Joseph A. November is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the history of biomedical computing, distributed computing, and the intersection of technology and medicine. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2006), an M.A. from the University of Chicago (2002), and a B.A. from Hamilton College (1997). His work includes the award-winning book Biomedical Computing: Digitizing Life in the United States (2012), which explores the co-development of biomedicine and computing technologies. Current projects include Revolutions@home , examining distributed computing in protein folding research, and a biography of computing pioneer Robert S. Ledley. He has received grants from the NSF, NIH, and the Charles Babbage Institute. Teaching interests span the history of science and technology, including courses on the history of medicine, digital humanities, and the role of games in historical education. He actively contributes to professional organizations like SHOT and the History of Science Society. Awards include the Computer History Museum Prize (2013) and the National Institutes of Health DeWitt Stetten Fellowship (2007-2008). His research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues in technology and biomedical ethics.
Professor Thomas Bein is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) , where he leads the Functional Nanosystems research group. His work focuses on synthesizing and characterizing nanostructured materials with applications in energy, catalysis, and biomedical delivery. Mesoporous nanoparticles for drug delivery Semiconductor nano-morphologies for photovoltaics Photoelectrochemical water splitting Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) Electroactive networks His research emphasizes atomic-scale control of material architectures using self-assembly, hydrogen bonding, and covalent interactions, enabling precise tuning of electronic, optical, and catalytic properties. A review of his recent publications reveals cutting-edge investigations into covalent organic frameworks (COFs), perovskite-inspired solar materials, and functional nanoparticle systems. Key trends include optimizing energy conversion efficiency, enhancing stability in optoelectronic devices, and exploring bio-compatible nanocarriers for targeted therapies. Professor Bein’s group actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering, with ongoing collaborations in solar energy, sustainable materials, and nanomedicine.
Harris H. Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Systems Biology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he also serves as Interim Chair of Systems Biology. He is affiliated with the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (C2B2) and the Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Studies (CMBS). B.S., Physics and Mathematics, MIT Ph.D., Biophysics, Harvard University Dr. Wang's research lies at the intersection of systems and synthetic biology, focusing on developing foundational technologies for genome engineering, microbiome manipulation, and synthetic genomics. His lab pioneers methods such as MAGE, MAGIC, CAST, and CAMII to enable high-throughput genetic manipulation, in situ microbiome engineering, and AI-driven microbial culturomics. Key research themes include understanding microbial community dynamics, engineering cellular memory systems, designing biocontained genetic circuits, and applying synthetic biology to human health challenges in personalized medicine and infectious disease. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in spatial and functional metagenomics, CRISPR-based microbiome editing, and synthetic biology tools for data storage and genetic stability. The articles span high-impact journals like Nature , Science , and Nature Biotechnology , reflecting his leadership in developing scalable, programmable biological systems. Scientific Awards: NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science Sloan Research Fellowship NSF CAREER Award ONR Young Investigator Award Burroughs Wellcome Fund PATH Award Schaefer Scholar Blavatnik National Award Vilcek Prize PECASE Dr. Wang has advised numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to independent scientific careers. His lab is supported by major grants from NIH, NSF, DARPA, DOE, and foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CZ Biohub NY. He is actively involved in educational initiatives, including organizing Columbia’s iGEM team and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Synthetic Biology course. The Wang Lab is based at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is part of national consortia such as the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) and the Genome Project-Write (GP-Write) initiative. The lab develops and applies cutting-edge technologies in automation, machine learning, and synthetic biology to engineer microbiomes for applications in medicine, global health, and climate change.
