Dr. Magali Meniri is a Research Fellow in the Department of Biosciences at the University of Exeter. Her work bridges evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, and ecophysiology, focusing on physiological mechanisms influencing life history traits. She is currently based at the Stella Turk Building on the Penryn Campus. Research Focus: Evolutionary constraints on life history traits, transgenerational costs of reproduction, reproductive tactics in mammals, and physiological trade-offs in multiple mating. Current Project: Collaborating with Prof. Jon Blount and Prof. Mike Cant on the Banded Mongoose Research Project. Education: PhD (University of Neuchâtel, 2018), MSc (University of Lyon & Oregon State University, 2013). Her future work will explore physiological constraints in multiple mating behaviors in banded mongooses.
Tera Levin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh , affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences . Her research explores the evolutionary arms races between hosts and pathogens, focusing on Legionella pneumophila and its natural hosts, environmental amoebae. Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology (2014), University of California, Berkeley Postdoctoral Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center The Levin Lab investigates how host-pathogen interactions drive the evolution of immunity and pathogenesis. Their work combines high-throughput genetics, microbiology, and evolutionary genomics to address questions about pathogen emergence, host-microbe interactions, and molecular mechanisms of coevolution. Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding genetic innovation, host defense evolution, and bacterial survival strategies. Collaborative projects span topics like STING protein evolution , antimicrobial resistance , and insect-microbiome interactions . Her lab is part of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Biological Sciences, with opportunities for joining their research team.
Prof. Dr. José Eduardo Maté Sánchez de Val serves as Professor of Biomaterials Engineering and Deputy Director of the Chair of Biomaterials Engineering at Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), concurrently holding the position of Co-Director for the Master's Degree in Implantology, Periodontics, Bone and Tissue Regeneration and Implant-Supported Prosthetics within the Department of Surgery, Implantology and Periodontics. His academic credentials include: PhD in Bioengineering Doctor of Dentistry Graduate in Dentistry Postgraduate in Prosthodontics and Occlusion Postgraduate degree in Animal Protection and Experimentation (Categories B and C) His research integrates biomaterials science with clinical dentistry, specializing in novel ceramic composites for bone regeneration and dental implant optimization. Key focus areas include dicalcium silicate bone cements, Si-aTCP scaffolds, and cervical implant designs that enhance peri-implant tissue integration. His work bridges experimental materials engineering with translational dental applications, emphasizing biomechanical performance and tissue response. Publication analysis reveals consistent experimental methodology using rabbit tibia models and powder metallurgy techniques to evaluate ceramic composites. Research trends emphasize in vitro/in vivo validation of doped alpha-TCP systems for bone regeneration, with growing interest in problem-based learning frameworks for implantology education. As Co-Director of UCAM's Master's program, he oversees advanced training in implantology and tissue regeneration. His research group Research in Clinical and Experimental Dentistry drives preclinical studies translating biomaterial innovations into clinical dental practice, with emphasis on hard/soft tissue behavior around implants.
Zachary Stahlschmidt serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. His research program integrates physiology, behavior, and ecology to understand how environmental factors and tradeoffs shape animal phenotypes across diverse taxa from insects to snakes. Dr. Stahlschmidt received his PhD in Biology from Arizona State University (2011) and his BS in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2004). At University of the Pacific, he teaches Environment: Concepts & Issues (BIOL 035), Principles of Biology Lab (BIOL 051), Principles of Biology (BIOL 061), Ecology (BIOL 175), and graduate-level Science Communication (BIOL 294) and Graduate Seminar (BIOL 295). His research examines how environmental variability (temperature, nutrition, pollution, water availability) and trait tradeoffs influence animal phenotypes. Current projects investigate heat wave impacts, artificial light at night effects, glyphosate exposure consequences, and water limitation on insect physiology, behavior, and life history. His work employs three primary study systems: Gryllus crickets for examining physiological tradeoffs, urban insects for ecological field studies, and colubrid snakes for investigating seasonal physiological changes. The lab maintains a strong student-driven approach where undergraduates and Master's students design and implement experiments, often presenting findings at national conferences and co-authoring publications. Dr. Stahlschmidt's recent publications demonstrate consistent productivity in top journals including Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Thermal Biology, and Environmental Pollution, with research themes spanning behavioral ecology, ecoimmunology, thermal biology, and urban ecology. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and featured in prominent scientific outlets. Shortlisted for Outstanding Paper of 2021 at Journal of Experimental Biology Multiple publications featured on journal covers Several papers highlighted in Inside JEB (Journal of Experimental Biology) He has mentored over 40 undergraduate and Master's students who have presented research at national conferences including the Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. His lab actively participates in Pacific's Research & Creativity Showcase and maintains collaborations with researchers at Dalhousie University, Arizona State University, and other institutions.
