Dr. Hiren Patel is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He holds a Doctorate in Computer Engineering from Virginia Tech and previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley under Edward A. Lee. His research focuses on real-time embedded systems, computer architecture, machine learning hardware, and cybersecurity. He teaches courses like ECE 150 (Programming), ECE 320/429 (Computer Architecture), and ECE 327 (Digital Systems). Research Interests: Cyber-physical systems and hybrid architectures Hardware/software co-design methodologies Predictable cache coherence protocols IoT and edge computing systems Security in embedded and real-time systems Recent work emphasizes cache coherence solutions for safety-critical systems and GPU acceleration strategies. His publications address challenges in multicore predictability, FPGA bandwidth optimization, and autonomous robotics orchestration. No specific awards are listed, though his extensive publication record indicates significant contributions to embedded systems research. He currently oversees graduate student applications focusing on his core research areas.
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.
Professor Carlo Pappone is a Full Professor of Cardiology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (since 2019) and Director of the Arrhythmology Department at IRCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital (since 2015). He has held previous academic/clinical leadership roles at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital (2000-2010), Villa Maria Cecilia Hospital (2010-2015), and University of Naples Federico II (1990-2000). With 212 publications in top journals like NEJM, JAMA, and Circulation, he has made significant contributions to cardiac arrhythmia research. Current Positions Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (2019-present): Full Professor of Cardiology IRCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital (2015-present): Director of Arrhythmology Department Previous Roles University of Naples Federico II (1990-2000) University of Michigan Ann Harbor (1990-2000) IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital (2000-2010) Villa Maria Cecilia Hospital (2010-2015) Research Focus: Specializing in cardiovascular diseases, his work spans atrial fibrillation ablation techniques, Brugada syndrome pathogenesis, heart failure device therapy, and ion channel disorders. His H-index of 53 and 18,407 citations reflect his substantial academic impact. Notable Scientific Contributions Author of 44 patents Principal Investigator in 14 clinical trials (clinicaltrials.gov) Developed circumferential pulmonary vein ablation technique Innovator in biventricular pacing systems for heart failure Pioneered research on non-excitatory current for cardiac contractility Scientific Recognition Awarded as Elite Reviewer of JACC (2005) Editorial Board Member of 6 leading journals Reviewer for NEJM, JAMA, Lancet, and Nature Medicine Education Medical Doctorate: University of Naples Federico II
Eduardo Azevedo is the John M. Bendheim and Thomas L. Bendheim Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School , University of Pennsylvania. He holds a courtesy appointment as Professor of Economics and was awarded the 2016 Sloan Foundation Fellowship. His research integrates economic theory with practical applications across science and business domains. His research interests include: Market design Selection markets Social science genetics Experimental economics Game theory Recent publication trends focus on: Economic theory applications to healthcare and digital markets Empirical Bayes methods in A/B testing Adverse selection in insurance markets Strategic behavior in two-sided matching Evolutionary behavioral economics He serves as an instructor for BEPP2500 - Managerial Economics , emphasizing real-world application of microeconomic theory to business problems. His work also involves software development for economic research, including MATLAB-based empirical Bayes tools for analyzing treatment effects in large-scale experiments. Scientific awards : Sloan Foundation Fellow (2016)
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.
Dr. Eli Strauss is a behavioral ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University , where he is establishing a lab focused on the evolution and ecology of social behavior. He co-directs the Mara Hyena Project , a long-term study of hyena behavior and ecology in Kenya. His research spans dominance hierarchies, longitudinal studies of animal societies, and computational methods for analyzing social dynamics. He has developed tools like the DynaRankR R package for inferring longitudinal dominance hierarchies and DomArchive for compiling dominance data. His work addresses challenges such as mismatched timescales in behavioral studies and demographic drivers of hierarchy dynamics, often using spotted hyenas as a model species. Dr. Strauss is currently recruiting lab members for graduate student, postdoc, and technical roles, with lab establishment planned for late 2025–Fall 2026. His publications reflect interdisciplinary interests in behavioral ecology, animal societies, and data-driven approaches to understanding dominance and social networks.
