Amar Al-Bassam is a researcher at the Institute of High Frequency Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. His work focuses on antenna engineering, particularly in the development of periodic leaky-wave antennas for radar and millimeter-wave applications. He has contributed to advancements in grating lobe mitigation, polarization engineering, and beamforming techniques. Below are his research interests and key contributions: Antenna Design for Radar and Communication Systems Microwave Engineering and Electromagnetic Theory Millimeter-Wave Technology and Waveguide Analysis His recent publications emphasize seamless beam scanning, symmetry-based optimizations, and dielectric material applications. No scientific awards or advisees are explicitly mentioned in the available data.
Patrick Fay is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and holds the Stinson Professorship of Nanotechnology. His primary research focuses on microwave, millimeter-wave, and power electronic devices, with applications in photovoltaics, energy conversion, and high-speed optoelectronics. He works in the Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering and is affiliated with the High Speed Circuits & Devices Lab and the Notre Dame Nanofabrication Facility. Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1996) M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Notre Dame (1991) His research explores novel III-V semiconductor solar cells, GaN-based power transistors, and ultra-low-power heterostructure devices. He applies advanced fabrication techniques to improve performance in terrestrial/space photovoltaics and develops high-efficiency microwave components for wireless communications. Current projects include unconventional solar cell architectures for airborne applications. Prof. Fay has published over 400 journal/conference articles and 11 book chapters, with seven patents in semiconductor technology. He has received multiple teaching awards, including the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Teaching Award (2015) and dual Departmental awards (1998, 2018). His work spans energy-efficient electronics, smart grid systems, and transformative solar energy solutions. IEEE Fellow IEEE Electron Devices Society Distinguished Lecturer Outstanding Teaching Award (1998, 2015, 2018)
Associate Professor Simon McIlroy is a microbial ecologist at Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences , specializing in visualization and characterization of microorganisms in their natural environments. PhD in Microbiology from La Trobe University Postdoctoral research at Aalborg University's Centre for Microbial Communities Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Queensland's Australian Centre for Ecogenomics Current ARC Future Fellow at QUT's Centre for Microbiome Research His research combines meta-omics and single-cell visualization to investigate anaerobic methanotrophic archaea in freshwater sediments, focusing on: Novel respiratory strategies in archaeal lineages Methane oxidation biogeochemical cycles Environmental microbiology of wastewater systems Microbial community imaging techniques Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Fluorescence in situ hybridization Multi-heme cytochrome functions Iron-methane redox interactions Protozoal-microbiome dynamics Viral ecology in marine systems Microbial life cycle analysis Scientific recognition includes: ARC Future Fellow for methane-oxidizing archaea research Available for supervision in areas including: Strain-level microbiome characterization Fluorescence microscopy applications Adaptive evolution of methanotrophic archaea Cell sorting and confocal microscopy
Sue Turnbull is a Senior Professor of Communication and Media at the University of Wollongong, where she is affiliated with the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of the Arts, English and Media. With a distinguished career spanning over a decade at the university, she has established herself as a leading scholar in media studies, particularly in the areas of television genre studies, audience research, and crime drama. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from La Trobe University in 1993, which laid the foundation for her extensive research career. Professor Turnbull's research focuses on media audiences, television genre studies (particularly crime and comedy), and television history. She is internationally recognized for her work on the transnational career of TV crime drama, exploring how formats like Nordic Noir travel across borders and adapt to local contexts. Her research also examines the evolving landscape of digital media, particularly the emergence of web series as a significant form of screen content. She approaches these topics with a keen eye for how media forms interact with cultural, social, and economic factors. Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on transnational media flows, audience engagement with television genres, and the cultural significance of crime drama. She demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing how Australian media content fits within global contexts while maintaining distinctive local characteristics. Her work bridges academic research and public discourse, as evidenced by her regular media commentary and crime fiction reviews. Life member of Sisters in Crime, Australia Professor Turnbull has been highly successful in securing research funding, serving as Chief Investigator on multiple Australian Research Council (ARC) grants. Her current projects include 'Border Crossings: The Transnational Career of the TV Crime Drama' (DP 160102510) and the ARC Linkage project 'Valuing Web Series.' She actively supervises numerous PhD students working on diverse topics related to media, communication, and screen studies, fostering the next generation of scholars in her field. Beyond her academic work, Professor Turnbull serves as Chair of the BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival and sits on the Board of Screen Illawarra, working to position the Illawarra region as a hub for international screen production.