Professor Todd Squires is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara, within the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering. His research focuses on the fundamental principles of transport phenomena as applied to interfaces, membranes, and complex fluids, employing theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to address significant challenges in micro-scale fluid mechanics. Dr. Squires' educational background includes: BS in Physics, UCLA (1995) BA in Russian Language and Literature, UCLA (1995) PhD in Physics, Harvard University (2002) His research interests span microfluidics and electrokinetics, active and nonlinear microrheology of complex materials, polymer dynamics and sensors, with particular emphasis on non-linear electrokinetic flows, interfacial rheology, and the self-assembly of nanostructured materials. His work bridges fundamental fluid mechanics with practical applications in microfluidic devices, energy storage, and biomedical systems, demonstrating the versatility of this fascinating field. Analysis of Professor Squires' recent publications reveals a consistent focus on interfacial phenomena, with particular attention to the rheological properties of fluid interfaces, particle dynamics in complex fluids, and novel microfluidic techniques for measuring and manipulating these systems. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between chemical engineering, physics, and materials science, with applications spanning energy storage, biomedical engineering, and environmental systems. Professor Squires has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: 2018 Robert W. Vaughan Lecture in Chemical Engineering, Caltech 2015 Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society 2013 Mid-Career Award, American Electrophoresis Society 2012 The Dudley Saville Memorial Lecture at Princeton 2010 Pierre Gilles de Gennes Prize 2010 Allan P. Colburn Memorial Lectureship, University of Delaware 2009 Francois Frenkiel Award for Fluid Mechanics 2009 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award 2008 Beckman Young Investigator 2007 NSF CAREER Award 2005 'Rising Star' - Chronicle of Higher Education As principal investigator of the Squires Group, Professor Squires leads a dynamic research team that combines experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to investigate transport phenomena at interfaces. His work has been supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation, with his CAREER award indicating early recognition of his potential as both researcher and educator. While specific grant details aren't provided in the source material, his extensive publication record and prestigious awards suggest robust and sustained research funding. The Squires Group maintains state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for studying micro-scale fluid mechanics, including specialized equipment for microrheology measurements, microfluidic device fabrication, and interfacial characterization. Their research environment fosters collaboration across disciplines, with connections to materials science, physics, and biomedical engineering researchers at UCSB and beyond.
Assoc Prof Ng Teng Yong is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (NTU), specializing in numerical modeling and simulation. With a background as Research Manager at A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, his work spans materials science, nanotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Current focus on graphene-based desalination membranes Expertise in molecular dynamics simulations Investigates nanoscale fluid mechanics and structural dynamics Recent publications highlight advancements in energy-efficient electrodialysis, smart robotics, and nonlinear vibration analysis. His interdisciplinary approach integrates computational methods with experimental validation in additive manufacturing and soft material mechanics.
Dr. Daniel Roxbury is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director at the Department of Chemical, Biomolecular and Materials Engineering within the University of Rhode Island's College of Engineering. With expertise in nanoscience and carbon nanomaterials, his research focuses on nano-bio interactions, developing functionalized nanotubes for biomedical applications and environmental monitoring through his NanoBio Engineering Laboratory. His work spans multiple disciplines including: Biomedical nanosensors Smart wearable biomaterials Targeted drug delivery systems Environmental nanotechnology Single-molecule imaging Nanotoxicology Recent publications emphasize machine learning-enhanced spectral analysis, coral reef conservation nanotechnology, and wearable stress monitoring textiles. His 2024 ACS Nano study introduces AI-driven macrophage phenotyping, while 2023 Nature Nanotechnology work explores coral reef restoration strategies using nanomaterials. Awarded the 2019 NSF CAREER grant for cellular nanometrology, he leads multiple NIH-funded projects including: $820,000 NSF CAREER: Spectral Imaging for Sub-Cellular Nanometrology $140,000 Miriam Hospital COBRE: Cortisol Detection Textiles $700,000 NSF EAGER: Multiplexed Wound Biomarker Detection His laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment including: Near Infrared Hyperspectral Microscope Custom NIR Fluorescence Spectrometer Jasco UV/VIS/NIR Spectrophotometer Biosafety Cabinet Cell Culture Incubator Cryo-Storage System
Dr. Michael Baym is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School with affiliate appointments in Microbiology and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, and as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He leads the Baym Lab, which studies microbial evolutionary genomics and antibiotic resistance through a hybrid of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches. His research focuses on: Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and practical interventions Mobile Genetic Elements (plasmids, phages, transposons) Computational Genomic Algorithms for big data analysis Synthetic Biology tools and technologies Key recent publications explore phage discovery systems , phylogenetic compression of microbial genomes, and RNA-guided gene drives in plasmids. His work is supported by multiple NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants including a MIRA award. Scientific honors include: Packard Fellowship (2018) Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) SSQBio Mentorship Award (2022) The lab actively trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with alumni occupying academic and industry positions globally. Current team members include researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds working at the intersection of experiment, computation, and theory .
