Vikramaditya G. Yadav is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science. He directs the Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) Program in Sustainable Process Engineering and leads the BioFoundry research group. Education: B.A.Sc., University of Waterloo (2007) Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2013) Postdoctoral Associate, Harvard University (2014) His research spans sustainable chemical manufacturing, metabolic engineering, and biotechnology. Key areas include: Designing biosynthetic enzymes for biomass valorization Developing bioremediation strategies for industrial water quality Creating innovative drug delivery systems and tissue engineering solutions Advancing synthetic biology for pharmaceutical and bioenergy applications His recent work focuses on ocular drug delivery, cannabinoid biosynthesis in E. coli, lignin-based nanoparticles for cancer therapy, and computational analysis of plant secondary metabolites. Collaborations with start-ups, industry, and medical labs drive innovation in Canada's bioeconomy. Professional Leadership: Chair, Biotechnology Division of the Chemical Institute of Canada Associate Editor, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering He is affiliated with UBC's BioProducts Institute and contributes to project-based learning pedagogy.
Thibault Mayor is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). His research focuses on understanding how cells manage misfolded proteins, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. He holds academic affiliations with the Centre for High-Throughput Biology (CHiBi) and has been recognized with awards including the UBC Killam Teaching Award (2020). Education: BSc, University of Geneva, Switzerland (1997) PhD, University of Geneva & Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany (2001) Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology (2002) Research Interests: Mayor's lab investigates protein homeostasis, ubiquitin-proteasome system dynamics, and the molecular mechanisms underlying protein aggregation in aging and disease. Projects include proteomic approaches to identify aggregation-prone proteins and develop microbial cell factories for protein production. Grants & Awards: CIHR Project Grant ($730K, 2018) Michael Smith Foundation Career Award (2012) UBC Killam Teaching Award (2020) Labs & Collaborations: The Mayor Lab is part of the Michael Smith Laboratories and collaborates with computational biologists like Jörg Gsponer. They maintain active partnerships in proteomics and systems biology, contributing to initiatives like the BC Proteomics Network.
C. Perry Chou is a full professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo, with a cross-appointment in Biology. He holds a BSc and MSc from National Taiwan University and a PhD from Rice University, all in Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on integrating biochemical, genetic, and metabolic engineering strategies to enhance biomanufacturing using microbial cell factories. Key areas include recombinant protein production, microbial biotechnology, and biofuel development. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Rice University (1995) MSc in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (1987) BSc in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (1984) Research Interests: Dr. Chou’s work spans biochemical engineering, bioprocessing, and metabolic engineering. He develops strategies for microbial strain construction, fermentation optimization, and bioproduct purification. His research bridges fundamental biological sciences with applied engineering to advance biomanufacturing. Publications: His 90+ peer-reviewed articles highlight contributions to strain engineering, CRISPR-Cas9 tools, and microbial production of chemicals like 5-aminolevulinic acid and propionate. Recent trends emphasize nanomaterial applications (e.g., graphene oxide) and sustainable biofuel pathways. Awards: Canada Research Chair (Canada) 1000-talent Award (China) Advising & Grants: Dr. Chou actively mentors graduate students and contributes to editorial roles at journals like Biotechnology Advances and Scientific Reports . He teaches courses such as CHE 161 (Engineering Biology) and CHE 562 (Advanced Bioprocess Engineering). Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance bioprocess development, though specific lab names are not explicitly mentioned in the text.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Lothar Elling is a University Professor and director at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Germany. His research focuses on biomaterials, glycoengineering, and enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. Institution: RWTH Aachen University Research Unit: Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering Academic Rank: Full Professor Prof. Elling's research interests include: Glycoengineering of biomaterials Enzymatic synthesis of glycans Glycosyltransferase immobilization Glycan-protein interactions Biocatalytic cascade reactions Biomedical applications of glycomaterials His recent publications demonstrate strong expertise in: - Automated enzymatic glycan synthesis - Multi-enzyme cascade systems for nucleotide sugar production - Glycosyltransferase engineering - Galectin-targeted glycomaterials - Microgel-based biosensors