Kenneth Wertheim is a Lecturer in the Data Science AI and Modelling Centre (DAIM) at the University of Hull, part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. They hold a PhD in bioengineering from the University of Southampton and have held roles at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the EU-funded PRIMAGE project. Their research focuses on systems biology, computational oncology, and applied artificial intelligence. Education: MEng in Chemical Engineering (Imperial College London), MS in Chemical Engineering (Columbia University), and PhD in Bioengineering (University of Southampton). Notable international experiences include internships in Argentina and Hong Kong, and an exchange year in Australia. Research emphasizes mathematical modelling of biological systems, particularly neuroblastoma and immune responses. Recent work includes developing therapeutic strategies for childhood cancers and AI-driven facial recognition systems. Key achievements include the 2020 Mensa Foundation award for a virtual immune system project impacting over 140,000 global members. Active in advocacy and yoga instruction, they teach courses in artificial intelligence, data science, and numerical methods. Supervises projects and collaborates on interdisciplinary initiatives like the PRIMAGE oncology research consortium.
Dr. Jing Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), affiliated with the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Molecular/Computational Biology from the University of Southern California (2012) and completed postdoctoral training in Computational Biology at Yale University. Her research focuses on developing computational methods to unravel gene regulation mechanisms and link genetic variations to diseases, particularly in noncoding regions of the genome. She has contributed extensively to the ENCODE project, co-authoring pivotal studies in Nature and producing over 5,900 experimental datasets. Dr. Zhang’s work bridges engineering, mathematics, and biology, with applications in precision medicine for cancers and psychiatric disorders. She emphasizes the importance of noncoding DNA in disease causation and has pioneered tools like EN-TEx and scENCORE to analyze epigenomes and regulatory elements. Her lab actively seeks to recruit Ph.D. students, postdocs, and interns to advance genomic technologies. Key research areas include single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, gene regulatory networks, and computational methods for multi-omics data integration. Despite pandemic-related challenges, she maintains strong collaborations and teaches courses in bioinformatics. Her future goals include expanding lab interactions and applying computational models to predict disease susceptibility and treatment responses.
Gurpreet Singh Gill is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia (UWA), School of Engineering, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from UWA (2022) and prior degrees from Punjab Technical University and Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Punjab, India. His research focuses on MEMS/NEMS, thin-film materials, optical MEMS, and infrared sensing/imaging technologies. He previously worked at the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, India, and currently leads projects in micro/nano electromechanical systems and their applications in optoelectronics and infrared sensing. **Education**: B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering (2013, Punjab Technical University) M.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering (2015, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University) Ph.D. in Microelectronics (2022, The University of Western Australia) **Research Interests**: MEMS/NEMS device design and applications Thin-film materials for optical and infrared systems Optical MEMS and optoelectronic devices Infrared sensing and imaging technologies **Awards**: Nanoscale Advances Poster Prize (2019) ADHOC Postgraduate Scholarship (2017) Scholarship for International Research Fees (SIRF) (2017) **Grants & Advising**: Gill has received scholarships for international research fees and postgraduate support. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and leads research projects funded by UWA and external grants. His work contributes to UN SDGs related to affordable and clean energy, industry innovation, and infrastructure. **Labs & Teams**: Active in UWA’s Microelectronics Research Group and collaborates with global institutions on MEMS-based sensing systems.
Brian Hedlund is a Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). His research focuses on microbial ecology and genomics, particularly in extremophilic environments such as geothermal springs. He leads studies exploring microbial biodiversity, including 'dark' lineages of bacteria that remain underexplored. Hedlund employs advanced techniques like single-cell genomics, metagenomics, and stable isotope analysis to understand microbial roles in ecological processes. His work bridges fundamental research with applied biotechnology, including biofuels development and disease diagnostics. Hedlund’s research is funded by major agencies like NSF, NASA, DOE, and NIH. He co-authored the SeqCode, a nomenclatural system for naming uncultivated prokaryotes based on genomic data, and serves on grant review panels for national funding bodies. Education: Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Washington B.S., Biology, University of Illinois Research Interests: Microbial biodiversity in extreme environments Functional genomics of uncultivated microorganisms Applications in astrobiology and biotechnology International collaborations, particularly with China Grants & Funding: Major support from NSF, NASA, DOE, and NIH SeqCode development and microbial naming initiatives Labs & Teams: Hedlund collaborates with industrial and academic partners on projects ranging from biofuels to human microbiome studies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.