Dr. Lourdes Pena-Castillo is a Professor jointly appointed in the Departments of Computer Science and Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland's Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on applying machine learning and bioinformatics to study bacterial gene regulation, with emphasis on transcriptomics, gene expression pathways, and microbiology. She leads the Bioinformatics Lab at MUN, developing computational tools like Promotech for promoter prediction and sRNARFTarget for sRNA target identification. Education: BSc in Information Systems Engineering, ITESM-Mexico MSc in Computer Science, University of Alberta PhD in Computer Science (Doktoringenieurin), Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Postdoc in Bioinformatics, University of Toronto Research Interests: Bioinformatics, Genomics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Transcriptomics, Gene Regulation, Microbiology Her work integrates computational methods with biological data to address challenges in molecular biology, including analyzing bacterial sRNA functions, promoter recognition, and disease diagnostics using machine learning. She has advised numerous graduate students, including PhD candidates Purvikalyan Pallegar and Bonita McCuaig, and MSc students like Ruben Chevez-Guardado and Kratika Naskulwar. Her lab focuses on translational research with applications in both basic science and clinical contexts. Publications span computational methods for bacterial gene regulation, bioinformatics tool development, and interdisciplinary projects in VR and healthcare informatics. Her research has contributed to understanding symbiotic relationships in marine organisms, inflammatory bowel disease diagnostics, and clavulanic acid production in Streptomyces. Grants & Collaborations: Works with interdisciplinary teams across computer science and biology, supported by grants enabling projects in bacterial genomics and computational tool development. Labs & Teams: Leads the Bioinformatics Lab at MUN, fostering collaborations with researchers in microbiology, computer science, and healthcare.
David Vocadlo is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University (SFU), holding the Canada Research Chair in Chemical Biology. His research focuses on Chemical Glycobiology, investigating carbohydrate-processing enzymes and developing chemical tools to study glycan roles in health and disease. His lab explores O-GlcNAc signaling, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), and enzyme inhibitors for therapeutic applications. Education: PhD from University of British Columbia (UBC), followed by a CIHR postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley. Key roles include E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellow and Royal Society Fellow. Research highlights include O-GlcNAcase inhibitors for neuroprotection, glycan structure-function relationships, and enzyme activity imaging tools. Collaborates globally with experts in glycobiology and employs cutting-edge techniques like chemical synthesis, mass spectrometry, and live-cell imaging. Awards: Distinguished Professor title, Canada Research Chair, Royal Society Fellowship. Active in training researchers through SFU’s graduate programs, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Lab members work on topics ranging from enzyme mechanisms to disease modeling.
Réka Albert is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Eberly College of Science. Her research focuses on the application of network science to biological systems, including signal transduction networks, ecological interactions, and cancer systems biology. She holds editorial roles at npj Systems Biology and Applications , IET Systems Biology , and Bulletin of Mathematical Biology . Education: Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame (2001), M.S. and B.S. from Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania (1995-1996). Research Interests: Modeling complex systems using network theory; Boolean network analysis of biological pathways; ecological community dynamics; systems-level understanding of disease mechanisms (e.g., cancer, AML). Her work bridges theoretical physics, computational biology, and experimental data to predict system behavior and therapeutic strategies. Awards: External member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2016), APS Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award (2011), NSF CAREER Award (2007), and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2004). Grants/Support: NSF awards (MCB 1715826, IIS 1814405), ARO MURI on hyperuniform systems, and collaborations with biologists like Sarah Assmann (plant signaling) and Katriona Shea (ecology). Labs/Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary research group at Penn State, mentoring over 20 PhD alumni and current students like Eli Newby and Fatemeh Nasrollahi. Active in developing tools like pystablemotifs for Boolean network analysis.
Johannes Larsch is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrative Genomics within the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at Université de Lausanne (UNIL). His research focuses on understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying social interactions, using larval zebrafish as a model organism. He employs advanced techniques like virtual reality and optical imaging to study how social signals are processed in the brain. Education: Bachelor of Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany PhD in Neurobiology, Rockefeller University, USA (lab of Cori Bargmann) Postdoc at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Germany (with Herwig Baier) Research interests center on neuronal circuits driving group behavior, social recognition, and the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping behavior. His lab investigates how individual brains coordinate collective social behaviors through studies of neuronal activity and circuit dynamics. Current lab openings include fully funded PhD and PostDoc positions focused on social neuroscience and neurogenomics. Contact: johannes.larsch@unil.ch .