Professor Gideon James Grogan is a distinguished academic at the University of York, holding a position in the Department of Chemistry within the Faculty of Sciences. With expertise spanning structural and applied enzymology, he leads research at the intersection of chemistry and biology, developing novel biocatalysts for sustainable chemical synthesis and pharmaceutical applications. Professor Grogan's research focuses on the identification, characterization, and application of enzymes with biotechnological potential. His work encompasses: Oxygenases including P450s, flavoprotein monooxygenases, and peroxygenases Reductases such as ketoreductases (KREDs), imine reductases (IREDs), and reductive aminases (RedAms) Lyases catalyzing asymmetric hydration of alkenes Ligases for amide bond formation His multidisciplinary approach integrates synthetic chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and X-ray crystallography to engineer enzymes using in vitro evolution techniques. Recent research has yielded significant advances in biocatalytic pathways for chiral pharmaceutical precursors and renewable material processing. Professor Grogan's publication record demonstrates consistent innovation in biocatalysis, with recent work focusing on peroxygenase applications, reductive amination technologies, and enzyme engineering for improved catalytic properties. His research shows strong trends in developing sustainable enzymatic routes for pharmaceutical synthesis, with particular emphasis on stereoselective transformations and cascade reactions. Professor Grogan has received significant research funding through major grants from: BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) He actively supervises PhD students and collaborates extensively both within the University of York and internationally. His work bridges the Departments of Chemistry and the York Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL), leveraging state-of-the-art facilities for organic synthesis, protein expression, and structural analysis. Professor Grogan maintains strong industry connections, translating fundamental research into practical applications for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing. His current projects include sustainable production of menthol enantiomers, development of native amine dehydrogenases for chiral amine synthesis, and discovery of securinine alkaloid biosynthesis pathways.
Vinayak Agarwal is an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology with joint appointments in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and School of Biological Sciences within the College of Sciences. His research investigates natural products—small organic molecules produced by living organisms that form the basis of most clinical antibiotics and drugs, while also addressing environmental toxins and pollutants. Dr. Agarwal's work integrates (meta)genomics, biochemistry, structural and mechanistic enzymology, mass spectrometry, and analytical chemistry to answer fundamental questions about natural product biosynthesis. His lab specializes in marine systems, particularly marine sponges and associated microbiomes, with a focus on enzyme discovery, pathway elucidation, and biosynthetic engineering. Key research themes include halogenation enzymes, polyketide synthases, and peptide natural products, driven by the dual goals of drug discovery and environmental protection. Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on marine natural product discovery, enzyme characterization, and biosynthetic pathway engineering. His team frequently combines genomic mining with chemical and biochemical validation, with growing attention to environmental implications of natural product chemistry and applications in antibiotic development. Dr. Agarwal has received significant recognition for his research and teaching: ASP Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award (2024) Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar award (2023) NSF CAREER award (2023) Cottrell Scholar Award (2021) Blanchard Assistant Professorship (2020) Harold Nation young faculty award (2019) He has mentored multiple PhD students to completion (Ipsita, Dongqi, Luna) and currently advises Vidya and Grace. His lab secures major funding from the NSF (CAREER), NIH (NIGMS MIRA), and Research Corporation for Science Advancement (Cottrell Scholar), alongside the Camille Dreyfus award and Petit Institute seed grants for collaborative marine research. The Agarwal Lab operates from the Petit Biotechnology Building at Georgia Tech and maintains a dynamic team structure with postdocs (Weimao Zhong, Nirmal Saha), graduate students (Sophia, Vidya, Beeta, Grace), and undergraduates. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with marine biology groups at Georgia Tech and external institutions for sample collection and structural analysis.
