Prof. Marcy Zenobi-Wong is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology, specializing in biofabrication and tissue engineering. Her research focuses on cartilage regeneration using advanced biomaterials, including nanofilm coatings and 3D printing techniques. She holds patents in tissue engineering and has pioneered methods like filamented light (FLight) biofabrication for creating anisotropic tissues. Her academic journey includes a B.Sc. from MIT (1985), M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Stanford (1987, 1990), followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan. She leads the Biofabrication Group at ETH, developing therapies for joint repair and regenerative medicine. Courses taught include Biomedical Engineering and Materials and Mechanics in Medicine . Research highlights include engineered hydrogels for cartilage protection, CRISPR-driven gene editing in chondrocytes, and biohybrid neural interfaces. Her work bridges material science, cell biology, and clinical applications, with a focus on translational medicine. Collaborative projects involve creating elastic cartilage grafts for microtia reconstruction and volumetric printing of complex tissue constructs.
John Oakey is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wyoming, with additional affiliations to the INBRE Program, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program, and Materials Science and Engineering Program. Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School (2007–2010) Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (2003) M.S. Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (1999) B.S. Chemical Engineering, Penn State University (1997) Research Interests Oakey’s laboratory integrates fluid dynamics, colloidal science and materials science to understand how biological systems behave under flow, on surfaces and within complex 3-D geometries. A unifying theme is the use of microfabrication and microfluidics to create new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic platforms. Current thrusts include: Heterogeneous biomaterials: self-assembled particulate tissue scaffolds whose mechanical and transport properties can be temporally programmed. Inertial microfluidics: exploiting lift forces for membrane-free particle sorting, enrichment and diagnostics. Multi-temporal analysis by flow cytometry: development of closed-loop, high-throughput microfluidic cytometers for longitudinal single-cell studies. Publication Trends From 2025 back to 2010, Oakey’s articles reveal a consistent trajectory that marries fundamental physics (microtubule mechanics, inertial focusing) with translational applications (cell encapsulation, tissue scaffolds, drug delivery). Recent work (2023-2025) increasingly targets injectable granular hydrogels, single-cell therapeutic delivery and sustainable carbon-sequestering living materials, demonstrating an evolution from microscale transport phenomena to macroscopic biomedical and environmental impact. Scientific Awards No named awards are listed in the supplied text. Advising & Coordination Roles As Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Professor Oakey oversees graduate program development and student mentoring. While no individual students are named, his role implies active supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. advisees in chemical and biomedical engineering. Laboratory & Teams The Oakey Research Group operates from the Energy and Environmental Research Building (EERB 435A) at the University of Wyoming. The lab enjoys R1-level research infrastructure and collaborates broadly with the Wyoming INBRE network, the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program, and the Materials Science and Engineering Program.
Michel M. Maharbiz is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He leads research on miniaturized bioelectronic interfaces, including neural dust implants and cyborg insects. He holds affiliations with the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC), Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses (CNEP), and SWARM Lab. His education includes a Ph.D. in EECS from UC Berkeley (2003) and a B.S. in EE from Cornell University (1997). Maharbiz's research integrates MEMS, ultrasonic systems, and synthetic biology to develop wireless neural interfaces, implantable sensors, and biohybrid devices. Key focus areas are neural dust technology for peripheral nerve recording, magnetoelastic strain sensors for medical applications, and electrochemical biosensing using bacterial flagellar motors. His publications emphasize neural interfaces, ultrasonic implants, and biomedical monitoring. Recent articles explore ultrasonic power delivery (2025), radiation detectors for oncology (2025), and fracture-healing smart plates (2019). Trends include miniaturization of wireless implants, closed-loop therapeutic systems, and novel biomaterials. Scientific Awards: McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award (2017) Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (2017) NSF CAREER Award (2009) MIT TR10 Top Emerging Technology (2009) Bakar Fellows Spark Award (2012) He directs the Maharbiz Lab, advancing neural dust and bioelectronic interfaces. Projects include impedance-based fracture monitoring, carbon fiber neural arrays, and hernia repair sensors. Funding includes NSF and industry partnerships for implantable device development.