Lars I Eriksson is a Professor and head of the section of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet. His research focuses on the neuroinflammatory and cognitive consequences of surgical trauma and critical illness, with particular emphasis on mechanisms linking systemic inflammation to long-term brain dysfunction. He leads the research group "The brain after surgery and trauma - neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment and dementia" , which investigates postoperative neurocognitive decline, dementia risk, and immune-brain interactions. Key funding sources include the Swedish Research Council (VR Medicine), The Brain Foundation, and the Alzheimer Foundation. Research Interests : Neuroinflammation following surgery/trauma Cognitive decline mechanisms in postoperative patients Immune-brain communication in critical illness Pharmacological prevention of postoperative dementia Clinical translation of experimental immunology findings Recent Work Trends focus on: Immune profiling in critical care survivors (e.g., NeuroCOVID studies) Biomarker development for cognitive outcomes Extracellular vesicle roles in postoperative brain injury Grants & Collaborations**: Active projects include: VR Medicine grant exploring surgery-induced neuroinflammation ALF Region Stockholm funding for translational studies European Society for Anesthesiology support for clinical trials Labs/Teams**: Directly supervises a multidisciplinary team including research engineers (Anette Ebberyd) and senior specialists (e.g., Marta Gómez Galán, Souren Mkrtchian). Collaborates extensively across departments at Karolinska Institutet and internationally.
Javier Vela is a University Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Iowa State University, where he also serves as a faculty scientist with the Ames National Laboratory. His research program focuses on the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials with applications in energy conversion, chemical catalysis, and fluorescence imaging, with over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and patents to his name. Dr. Vela received his educational training at prestigious institutions: B.S. (with Honors) in Chemistry from UNAM (2001) M.S. in Chemistry from University of Rochester (2003) Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Rochester (2005) Following his doctoral studies, he completed postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining Iowa State University in 2009, where he received tenure in 2015, became a full professor in 2019, and was named University Professor in 2020. Dr. Vela's research program centers on the development of novel nanomaterials, particularly focusing on: Synthesis of nanostructured materials for energy applications Development of inorganic compounds for chemical catalysis Design of fluorescent materials for imaging applications Surface chemistry and structural characterization of nanocrystals Lead-free semiconductor materials for sustainable technologies Advanced solid-state NMR techniques for nanomaterial characterization His group employs a range of advanced techniques including solid-state NMR spectroscopy, dynamic nuclear polarization, and computational methods to understand nanomaterial structure-property relationships at the atomic level. Analysis of Dr. Vela's recent publication record reveals a strong focus on advanced materials characterization techniques, particularly solid-state NMR applications to nanomaterials. His work spans multiple disciplines including materials science, analytical chemistry, and environmental chemistry, with particular emphasis on sustainable energy solutions and advanced characterization methods. A significant portion of his recent work addresses challenges in nitrate reduction for sustainable ammonia production and the development of lead-free semiconductor alternatives through innovative synthesis approaches. Dr. Vela has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Fulbright Scholar in Italy (2024) ACS Fellow (2021) John D. Corbett Endowed Professor (2020-2023) AAAS Fellow (2018) NSF CAREER Award (2013) Multiple LAS awards including Cassling Innovator (2018) and Early Achievement in Research (2014) ACS Midwest Stanley C. Israel Award (2014) As an educator and mentor, Dr. Vela has directed twenty doctoral and four master's theses while successfully mentoring numerous undergraduate researchers, including three NSF graduate research fellowship awardees. His research has been supported by significant funding including the NSF CAREER Award and various other grants that have enabled his group to investigate nanostructured materials for energy conversion, chemical catalysis, and fluorescence imaging applications. His service to the chemical community includes serving as Councilor for the Ames local section of the American Chemical Society, Program Chair for the Midwest Regional Meeting in 2018, and Treasurer of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry. Dr. Vela leads an active research group focused on inorganic and materials chemistry, with strong connections to the Ames National Laboratory where he has been a faculty scientist since 2010. His group collaborates extensively with researchers across disciplines to address challenges in sustainable energy and advanced materials development, maintaining an active presence in the scientific community through publications, conference presentations, and editorial board service for journals including ACS Energy Letters, Chemistry of Materials, and ACS Applied Engineering Materials.