Dr.-Ing. Steffen Klamt leads the Research Group 'Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks' at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, Germany, where he has been employed since 1998. He received his Diplom-Systemwissenschaftler degree from the University of Osnabrück in 1998 and his Dr.-Ing. from the University of Stuttgart in 2005. His research focuses on computational systems biology with emphasis on metabolic engineering, biochemical networks analysis, and bioprocess optimization. He develops computational tools like CellNetAnalyzer for network analysis and StrainDesign for metabolic engineering applications. Key research areas include constraint-based modeling, minimal cut sets analysis, and dynamic optimization of metabolic processes. His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on multi-stage bioprocess optimization, enzyme cascade engineering, and novel strain development strategies for chemical production. Common themes include ATP manipulation strategies, thermodynamic constraints in metabolism, and integration of experimental data with computational models. Scientific Awards: Ernst Dieter Gilles Lecture Award Ernst Dieter Gilles Fellowship He leads a research group developing computational methods for metabolic network analysis and maintains collaborations with experimental groups for model validation and application. The group develops open-source software tools widely used in systems biology research.
Professor David Ackerley (Victoria University of Wellington) is a leading microbiologist and enzyme engineer specializing in directed evolution of bacterial enzymes for biotechnological applications. As Biotechnology Programme Director since 2006, he lectures in foundational courses like BTEC101 and BTEC201. Academic rank: Professor of Biotechnology Institutional affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington Research focus areas: Microbial Biotechnology, Drug Discovery, Synthetic Biology His research employs Darwinian evolutionary principles to engineer enzymes with enhanced activities, particularly targeting non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and nitroreductases for antibiotic development and cancer therapy. Recent work explores metagenomic domain substitution in pyoverdine biosynthesis and Purpuramine R from marine sponges. Key publications demonstrate innovations in metagenomic library construction , CRISPR screening for regeneration genes, and structural characterization of engineered enzymes. His team has developed NTR 2.0 , a high-efficacy nitroreductase for targeted cell ablation. Current research projects include: Clean solutions from dirty genes: Plastic-degrading enzyme discovery Engineering enzymes for CAR T-cell-chemotherapy synergy Repurposing niclosamide against Gram-negative superbugs Grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Royal Society of New Zealand, and Cancer Society of NZ support his work. Collaborations span biomedical research, synthetic biology, and environmental applications.
Pedro Carlos De Barros Fernandes is an Associate Professor at Universidade Lusófona , Deputy Director of the 1st cycle in Biotechnology, and an integrated researcher at the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB-IST). He holds a PhD in Biotechnology (1999) and a Master in Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering (1994) from Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (IST), along with a Chemical Engineering degree from IST (1989). A member of the Order of Engineers (ID 24667), he co-founded Biotrend, a Portuguese bioprocess development company. Education PhD in Biotechnology (1999), Universidade Técnica de Lisboa MSc in Biotechnology (1994), Instituto Superior Técnico BSc in Chemical Engineering (1989), Instituto Superior Técnico Research Interests span biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization for food and pharmaceutical applications, marine biotechnology, microfluidic device development for biosensing, and steroid bioconversions using mycobacterial systems. His work integrates process engineering principles with sustainable bioprocessing techniques. Publication Trends show a focus on microreactor technology, enzyme stabilization in non-conventional media, marine-derived biocatalysts, and food waste valorization. Key themes include biocatalytic process intensification, aqueous two-phase systems for biomolecule purification, and sustainable carbon sources for biopolymer production. Scientific Awards UTL/Santander Totta Scientific Award in Biological Engineering (2011) Advising has included supervision of 5 doctoral theses and over 32 master’s theses. His expertise extends to peer-reviewing scientific articles and evaluating R&D projects. Labs & Teams are associated with iBB-IST (Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences) and BioRG (Universidade Lusófona), with contributions to the Ciência Viva program for science dissemination.