James D. Forester is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. His research focuses on quantitative landscape ecology and mechanistic models of animal movement, particularly examining how large mammalian herbivores and carnivores respond to resource heterogeneity and environmental changes. Education: Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching: Courses include FW 3108: Field Methods in Research and Conservation of Vertebrate Populations and FW 5603W: Habitats and Regulation of Wildlife , emphasizing GIS and quantitative analysis. His lab develops models to understand spatio-temporal processes affecting wildlife distribution and abundance, with applications to climate change and land-use impacts. Recent work explores predator-prey dynamics, invasive species, and disease transmission using advanced telemetry and computational tools. Key publication trends include studies on animal movement ecology , landscape heterogeneity , invasive species , and disease dynamics . His students and collaborators contribute to research on moose, black bears, raccoons, and Brazilian rodents. Scientific awards include recognition as an Institute on the Environment Fellow . Lab members include Ph.D. candidates, postdocs, and alumni, with ongoing projects involving GIS, ecological modeling, and wildlife telemetry.
Rebecca Koch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, with concurrent roles as Assistant Professor Curator of Ornithology at the UWSP Museum of Natural History. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Auburn University and a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity from the University of California-Davis. Research Interests: Behavioral ecology Genetics Mitochondrial biology Her recent research explores intersections between carotenoid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and honest signaling in animal coloration. Publications examine how captivity affects mitochondrial respiration and pigment metabolism, testosterone-driven gene expression coordination, and alternative pathways for red coloration in vertebrates. Keywords span endocrinology, disease biology, and evolutionary genetics. Scientific Awards: Early Career Researcher Award, Australian Research Council (2018) National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award (2012-2015) Koch has reviewed 54 manuscripts across 23 journals since 2015 and designed courses in evolutionary theory and ornithology. Her work integrates physiological ecology with molecular mechanisms of signaling systems.
Beata Dulisz is a Lecturer at the Department of Botany and Nature Protection , Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology , University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (UWM). Her research focuses on avian ecology, urban environment impacts on wildlife, and conservation biology, with a particular emphasis on species like House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, and invasive birds. She has published 48 works and maintains an h-index of 7 (Scopus/WoS). Role: Lecturer (Polish title 'Adiunkt') Institution: University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland Research Keywords: Biotechnology, Birds Ecology, Urban Environment, Mycology, Invasive Species Her research explores urban-rural ecological disparities , with projects on nest box conservation, avian disease transmission, and genetic diversity in endangered species. She has supervised 3 promoted theses and contributed to biodiversity studies in flooded river valleys and cities. Key publications address topics like avian influenza impacts on gull populations and fungi colonization in urban birds. Her work integrates field studies with molecular techniques, including non-invasive sampling for genetic analysis in the Tatra National Park. Scientific contributions include collaborations on multi-center publications and participation in projects related to environmental pollution, climate change effects, and ecological corridors. She actively contributes to ornithological education and fieldwork training, emphasizing student engagement in biological research.
Andrew Dahl is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine-Genetic Medicine at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on developing computational methods to discover and characterize genetic heterogeneity in complex diseases, with applications to asthma, major depressive disorder, single cell omics, and cross-population portability of genetic predictions. Dr. Dahl received his education from the following institutions: PhD in Genomic Medicine and Statistics from Oxford University (2016) MS in Statistics from University of Chicago (2012) Honors BS in Mathematics from University of Chicago (2012) BA in Economics from University of Chicago (2012) Dr. Dahl's research centers on computational approaches to discover and characterize context-specific genetic effects on complex disorders. His lab develops methods for gene-environment interaction, gene-gene interaction, and identifying genetic subtypes of disease. The group particularly focuses on applications to asthma, major depressive disorder, single cell omics, and cross-population portability of genetic predictions, with the long-term goal of advancing equitable precision treatment by embracing the full diversity of human contexts. Analysis of Dr. Dahl's publications reveals a strong focus on statistical genetics methodology, particularly in understanding genetic heterogeneity, disease subtyping, and context-specific heritability. His work spans multiple domains including psychiatric genetics, functional genomics, and evolutionary biology, with a consistent emphasis on developing robust computational methods to address challenges in complex trait analysis. Dr. Dahl has received the following scientific awards: Clarendon Scholarship from Oxford University (2012-2016) Phi Beta Kappa from University of Chicago (2012) Dr. Dahl leads the Dahl Lab at the University of Chicago, which focuses on statistical genetics methodology. The lab develops computational methods to discover and characterize genetic heterogeneity in complex diseases. They are actively recruiting students and postdocs from the Human Genetics (HG) and Genetic Genomics Sciences Bridge (GGSB) PhD programs. Current research projects include new clustering algorithms for finding biologically meaningful subtypes, statistical interaction tests to validate subtypes, and applications in psychiatric, metabolic, and immune domains using rich phenotypes and large biobanks.