Matthew Chapman is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on bacterial amyloid fibers, particularly curli, which are critical for biofilm formation and pathogenesis in enteric bacteria. He investigates the structural, functional, and biogenic mechanisms of curli, exploring their roles in microbial survival, disease, and interactions with human proteins like α-synuclein. Dr. Chapman earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University (1999) and completed postdoctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis (1999-2003). His work bridges microbiology, biochemistry, and structural biology, employing techniques such as microscopy, genetics, and biochemical assays. Recent articles highlight advancements in understanding curli’s role in inhibiting amyloid formation, microbial warfare, and neurodegenerative disease connections. The lab’s findings underscore curli’s dual role as both a functional microbial structure and a potential contributor to human pathologies. Collaborative efforts aim to develop anti-biofilm strategies and elucidate amyloid dynamics across kingdoms. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, though his extensive publication record reflects sustained academic impact. The Chapman Lab actively engages in interdisciplinary research, with projects spanning biofilm engineering and host-pathogen interactions.
Andrea Graham is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University and an HMEI Associated Faculty member. Her research integrates immunology, ecology, parasitology, and evolutionary biology to explore immune heterogeneity, host-parasite dynamics, and disease transmission. Her work emphasizes evolutionary immunology , focusing on how immune system behavior emerges from cellular interactions, particularly cytokines and antibodies. She investigates how natural selection shapes immune strategies, parasite virulence, and the ecological impacts of immune responses. The 15 most recent articles highlight her interdisciplinary approach, with themes spanning host defense mechanisms , parasite transmission , rewilded mouse models , and serological data analysis . These publications address critical questions in public health , zoonotic diseases , and immune system modeling . Andrea was honored with the Phi Beta Kappa Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2025, reflecting her dedication to mentoring. Her lab includes a dynamic team of undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and technical staff, contributing to studies on topics like malaria-helminth co-infections and environmental microbiota effects . The Graham Group collaborates extensively through networks like the EEB Disease Group , Princeton Global Health Program , and the Infectious Disease Evolution Across Scales RCN . They hosted the 2019 Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) conference , despite unexpected challenges like a norovirus outbreak.
Sheena Cruickshank is Professor of Public Engagement and Biomedical Science at the University of Manchester's Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine. Her research focuses on immunity at barrier sites like skin and gut, examining how environmental factors like pollution and microbes influence immune responses. She serves as Trustee and Public Engagement Secretary for the British Society for Immunology and has held positions with the RSA and AAAS. Her multidisciplinary research combines computational approaches with experimental immunology to investigate: Exposome impacts on barrier tissues Microbiome-immune system interactions Wound healing mechanisms Public engagement with science Her publication trends show strong focus on dermatology and immunology (40%), public health communication (25%), microbiome research (20%) and environmental health (15%). Recent work emphasizes keratinocyte biology, vaccine uptake strategies, and science communication frameworks. Honors include: British Society for Immunology Public Engagement Prize (2023) BBSRC Innovator of the Year Finalist (2016) Better World Awards for public engagement (2017) Best Postgraduate Research Supervisor (2016) She directs research on infection awareness in underserved populations and leads public engagement initiatives translating immunology research for community benefit. Her lab employs yeast models, tissue cultures, and computational approaches to study fundamental immune processes.
Dr. Lindsay Hofferberth serves as an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Belmont Abbey College. She maintains industry ties with the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and Charlotte FC. Her work emphasizes sport marketing, leadership, and organizational strategies. Education includes a Doctor of Business Administration (Marketing) from Grand Canyon University, a Master of Science in Sport Management from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing) from UNC Charlotte. Earlier academic contributions focused on malaria parasite biology. Research interests span both sport industry marketing and biochemistry. Notable achievements include a Young Investigator Award (2005) for malaria research. Teaching responsibilities include courses like Intro to Sport Management and Sport Marketing. Professional memberships include the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Sigma Zeta Honor Society.
Dr. Irene Nobeli is a Senior Lecturer and Education Lead (PG taught courses) at the School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London. She specializes in computational biology and chemoinformatics, focusing on regulatory RNAs, transcriptomics in health/disease, brain disorders, and small molecule roles in biology. Her work bridges bioinformatics tools development and translational research. Administrative roles include directing the MSc Bioinformatics program and organizing the Sequence Analysis and Omics module. She collaborates with research centers like the Birkbeck Institute for Data Analytics (BIDA) and the Institute of Structural Molecular Biology (ISMB). Research interests span bioinformatics methodologies, Mycobacterium genomics, neurodevelopmental disorders, and computational drug design. Notable contributions include developing flexiMAP (alternative polyadenylation analysis) and baerhunter (bacterial non-coding RNA detection). Publications highlight her expertise in transcriptomics, bacterial pathogenesis, and neurobiological mechanisms. She actively engages in advancing computational methods for genomic data interpretation and translational medicine.
