University. Research Interests: Physical and biological mechanisms of biofilm formation Cell-cell interactions in microbial communities Antibiotic resistance in biofilms Hydrodynamics of bacterial swarms Evolution of cooperation in multispecies biofilms Development of bioimaging software (BiofilmQ, BacStalk) Scientific Awards: 2023: SNSF Consolidator Grant 2019: Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (DFG), VAAM Research Prize, IUPAP Young Scientist Prize 2016: ERC Starting Grant Advising & Grants: Advises PhD and Master's students in microbiology, biophysics, and bioinformatics Secured major grants from ERC , HFSP , and DFG
Sachdev Sidhu is a Research Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on synthetic antibodies, protein engineering, and biotechnological applications. He leads efforts in developing novel therapeutic antibodies, engineered protein systems, and molecular tools for biomedical research. His work spans cancer therapy, viral infection countermeasures, and regenerative medicine. Sidhu is also involved in translational research, bridging academic discoveries with commercial applications through entrepreneurial ventures. Key research interests include synthetic antibody libraries, CAR T-cell engineering, ubiquitin-based therapeutics, and phage display technologies. He has contributed to advancements in targeted therapies for glioblastoma, leukemia, and ocular diseases. His team develops innovative methods for protein design, such as engineered ubiquitin variants and modular antibody architectures. Publications highlight breakthroughs in antibody-based treatments, including synNotch CAR T cells for glioblastoma and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. His work integrates structural biology, molecular biology, and computational approaches to address complex biomedical challenges. Sidhu collaborates with industry partners to advance technologies into clinical and commercial settings.
Sara Gallini is an Assistant Professor at EPFL, leading the Gallini Lab within the ISREC Department of the School of Engineering (SV). Her research focuses on understanding how healthy and oncogenic cells compete in skin epithelium, aiming to identify therapeutic targets for skin cancer prevention. She holds a Tenure Track position and teaches in the Life Sciences Engineering program. Her lab employs advanced in vivo imaging and single-cell analysis techniques. Education details are not explicitly provided, but her career includes a postdoctoral fellowship with the HFSP. Her research integrates molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to study cancer initiation and tissue homeostasis, particularly in injury-driven dynamics. Lab Members: Includes PhD student Mustafa Öztürk and technical staff Mélanie Sipion. Key Research Themes: Oncogenic cell competition, epidermal regeneration, EGFR/ERK signaling, and therapeutic target discovery. Her lab collaborates with clinical teams and uses models like mouse skin to study tumor suppression mechanisms. Future work aims to leverage healthy cell dynamics for cancer treatment strategies. Contact: SV 2527 office, +41216936764, sara.gallini@epfl.ch .
Christoph F. Schmidt is the Hertha Sponer Distinguished Professor of Physics at Duke University with cross-appointments in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Biology, and Biomedical Engineering. He serves as Co-Director of the Duke Materials Initiative and leads an active research program at the intersection of physics and biology. His educational background includes a D.R. from the Technical University of Munich (Germany) in 1988. Schmidt has established himself as a leading researcher in biophysics through decades of innovative work. Professor Schmidt's research spans multiple scales of biological organization, from single molecules to whole organisms. His lab investigates cellular mechanics using advanced techniques including optical trapping, atomic force microscopy, and microrheology. A significant innovation from his group involves single-walled carbon nanotubes for high-bandwidth intracellular tracking. Current research focuses on cardiomyocyte mechanics, Drosophila tissue dynamics, and computational analysis of complex biological systems. His work on motor proteins like Eg5 and ncd has provided fundamental insights into cellular division mechanics. His recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate increasing integration of computational approaches with experimental biophysics, particularly in analyzing cardiac tissue mechanics and Drosophila sensory systems. The work shows progression from fundamental biophysical measurements toward applications in understanding disease mechanisms and biological function. Professor Schmidt teaches several courses including PHYSICS 995 (Graduate Training Internship), PHYSICS 493 (Research Independent Study), PHYSICS 415 (Biophysics II), PHYSICS 174 (Introduction to Frontiers of Biophysics), and BIOLOGY 425 (Biophysics II). He has successfully mentored numerous graduate students to completion, including recent PhD graduates Dr. Mingru Li and Dr. Xiaoxuan Jian. The Schmidt Lab, part of Duke's Physics Department and the Duke Soft Matter Center, maintains state-of-the-art equipment for optical trapping, atomic force microscopy, and advanced light microscopy. The lab participates in the Triangle Soft Matter Workshop, fostering collaborations with researchers from Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State University. Current research directions include mechanical responses of suspended cells, tracking non-equilibrium cellular fluctuations, nuclear mechanics, and bacterial membrane mechanics under turgor pressure.
Jason Ritt is an Associate Professor of Brain Science (Research) and Scientific Director of Quantitative Neuroscience at the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University. He holds affiliations with the Data Science Institute and collaborates across disciplines on quantitative research methods. Education : B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Boston University (1997–2003). Research : Focuses on neural processing during active sensing and neuroengineering for neurostimulation. Combines electrophysiology, optogenetics, and theoretical approaches in rodent models. Develops closed-loop systems for studying sensory neural prosthetics and brain-machine interfaces. Key areas include synaptic diversity, neurocontrol algorithms, and sensory restoration. Teaching : Instructs NEUR 2100 NeuroPracticum, integrating hands-on neuroscience research training.