Brian Ingalls is a Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and cross-appointed to Biology at the University of Waterloo. His research applies mathematical and control-theoretic approaches to biological systems, including genetic regulatory networks, microbial communities, and cellular metabolism. Institutional Affiliation: Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo Contact: bingalls@uwaterloo.ca His work focuses on systems biology and synthetic biology , particularly sensitivity analysis of biochemical networks, optimal experimental design, and mathematical modeling of cellular processes. Research funding comes from NSERC and CIHR . Notable contributions include the textbook Mathematical Modeling in Systems Biology (MIT Press, 2013) and the Ingalls Quantitative Cell Biology Lab , which investigates intracellular and intercellular network dynamics through computational and experimental methods. Key Collaborations: iGEM Waterloo, Chemical Engineering, and international synthetic biology networks Advising: Mentored 15+ graduate students and postdocs across applied math, biology, and engineering fields
Professor Susan Brooks is a faculty member at Oxford Brookes University in the School of Biological and Medical Sciences . Her research focuses on glycobiology , cancer progression , and the role of extracellular vesicles in metastasis. Professor of Cell Biology Director of Researcher Development Focus on breast and ovarian cancer Specialized in glycosylation mechanisms Research Interests : Dr. Brooks' work explores how aberrant glycosylation of proteins and glycans influences cancer cell behavior, including metastasis and drug resistance . Her recent studies examine extracellular vesicles as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Article Trends : Over 25 years, Dr. Brooks has published 15+ articles on glycosylation patterns in breast and ovarian cancer. Key areas include lectin binding , miRNA regulation , and radiation-induced metastatic changes . Her work bridges cell biology and clinical applications .
Birger Lindberg Møller is a Professor in Plant Biochemistry at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. He also serves as Director of the Carlsberg Laboratory (since 2014) and Head of the VILLUM Research Center for Plant Plasticity (since 2013). His research spans plant biochemistry, synthetic biology, and natural products chemistry with applications in sustainable production systems. His educational background includes: M.Sc. (1972) Ph.D. (1975) D.Sc. (1984) D.Sc. h.c. (honoris causa) Professor Møller's research focuses on bio-active natural products , particularly the biosynthesis, transport, storage and degradation of cyanogenic glucosides . His work elucidates how plants communicate with their environment and defend themselves against herbivores, pests and abiotic stresses. A promising application of his lab's research involves engineering microalgae, mosses and plant cells into production units for high value natural products . His engagement in synthetic biology represents a logical extension of his plant research activities, with work targeted towards forming new combinations of membrane proteins for harvesting sunlight energy to synthesize valuable natural products or degrade toxic compounds. Analysis of Professor Møller's recent publications reveals a strong focus on plant specialized metabolism, particularly cyanogenic glucosides and related compounds. His work spans genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology approaches to understand plant defense mechanisms and engineer plants for improved traits. Key themes include sorghum and cassava metabolism, diterpenoid biosynthesis, and the application of synthetic biology for sustainable production of high-value compounds through photosynthetic systems. His notable scientific awards include: Villum Kann Rasmussen Research Prize (2007) - Denmark's largest research award (2.5 mil DKK or 350,000 €) The Academy of Future Research's "The Future Prize" (2004) Societas Physiologia Plantarum Scandinavica "Popularization Prize" (2003) Knight of the Dannebrog (1995) Carlsberg Research Prize Award (1994) Hans Gram Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters (1985) Appointed Honorary Doctor at the University of Umeå, Sweden (2009) Professor Møller has served as the main advisor for 43 PhD students (with 8 ongoing in Denmark and 3 in Australia) and numerous BSc and MSc students. He has secured significant research funding throughout his career, including an ERC Advanced Grant (2.5 million €), Villum Foundation grants, and participation in major research centers with multi-million euro budgets. His current funding includes projects related to synthetic biology, plant plasticity, and cyanogenic glucoside metabolism. He leads the Plant Biochemistry Laboratory and is deeply involved with the Center for Synthetic Biology at the University of Copenhagen. His laboratory focuses on understanding plant specialized metabolism and applying this knowledge through synthetic biology approaches to engineer plants and microorganisms for sustainable production of high-value compounds. His team collaborates extensively with international partners across Europe, Australia, and beyond, and he actively promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration to address complex global challenges in energy, sustainability, and medicine.