Dr. Lenka Sentenská is a Project Leader at the Zoological Institute and Museum of the University of Greifswald, focusing on mating behavior in spiders. Her research, supported by an MSCA Global Fellowship, examines sexual conflict and mate choice in Latrodectus geometricus , particularly male mating tactics with immature and adult females. Primary affiliation: Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald Current research phase: Outgoing MSCA fellowship at the Andrade Lab, University of Toronto Collaboration: Yael Lubin (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) Using morphological methods like histology, SEM, and MicroCT, she investigates mechanistic and functional aspects of spider mating systems. Her work bridges behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. Scientific Awards: Mitglied des MSCA Global Fellowship -Programms
Dr. Gary L. Brase is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kansas State University's College of Arts and Sciences. He directs the Adaptive Reasoning and Decisions Lab, where he conducts research at the intersection of cognitive and social psychology from an evolutionary perspective. His work focuses on human rationality, decision-making processes, and statistical reasoning. Dr. Brase received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His educational background has prepared him for interdisciplinary research that bridges evolutionary theory, cognitive psychology, and social psychology. Dr. Brase's research program investigates evolutionary approaches to understanding human rationality, with particular focus on Bayesian reasoning, mate selection, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying decision-making. His work explores how ecological and evolutionary factors shape human cognition, particularly in areas of social perception, risk assessment, and statistical reasoning. He has made significant contributions to understanding how numerical formats influence reasoning performance and decision outcomes. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent productivity across multiple domains, with recent work spanning evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, medical decision-making, and sustainable energy systems. A notable trend in his research is the integration of multiple lines of evidence to build comprehensive behavioral science theories, with strong emphasis on methodological rigor and ecological validity. His work often examines how individual differences in cognitive abilities, personality traits, and numeracy affect reasoning and decision processes. Dr. Brase has mentored numerous students in his lab, with one recent notable achievement being Natalie Drouhard winning the department research award for 2025. He emphasizes involving undergraduate students in ongoing research projects before guiding them toward independent investigations aligned with their interests. Completion of Experimental Methods (Psychology 350) is strongly encouraged for students interested in joining his lab. Dr. Brase leads the Adaptive Reasoning and Decisions Lab (also known as the Brase Lab), which studies human adaptive reasoning and decision-making from a multidisciplinary approach. The lab uses evolutionary theory to generate hypotheses about cognitive design while framing these as information processing models. Current research examines topics including sex ratio tracking, mate value assessment, and the influence of numerical representations on decision quality. The lab has developed several assessment scales including the One-item Mate Values Scale, Attitudes towards Babies Scale, and Multiple Choice General Numeracy Scale.
Catherine Dulac is the Samuel W. Morris University Professor at Harvard University and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She is a faculty member in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Her laboratory, located in the Biological Labs at 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, focuses on the molecular and neuronal basis of instinctive social behaviors in mice. Dr. Dulac's research explores how molecular, genetic, and electrophysiological mechanisms underlie social behaviors such as aggression, mating, parental care, and defensive responses. Her work addresses fundamental questions about sensory signal processing, brain region involvement, and the molecular identity of neurons within social behavior circuits. She employs advanced techniques including in vivo imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, and optogenetics to investigate neural circuit architecture and function. Her laboratory's publications reveal a strong focus on neural circuit mapping, particularly in hypothalamic regions controlling social behaviors. Recent work has examined brain aging at single-cell resolution, hypothalamic circuits for social homeostasis, neuronal populations regulating sickness responses, and genomic imprinting in mammalian brains. Her research consistently bridges molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience to provide comprehensive insights into social behavior mechanisms. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Samuel W. Morris University Professor at Harvard University Dr. Dulac teaches MCB 125 (Molecular Basis of Behavior) and MCB 344 (Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology) at Harvard. Her research is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and likely receives additional funding from NIH and other agencies. While specific advisees aren't listed in available information, her laboratory website would contain details about current and former students. The Dulac Lab maintains an active research program with several ongoing projects investigating neural basis of social behaviors. Current directions include examining social representation in the medial amygdala, studying circuits underlying parental behavior, and investigating genomic imprinting in the brain using a multidisciplinary approach that combines molecular biology, genetics, electrophysiology, and advanced imaging techniques in awake, behaving mice.