Stephen Y. Chou is the Joseph C. Elgin Professor of Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University. He is affiliated with the Princeton Materials Institute (PMI) and leads the Nano, Meta, and Bio-Health Laboratory (NMBH Lab), previously known as the Nanostructures Lab. His work spans nanotechnology, bioengineering, and photonics, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges in health, electronics, and manufacturing. Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986 M.A., Physics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1982 B.S., Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 1978 Chou's research focuses on nano-bioengineering for diagnostics and health, nanophotonics (meta-optics and subwavelength elements), and nanofabrication techniques. His work has revolutionized nanoimprint lithography, enabling breakthroughs in semiconductor devices, optical sensors, and biomedical tools. The NMBH Lab's innovations include ultra-sensitive biosensors (D2PA), the iMOST™ diagnostic platform, and foundational contributions to gate-all-around (GAA) transistors for sub-3 nm CMOS technology. His publications reflect advancements in plasmonic biosensors, organic solar cells, nanofluidics, and scalable nanoimprint methods. Key themes include nanoscale light manipulation, low-cost diagnostic systems, and quantum electronic devices. Member, National Academy of Engineering (2007) IEEE Cledo Brunetti Award (2004) IEEE Nanotechnology Pioneer Award (2014) Nanoimprint Pioneer Award (2015) Packard Fellow (1991) Fellow, IEEE (2000) Inductee, New Jersey High Tech Hall of Fame (2004) MIT Technology Review Emerging Technologies (2003, 2007) Chou has founded three companies (Nanonex, NanoOpto, Essenlix) and co-founded BioNano Genomics (NASDAQ: BNGO). His work bridges academic research and industrial impact, with over 700 publications (H-index 97) and 400 patents, influencing global nanotechnology and diagnostics. The NMBH Lab develops transformative technologies in nano-bioengineering, nanophotonics, and nanofabrication, emphasizing practical applications for healthcare and electronics.
Steven A. Corcelli is a Professor and Interim Dean of the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame, with a research focus on Theoretical Chemistry and Molecular Dynamics Simulations . His work bridges Physical Chemistry and Biochemistry , targeting Energy Applications and Biomolecular Binding Mechanisms . He leads the Computational Molecular Science & Engineering Laboratory (CoMSEL). Ph.D., Chemistry, Yale University (2001) Sc.B., Chemistry, Brown University (1997) Research interests span ionic liquids for Carbon Capture , aqueous electrolytes in battery technologies , and molecular binding processes in immunology and DNA interactions . His group employs GPU-accelerated simulations and weighted ensemble methods to uncover structural and dynamic motifs. Recent publications highlight trends in vibrational spectroscopy , TCR-MHC binding , and CO2 solvation mechanisms . Awards include the Thomas P. Madden Award (2020) , ACS Fellowship (2016) , and NSF CAREER Award (2009) . Staff: Erin Brossard (Ph.D.), Nell Karpinski, Shuang Wu, Noah Vasconez, Kaitlyn Handy, Isabel Thompson
Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu is a Research Professor at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland. His research focuses on functional nanomaterials for healthcare, energy, and environmental applications. He holds over 400 publications with 36,000+ citations and has received prestigious awards like the NHMRC Leadership Fellowship and ARC Future Fellowship. Education: PhD in Chemistry from Fudan University. Research Interests: Silica-based nanoparticles for drug/gene delivery, energy storage materials (e.g., aluminum-ion batteries), sustainable catalysis, and nano-pesticides for agriculture. His group develops biomaterials for cancer therapy, immunotherapy, and mRNA vaccine platforms. Recent Trends in Publications: Focused on advancing nanocarrier systems for therapeutics, electrocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from seawater, and sustainable energy solutions. Collaborates with industry partners like N4 Pharma and Baosteel for translational applications. Awards & Grants: Multiple ARC Discovery/Linkage grants, NHMRC funding, and industry partnerships totaling millions. Notable projects include mRNA delivery platforms and rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries. Supervision & Labs: Mentors over 20 PhD/Master’s students. Leads the Yu Group, collaborating on projects like ‘Designer Nanoparticles for mRNA Factories’ and ‘Nanotechnology for Flystrike Control in Livestock’.