Karen Piper Hanley is Professor of Molecular Medicine and Head of Division in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Gastroenterology at the University of Manchester. She serves as the fibrosis lead in the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research and previously served as Director of Core Research Technologies (2019-2022). She is also an editorial board member for Scientific Reports. Her research focuses on fibrosis (scarring) mechanisms across multiple organs, particularly liver, kidney, and lung fibrosis. Her lab investigates the cellular and molecular basis of fibrotic disease, with emphasis on how pathological scar components are produced and how they signal to surrounding cells. Key areas include the role of SOX9 transcription factor, integrin beta-1 signaling, Group 1 PAKs, and YAP1 in fibrosis progression. Her recent publications reveal trends toward increased clinical translation of fibrosis research, with studies on health inequalities in liver cancer care, post-COVID diabetes incidence, and innovative approaches to liver disease detection. Her work increasingly integrates spatial transcriptomics and advanced omics technologies to understand cellular transitions in liver disease. Career-track postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Southampton (2006) As senior postgraduate tutor, she has mentored numerous PhD students who have presented at key conferences and authored high-quality manuscripts. All her PhD students have submitted and been awarded their degrees within 4 years. She has successfully guided previous Academic Clinical Fellows to win MRC clinical training fellowships. Her teaching extends to undergraduate Personal & Professional Development and supervision of MRes and BSc students, many of whom have achieved first-class degrees and prestigious awards. Her lab maintains active collaborations with Professor Neil Hanley's group on human development, stem cells, and regenerative medicine, bridging developmental biology with fibrosis research to understand why regeneration is impaired in chronic diseases.
Hai-Quan Mao is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, with a joint appointment in the Biomedical Engineering Department (School of Medicine). He directs the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) and leads the Translational Tissue Engineering Center. His research focuses on biomaterials, regenerative engineering, and immunoengineering, particularly developing nanomaterials for therapeutic delivery and tissue regeneration. Mao holds 35 U.S. patents, co-founded two biotech companies, and received prestigious awards including National Academy of Inventors Fellow and NSF CAREER Award. Education: BS in Chemistry (1988) and PhD in Polymer Chemistry (1993) from Wuhan University. Postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins (1995–1998), followed by roles at Johns Hopkins Singapore (1999–2003) before joining the Whiting School faculty. Research emphasizes nanofiber scaffolds for liver/nerve regeneration, DNA/lipid nanoparticle engineering for gene therapy, and artificial lymph node matrices for immunotherapy. His lab translates biomaterials innovations into clinical applications, with NIH-funded projects addressing cancer, malaria, and tissue damage. Awards include over 60 provisional patents, multiple Johns Hopkins translational awards, and Thalheimer Awards for research. He serves as associate editor of Biomaterials and editorial board member of major journals. Lab activities include scalable nanoparticle manufacturing, machine learning for material design, and collaborations with industry/clinical partners. Recent work includes lipid nanoparticle optimization for mRNA vaccines and exosome-based therapies for Crohn’s disease.
Andre Levchenko is the John C. Malone Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University, with secondary appointments in the Department of Neurosurgery and affiliations with the Cancer Signaling Networks, Immunology, and the Yale Program in Neurodevelopment and Regeneration. His research focuses on systems biology, signal transduction, and cell-cell communication, utilizing microfluidics and computational modeling to study cancer progression, stem cell behavior, and neurological disorders. PhD, Columbia University MEng, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Levchenko's work explores how cells process dynamic signals to make critical decisions, particularly in glioblastoma migration, organoid development, and cardiovascular tissue engineering. His lab develops innovative microfluidic platforms and mathematical models to dissect multicellular communication and signaling networks. Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding YAP-driven cancer invasion , NOTCH signaling in angiogenesis , and metabolic regulation of hypoxia responses . He has pioneered methods for organoid modeling and single-cell analysis , advancing precision in biological signaling studies. Scientific Awards : Computational Molecular Biology Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Burroughs Wellcome Fund) National Academies Keck Futures Conference Invitee Distinguished Guest Lecturer, University of Virginia American Asthma Foundation Early Excellence Award Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Levchenko leads the Levchenko Lab at the Yale Systems Biology Institute, collaborating with institutions like Mayo Clinic and Yale Cancer Center. His research has received recognition in Faculty of 1000 and multiple journal highlights.
Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Dr. Vakil Takhaveev is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology, within the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health. His research focuses on DNA damage mechanisms, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on developing novel DNA-damage-sequencing methods like click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq . He investigates anticancer drug action (e.g., trabectedin), aging clocks using DNA oxidation profiling, and stress-induced carcinogenesis. His work integrates multi-omics approaches and advanced sequencing techniques. Research Directions: Novel DNA-Damage-Sequencing Methods: Developed click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq for genomic mapping of DNA lesions and repair dynamics. Anticancer Drug Action: Explored mechanisms of trabectedin and other chemotherapeutics, linking DNA repair vulnerabilities to therapy resistance. Aging Clocks: Created DNA oxidation-based biomarkers for biological aging using genome-wide profiling in human and mouse models. Stress-Induced Pathologies: Studies metabolic and DNA damage links to early tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. Awards & Recognition: 2025 Public Award Winner in PIs of Tomorrow competition 2024 ETH Zurich Career Seed Award Best presentation awards (Swiss Chemical Society, American Chemical Society) Grants & Collaborations: Impetus grants for aging clock development Swiss Chemical Society and American Chemical Society fellowships Labs & Teams: Leads research on DNA damage and aging mechanisms at ETH Zurich, collaborating with international groups in oncology and toxicology.
Rebecca Schulman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. She holds secondary appointments in Chemistry and Computer Science and is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary institutes, including the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, the Chemistry-Biology Interface Program, the Center for Cell Dynamics, and the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics. She currently co-directs the Passport to Future Technology Leadership program for PhD students. Research Interests: Schulman's research lies at the intersection of DNA nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and smart materials. Her group develops intelligent, adaptive biomolecular materials and nanostructures by integrating concepts from materials science, biochemistry, circuit design, and soft matter physics. The team focuses on engineering dynamic self-assembly processes using DNA to create reconfigurable materials, molecular circuits, and autonomous soft micro-robots. Key themes include self-healing nanostructures, feedback-regulated crystallization, programmable hydrogels, and synthetic genetic networks for materials control. Publication Trends: Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on using DNA-based chemical reaction networks to program spatial and temporal behavior in materials. The work spans from fundamental mechanisms like catalytic polymerization and crystal growth regulation to applications in soft robotics, self-wiring circuits, and synthetic pattern formation. The research is highly interdisciplinary, combining synthetic biology with materials engineering to achieve life-like functionalities in non-living systems. Scientific Awards: AIMBE Fellowship Award Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Award Hartwell Individual Biomolecular Research Award President’s Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE) DARPA Young Faculty Award DARPA Directors Fellowship NSF CAREER Award Turing Scholar Award DOE Early Career Award Advising and Grants: Schulman mentors graduate students and leads a vibrant research group focused on next-generation biomolecular engineering. Her work is supported by major federal grants, including the NSF CAREER, DOE Early Career, DARPA, and the Vannevar Bush Fellowship—a prestigious Department of Defense award for basic research. She is actively involved in training future leaders through programs like the Passport to Future Technology Leadership. Labs and Teams: The Schulman Lab at Johns Hopkins is a multidisciplinary team working on DNA-powered materials and molecular programming. The lab is embedded within several collaborative centers, enabling strong cross-departmental and cross-institutional research. Their work combines experimental biochemistry with theoretical modeling to design and implement complex molecular systems.