Professor Ralf Stanewsky leads the Stanewsky Group at the Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, University of Münster. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster , particularly how environmental cues like light and temperature reset the circadian clock. The group employs genetic, molecular, histological, and behavioral approaches to study sensory pathways and their integration in central clock neurons. Member of the Multiscale Imaging Centre (MIC) and Imaging Network – Microscopy Current lab members: Ph.D. students Anna Katharina Eick, Angelica Coculla, Maia Zabel Barroso Technical assistants Regina Hube and Ume Aiman Research Themes Light and temperature synchronization of circadian clocks Temperature compensation mechanisms in biological timing Neuronal integration of environmental signals Evolutionary aspects of circadian regulation Professor Stanewsky’s work spans molecular clock components (e.g., cryptochromes, timeless gene variants) to broader ecological implications of temporal niche choice. His lab investigates how clock gene expression responds to seasonal changes and environmental stressors, while also exploring novel synchronization pathways beyond classical photoreceptors. Publication Trends Recent articles emphasize temperature-dependent clock regulation , evolutionary capacitance via Hsp90 , and non-canonical phototransduction in circadian systems. Key subfields include nuclear transport dynamics, kinase evolution, and computational modeling of periodic patterns across species. Contact Information Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, University of Münster MIC | Röntgenstraße 16, D-48149 Münster, Germany Email: stanewsky@uni-muenster.de Phone: +49 251 8321029
David R. Nielsen is a Professor and Program Chair for Chemical Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU), within the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy. He holds additional roles as Senior Global Futures Scientist and is affiliated with Microbiology (PhD) and Molecular/Cellular Biology (MS/PhD) programs. His research focuses on metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to develop microbial platforms for converting renewable resources into fuels and chemicals. Education: Postdoc at MIT (2006-2009), PhD from Queen’s University (2006), and B.Sc. from University of Colorado-Boulder (2001). His lab, the Nielsen Lab, integrates microbiology, bioprocess engineering, and systems biology to address challenges in sustainable biomanufacturing. Key research areas include microbial community engineering, CO2 fixation, and biofuel production. Notable achievements include the 2018 Fulton Exemplar Faculty Award and the 2010-2011 Outstanding Professor distinction. His work spans over 80 peer-reviewed publications and includes collaborations with industry partners like Ajinomoto and Sustainable Conversion Ventures. Current projects involve enhancing cyanobacterial CO2 utilization and developing integrated bioprocessing strategies. Advising highlights include mentoring PhD candidates like Dr. Zach Dookeran and Dr. Andrew Flores, and overseeing Master’s students such as Omar Abed and Chandra Chey. Research funding exceeds $10M from NSF, DOE, and industry grants, supporting initiatives in biorefinery design, microbial tolerance engineering, and carbon-neutral processes. Professional contributions include editorial roles for Biotechnology Notes and Frontiers in Microbiology , alongside membership in AIChE, SIMB, and the Engineering Biology Research Consortium. The lab is located in Biodesign C, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions to global sustainability challenges.
Cornelius Barry is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, with affiliations to the Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology program, AgBioResearch, and the Molecular Plant Sciences Graduate Program. He joined MSU in July 2007 with a 75% research and 25% teaching appointment. Education: PhD and BSc from the University of Nottingham and University College of Wales Current roles: Director of NSF REU Site: Plant Genomics @ MSU His research focuses on the evolution of biochemical diversity within the Solanaceae family , particularly specialized metabolites like terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. He investigates their roles in plant defense, pollinator attraction, and human applications through genomics, metabolite profiling, and synthetic biology. Recent publications show expertise in alkaloid biosynthesis , trichome chemistry , and metabolic pathway engineering . Key collaborations include teams at Boyce Thompson Institute, Texas A&M, and University of Nottingham. He advises graduate students in Genetics , Biochemistry & Molecular Biology , and Molecular Plant Sciences programs.