Reinhard Heckel is a Tenured Associate Professor (equivalent to Professor) of Machine Learning at the Department of Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM), and Adjunct Faculty in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. He was previously an Assistant Professor at Rice (2017–2019), a postdoc in the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab at UC Berkeley, and a researcher at IBM Research Zurich. Education: PhD, 2014 – ETH Zurich Visiting PhD student – Department of Statistics, Stanford University Research Interests: His work centers on machine learning and information processing with three major thrusts: (1) developing algorithms and theoretical foundations for deep learning, especially for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging ; (2) establishing rigorous mathematical and empirical underpinnings for modern machine-learning systems; and (3) leveraging DNA as a digital information-storage medium , including error-correction coding and system design for DNA-based storage. Across more than 100 peer-reviewed papers since 2017, Heckel’s research exhibits a strong interdisciplinary blend of computational imaging , machine-learning theory , and molecular data storage . Recent 2024–2025 publications show intensive focus on robust MRI reconstruction using diffusion priors, evaluation of bias in large web-text corpora, and state-of-the-art error-correcting codes for DNA storage channels. A forthcoming book, Deep Learning for Computational Imaging (Oxford University Press), consolidates his contributions to the field. Outreach & Media: Keynote and panel talks at DLD, TUM, and major ML conferences Op-eds in Frankfurter Allgemeine on ChatGPT and DNA storage Science features on Netflix, BBC, and German television (Galileo, “Gut zu Wissen”) Research Environment: At TUM he leads a group investigating theoretical and applied aspects of deep learning, compressed sensing, and coding for DNA storage. Open-source repositories on GitHub (e.g., dna_data_storage , supplement_deep_decoder ) provide code and data supplements accompanying his publications.
Virginia Davis is the Dr. Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Auburn University's College of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Rice University, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tulane University. Research Focus: Self-assembly of nanomaterials, rheology, lyotropic liquid crystals, additive manufacturing, polymers, nanocomposites, and biosensors Key Projects: USDA-funded agricultural outreach, NSF grant for MXene dispersion studies, Alabama STEM Council member Her recent publications explore cellulose nanocrystals, MXene 3D printing, and sustainable polymer recycling. Davis has received multiple honors including the Breeden Professorship, AIChE Fellowship, and Auburn University Faculty Awards for research and mentorship. Research Trends: Dominated by bio-based nanomaterials (cellulose nanocrystals, MXenes), with applications in additive manufacturing, environmental remediation (PFAS adsorption), biosensors (carbofuran detection, cancer biomarkers), and agricultural delivery systems. Scientific Awards Auburn University Faculty Awards (2023, 2025) AIChE Fellow (2023) Dr. Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Professorship Davis leads outreach initiatives like the Tomorrow’s Community Innovators camp and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on plastic recycling innovations. Her work emphasizes both fundamental material science and practical applications addressing environmental and agricultural challenges.