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
John D Brennan is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology at McMaster University. He is affiliated with the Biointerfaces Institute and focuses on developing innovative biosensing technologies and functional nucleic acid-based assays. His research integrates materials science, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry to create practical diagnostic tools for healthcare applications. Key research areas include the design of DNA aptamers and DNAzymes for detecting biomarkers (e.g., eosinophil peroxidase, SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins), development of paper-based diagnostic platforms, and optimization of sol-gel materials for enzyme entrapment. His work emphasizes high-throughput screening, point-of-care testing, and CRISPR-based biosensing systems. Notable contributions include a rapid sputum-based assay for asthma biomarkers and a universal DNA aptamer for SARS-CoV-2 variants. His lab also explores functional nucleic acid circuits and their integration into scalable diagnostic devices. Brennan’s teaching includes advanced courses in analytical chemistry and biochemical assay development. His work has been featured in journals like *Angewandte Chemie*, *Analytical Chemistry*, and *ChemBioChem*, with a focus on translating fundamental research into practical clinical applications.
Professor Victor Fung is a leading academic in neurology and motor control at the Sydney Medical School , University of Sydney. He serves as Director of the Movement Disorders Unit at Westmead Hospital and holds prominent roles in the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (President) and the Asia Pacific Affairs Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists. His research focuses on Parkinson's disease , dystonia , tremor , and movement disorder genetics , with over 250 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 61. His work spans Clinical trials for Parkinson's treatments (e.g., foslevodopa/foscarbidopa infusion, incobotulinumtoxinA) Genetic studies on dystonia and Parkinsonism Neurophysiological assessments of tremor and balance Development of screening tools for dystonia and Parkinson's complications Key article trends highlight genetic diversity in dystonia, neuroinflammatory mechanisms in tremor, and behavioral neurology in Parkinson's disease. He contributes to editorial boards of npj Parkinson's Disease , Journal of Clinical Movement Disorders , and Faculty Opinions . While no explicit student lists are provided, his collaborations span global institutions. His clinical work at Westmead Hospital addresses device-assisted therapies and complex movement disorders.
Finlay Maguire is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Faculty of Computer Science and the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology at Dalhousie University. He leads the Maguire Lab, which develops data-driven methods to address health and social crises through genomic epidemiology and interdisciplinary health data science. He is also affiliated with the Shared Hospital Laboratory, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and multiple national and international public health consortia including PHA4GE, CanCOGeN, and IRIDA. PhD: University College London / Natural History Museum (2016) MA: University of Oxford (2011) Donald Hill Family Fellowship, Dalhousie University (2021) Dr. Maguire's research focuses on two main areas: genomic epidemiology of infectious diseases and interdisciplinary health data science collaborations . His work in genomic epidemiology includes developing bioinformatics and machine learning tools to study antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and SARS-CoV-2 dynamics, often in collaboration with public health agencies. His broader health data science work addresses issues such as online radicalization, healthcare access for refugees, and autism-related language use, combining computational methods with social science. His recent publications (2023–2025) reflect a strong trend in pathogen genomics , AMR , zoonotic spillover , and computational social science . He has published on novel coronaviruses in bats, SARS-CoV-2 animal models, invasive Group A Streptococcus, and sociological analyses of incel communities. Much of this work involves tool development (e.g., ArgNorm, Pathoplexus) and data standardization (e.g., PHA4GE metadata standards). Finalist, 2024 Discovery Awards (Emerging Professional) 2023 President’s Research Excellence Award for an Emerging Investigator, Dalhousie Finalist, 2023 Discovery Awards (Emerging Professional) Funding from CIHR, NSERC, Genome Canada, SSHRC, BMGF Dr. Maguire actively mentors graduate students and postdocs, including PhD candidates in Computer Science and MSc students in Community Health & Epidemiology. He has secured major training grants such as the CIHR Health Research Training Platform and the Canadian One Health Training Program for Emerging Zoonoses. He also contributes to capacity-building initiatives like MicroResearch in Ghana and Kenya. The Maguire Lab is embedded in a rich network of collaborations, including the CARD database, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The lab emphasizes open science, reproducible research, and interdisciplinary training, as seen in the development of open-source tools and participation in international consortia.
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