PD Dr. Thomas Hovestadt is a faculty member at the University of Würzburg where he has led the Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology Group (TEE) since 2015. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology with emphasis on dispersal evolution, life history strategies, and host-parasite systems. Based at the university's Biocenter, he maintains active collaborations across European institutions including the University of Ghent where he served as Guest Professor from 2013-2015. His academic credentials include: Diploma in Biology from University of Tübingen (1987) PhD in Biology from University of Würzburg (1997) Habilitation at University of Würzburg (2006) Hovestadt's research program investigates how organisms evolve movement rules and resource allocation strategies in fragmented landscapes. His work integrates theoretical modeling with empirical data to examine evolutionary dynamics in spatially structured populations, particularly focusing on dispersal polymorphisms, foraging optimization, and the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances like light pollution and habitat fragmentation. Statistical approaches underpin his analysis of niche evolution and population viability. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals consistent focus on dispersal ecology across diverse taxa including insects and moths. Key themes include landscape heterogeneity effects on biodiversity, anthropogenic impacts (light pollution, climate change), and theoretical modeling of metapopulation dynamics. His work frequently employs simulation approaches and field-based validation, with growing emphasis on conservation applications for fragmented ecosystems. No scientific awards are documented in the available information. As head of the TEE group, Hovestadt oversees research mentoring and project coordination. His current funding includes SFB 1047: Insect timing, DFG HO2051/3, and the MacMan collaborative project, indicating sustained support from the German Research Foundation for theoretical ecology research. The Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology Group operates from the University of Würzburg's Biocenter, maintaining connections to Field Station Fabrikschleichach and UFZ Leipzig. The group specializes in developing analytical frameworks for evolutionary processes in spatially complex environments, with particular expertise in movement ecology and population dynamics modeling.
Dmitry Nikolaevich Lapshin is a Doctor of Biological Sciences and Leading Researcher at the Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing, Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IITP RAS). His career spans institutions like Moscow State University's Biological Faculty (1980-1994) and the Moscow Institute of Radio Engineering Equipment (pre-1980). As a protégé of Prof. Alexey Byzov, Lapshin's work bridges sensory physiology, bioacoustics, and neuroethology. Education : Bauman Moscow State Technical University (1976) His research focuses on mosquito bioacoustics and nocturnal lepidopteran echolocation strategies , revealing novel mechanisms like frequency-tuned auditory neurons in mosquitoes and acoustic counter-strategies against bats. Publications in Insects , Sensory Systems , and Journal of Experimental Biology demonstrate interdisciplinary impact. Articles show progressive exploration of insect auditory systems across 15 years. Lapshin has received multiple RFBR grants (2006-2014) and international support from Volkswagen Stiftung (1997). His work fundamentally reshaped understanding of insect auditory processing through electrophysiological and behavioral experiments. Collaborations with D.D. Vorontsov and R.D. Zhantiev highlight long-term scientific partnerships. Technical Expertise : Acoustic signal processing in insects Neural mechanisms of sound detection Frequency tuning analysis Flight simulation methodologies Echolocation system modeling Sensory-motor integration
Shannon Stephens, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Albany Medical College in the Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics department. Her research focuses on neuroendocrinology, reproductive biology, and genetic regulation of brain-reproduction interactions . Emory University PhD (2013), MA (2008), and Franklin & Marshall BA (2003) NIH-funded research on kisspeptin neurons in the amygdala and other extrahypothalamic regions Dr. Stephens investigates how estrogen receptor α regulates Kiss1 expression during puberty and fertility. Her work has implications for infertility treatment through neuronal tract tracing , transgenic mouse models , and immunohistochemistry approaches. Recent publications analyze kisspeptin's role in stress-induced reproductive suppression , estrogen receptor signaling , and extrahypothalamic reproductive control . Key techniques include RNA sequencing , stereotaxic injections , and in vivo fertility assessments . Grants include NIH awards T32 HD007203 , F32 HD088060 , and U54 HD028934 . She has advised multiple studies on sex steroid signaling and neuroendocrine gene regulation in mice.
John Tower is a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular genetics of aging in Drosophila melanogaster, with particular interest in gene expression changes during aging, oxidative stress responses, and sex-specific differences in aging processes. Dr. Tower received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1988. He completed postdoctoral training at The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Embryology in Baltimore from 1988 to 1991. His academic career at USC began in 1991 as an Assistant Professor, progressing to Associate Professor in 1999, and to his current position as Professor in 2010. Dr. Tower's research examines how gene expression changes during normal aging, with a focus on heat shock protein genes (Hsp22 and Hsp70), innate immune response genes, and mitochondrial function. His work has identified key roles for p53, sexual differentiation, and steroid hormones in regulating life span. He investigates how post-mitotic cells maintain function during aging and how stem cell populations are maintained in the ovary, with particular interest in the trade-offs between reproduction and longevity. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the effects of mifepristone (RU486) on life span, the role of sex-specific hormones in aging, and the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in aging processes. His research often employs Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to understand fundamental aging mechanisms that may be conserved across species. Dr. Tower's laboratory, the Tower Lab, develops and utilizes advanced techniques including transgenic reporter constructs, micro-array analyses, RNAseq, and 3D fluorescence video tracking to study aging processes in freely moving flies.