Henry D. Pfister is the Addy Family Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, with a secondary appointment in Mathematics. He holds affiliations with the Pratt School of Engineering and the Duke Quantum Center. His research focuses on information theory, error-correcting codes, quantum computing, and machine learning applications in communications. Pfister earned his Ph.D. from UC San Diego and has held prior roles at Texas A&M University, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and Qualcomm. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, UC San Diego (2003); M.S. degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Management from Duke University; J.D. and additional degrees from UNC Chapel Hill. Research interests include Reed-Muller codes, quantum error correction, neural decoders for DNA storage, and capacity-achieving coding schemes. Recent work highlights include proving Reed-Muller codes achieve capacity on binary-erasure channels and developing quantum-enhanced classical communication protocols. Publications span topics like polar codes for quantum channels, belief-propagation algorithms, and neural network-based decoding. Notable grants include NSF funding for DNA storage coding and quantum simulation projects. Pfister has advised over 20 graduate students and is a recipient of the STOC Best Paper Award and NSF CAREER Award.
Matthew R. Jones is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Rice University and holds the Gene and Norman Hackerman Junior Chair and Norman Hackerman-Welch Young Investigator titles. He joined Rice in 2017 after postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley under Paul Alivisatos and a PhD at Northwestern University under Chad Mirkin. His research focuses on systems-level nanoparticle assembly, plasmonics, and metamaterials, with applications in energy storage and biomedicine. Jones has pioneered techniques like 4D-STEM for catalytic nanoparticles and developed adaptive materials via strain-controlled synthesis. Education: B.S. in Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering (Carnegie Mellon University), Ph.D. in Chemistry (Northwestern University as an NSF Fellow). Key awards include the Packard Fellowship (2018) and NSF CAREER Award (2022). His lab hosts over 20 graduate students and postdocs, with notable advisees including Bukky, Zhihua Cheng, and Saxton. Research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches: combining in-situ microscopy, ligand engineering, and computational modeling to control nanoparticle behavior. Recent studies include strain-preserved nanocatalysts (2024) and chiral superlattices (2024). Collaborations span Rice’s Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences and the Electrochemical Society. Lab: Jones Research Group Grants: NSF CAREER, Packard Fellowship, Rice Seed Award Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including Science Advances (2024) and Nature Communications (2023)
Caitriona M. O'Driscoll is Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutics at University College Cork's School of Pharmacy, Ireland. With over four decades of academic experience, she previously served as Head of the School of Pharmacy at UCC from 2003-2009 and 2010-2013. Her established drug delivery research team spans from pre-formulation through to production and manufacture of prototype delivery systems suitable for clinical trial, with strong industry links underpinning many research projects. Her research interests focus on translational drug delivery with emphasis on 'problem' drugs including poorly water soluble compounds and biopharmaceuticals like peptide/protein drugs, plasma DNA and siRNA. She develops nano-sized delivery constructs that are robust enough to survive processing, stable on storage, and achieve cell/site specific delivery in vivo. Greater than 40% of new chemical entities are poorly water soluble Biopharmaceuticals now approach 50% of all new drugs in development Major barrier is design of efficient delivery systems Special focus on oral drug delivery despite challenges Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on targeted nanodelivery systems for cancer therapy, particularly prostate and colorectal cancer, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's. Her work demonstrates expertise in cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles, siRNA delivery, and disease-specific formulations that account for conditions like Crohn's disease that affect drug delivery. Scientific awards include: 'Person of the Year award' by Parenteral Drug Association (Ireland Chapter) in 2013 'Award for Professional Excellence' by Helix Health in 2007/2008 'Award for Pharmacist of the Year' by Helix Health in 2007/2008 With €10.5M in career research income and 25 PhDs graduated, Professor O'Driscoll's work has attracted funding from diverse sources including Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and industry partners. Her research group maintains strong links with Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Process & Chemical Engineering at UCC, creating a unique strength for drug development research from design through to clinical trial. She has served as external examiner for multiple universities and as PhD thesis examiner at institutions worldwide. Her research team operates within UCC's drug delivery group, which has established expertise spanning from pre-formulation through to production and manufacture of prototype delivery systems. The group maintains strong industry connections and offers various PhD positions, focusing particularly on translational research with product-driven applications.