Britt Adamson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, where she serves as Director of the Undergraduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology. Her lab investigates molecular networks in human cells with focus on stress response mechanisms and genome editing technologies. She received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005) and Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Harvard University (2012), followed by postdoctoral training at UCSF under Jonathan Weissman supported by a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship. Adamson's research centers on how cells organize stress response networks during DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress, developing CRISPR-based functional genomics and single-cell sequencing tools to map molecular behaviors. Her work bridges fundamental cell biology with therapeutic applications in genome editing. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in precision genome editing (prime/base editing optimization) and systematic dissection of DNA repair pathways through combinatorial CRISPR screening. Her lab consistently integrates computational approaches with high-resolution experimental techniques to uncover context-dependent cellular behaviors. Her scientific recognitions include: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Princeton IP Accelerator Award (2025) STAT Who to Know: 10 Scientists leading a new generation of gene editors (2024) Adamson actively mentors eight graduate students (including alumni Ann Cirincione and Jun Hussmann) and two postdocs, with research funded through institutional awards and collaborative grants. Her lab's technological developments have enabled projects spanning virology, immunology, and developmental biology. The Adamson Lab operates within Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, fostering an interdisciplinary environment that merges cell biology, genomics, and computational science. Current projects focus on improving prime editing efficiency and understanding stress response adaptation in disease contexts.
Dr. Steven G. Clarke is a Distinguished Professor at UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and director of research at the Molecular Biology Institute . His work bridges protein chemistry , methylation biology , and aging research through studies of spontaneous protein damage and its repair mechanisms. Education: BA in Chemistry and Zoology, Pomona College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University (NSF Fellow) Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley (Miller Fellow) Dr. Clarke's research focuses on protein isoaspartyl repair via PCMT1/PIMT enzymes , ribosomal protein methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and PRMT family characterization including PRMT7 and PRMT9. His lab combines biochemical assays , genetic models , and structural analysis to investigate aging mechanisms and disease implications. Recent publications highlight: COQ5 structure-function analysis in coenzyme Q biosynthesis PCMTD1 ubiquitin ligase interactions PRMT7 substrate specificity in histone H2B Protein isoaspartyl impacts on T cell function in lupus Novel PRMT inhibitors for cancer therapy Methionine addiction in osteosarcoma malignancy Major scientific awards: American Chemical Society Ralph F. Hirschmann Award in Peptide Chemistry NIH MERIT Award Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award William C. Rose Award, ASBMB UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award (Eby Award winner) Current lab members include PhD candidates Eric Pang (UCSB) and Sining "Cindy" Wang (UCLA), while undergraduates Celeste Medina-Seymoure , Elizabeth Oroudjeva , Olivia Pacheco , and Jasmine Winter contribute to ongoing proteostasis studies. Collaborations with Profs. Jose Rodriguez and Catherine Clarke demonstrate interdisciplinary research approaches.
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.
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.
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 .
Prof. Waldemar Kolanus leads the Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology department at the University of Bonn's Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) . His research bridges immunoregulation , stem cell dynamics , and metabolic stress responses in immune cells. Unit 2 member at LIMES Principal investigator in SFB 704 and ImmunoSensation Cluster Leads a multidisciplinary lab with postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff His work focuses on intracellular signaling pathways connecting immune activation to tissue homeostasis, particularly through: Cytohesin proteins in integrin-mediated adhesion and migration TRIM71 in stem cell regulation and congenital hydrocephalus High-salt environments affecting macrophage function Publication trends show expertise in immune cell migration , genetic models , and chemical inhibition , with frequent use of mice and zebrafish for in vivo studies. Key articles explore: TRIM71's dual role in auditory development and germ cell maintenance Cytohesin family's Golgi regulation and insulin signaling Ruxolitinib's off-target migration inhibition of dendritic cells Contact details: Address: LIMES Institute, Carl-Troll-Straße 31, Bonn Email: kolanus.sekretariat@uni-bonn.de Phone: +49 228 73-62788
