Prof. Dr. Deniz Tasdemir is a Full Professor (W3) of Marine Natural Products Chemistry at GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel and serves as Director of the GEOMAR-Biotech center and Head of the Marine Natural Product Chemistry Research Unit. Her career spans institutions including the National University of Ireland Galway and UCL School of Pharmacy. PhD in Pharmacy, ETH Zurich (1997) Post-doctoral work, University of Utah (2001) Dr. Helmut Legerlotz Fellowship, University of Zurich (2002-2025) Her research focuses on marine chemical ecology , metabolomics , and bioprospecting for bioactive compounds from sponges, algae, and marine microbiomes. Recent work explores seagrass pathogen reduction, microbiome interactions, and aquafeed applications. Scientific awards include: Waters Award for Natural Products Innovation (2016) Egon Stahl Silver Medal (2005) Pierre Fabre Prize (2004) ETH Zurich Medal (1997) She leads collaborative projects on ocean sustainability and marine drug discovery, with editorial roles in Marine Drugs , Planta Medica , and Phytochemistry Letters .
Prof. Dr. Alex Hall is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science and Head of the Institute of Integrative Biology at ETH Zürich , Switzerland. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh (2008), followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford and ETH Zürich, including prestigious SNSF Ambizione and Marie Curie Intra-European fellowships. Research Focus: The Hall lab investigates Microbial interactions in human microbiomes Antibiotic resistance evolution Horizontal gene transfer dynamics Computational and in vitro modeling of microbial communities Evolutionary medicine applications Scientific Contributions: His recent studies analyze probiotic treatments for Staphylococcus aureus decolonization, strain-specific ecological success in gut microbiomes, and CRISPR-Cas system roles in plasmid conflicts. The lab employs computational frameworks combined with experimental validations. Scientific Awards: SNSF Ambizione fellowship Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship He also serves on the SNSF PRIMA fellowship evaluation panel and the ETH Zürich Coordination Council Medicine .
Lauren Andrews serves as Associate Professor and Marvin and Eva Schlanger Faculty Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research integrates synthetic biology and genetic engineering to develop programmable cellular systems for biotechnological applications. Education: Postdoctoral Training: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Biological Engineering and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard) PhD: University of Colorado Boulder, Chemical Engineering (2012) MS: University of Colorado Boulder, Chemical Engineering (2009) BS: Cornell University, Chemical Engineering (2006) Dr. Andrews' research focuses on establishing genetic design rules for reprogramming cellular regulation and metabolism. Her lab pioneers synthetic gene networks, genetically-encoded biosensors, and high-throughput methodologies for optimizing genetic designs in both model and non-model bacteria. This work enables precise control of cellular sensing, memory, and environmental responses through multiplexed DNA assembly and next-generation sequencing. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in bacterial biosensor development (particularly for bioremediation), quorum sensing engineering, and programmable genetic circuits for probiotic applications. Her research consistently bridges fundamental genetic circuit design with practical implementations in bacterial consortia and non-model organisms. Scientific Awards: Marvin and Eva Schlanger Faculty Fellowship NSF CAREER Award (2020) for "Programmable synthetic microbial consortia for complex multicellular functions" Her grant portfolio demonstrates significant funding for collaborative research in bacterial communication systems and model-guided design of synthetic ecosystems. The Andrews Lab maintains active partnerships with the MIT-Broad Foundry and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she co-founded the Synthetic Biology Summer Course. Current projects focus on CRISPR-based regulation in non-model bacteria and algorithmic programming of sequential logic in probiotic strains. The Andrews Lab operates within the Life Science Laboratories at UMass Amherst, utilizing advanced facilities for genetic prototyping and high-throughput screening. Her team develops multiplexed tools for exploring genetic design spaces, with particular emphasis on soil bacteria and Gram-positive pathogens for environmental and therapeutic applications.
Dr. Madjid Mohseni is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. He serves as the Scientific Director of the Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity with his office located in CHBE 221. Dr. Mohseni leads the Water Laboratory (http://waterlab.chbe.ubc.ca/), focusing on water quality and advanced treatment technologies for drinking water applications. Dr. Mohseni earned his Ph.D. (1998) and M.A.Sc. (1994) from the University of Toronto, and his B.Sc. from Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran. His educational background has prepared him for his current research in water treatment and environmental engineering. His research program centers on developing, evaluating, and implementing advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly UV-based AOPs, ion exchange, and electrochemical processes. His laboratory conducts both laboratory-scale development and pilot-scale field evaluations at partner community sites. Current work emphasizes PFAS remediation through various approaches including advanced oxidation/reduction processes, ion exchange technologies, and electrochemical methods. He also investigates novel materials like MXenes for water purification and develops practical solutions for municipal and community water systems. Analysis of Dr. Mohseni's recent publications reveals a strong focus on emerging contaminants, particularly PFAS, with significant emphasis on UV-based treatments and vacuum UV technology. His research consistently bridges fundamental science with real-world applications, developing technologies specifically tailored for small community water systems while addressing critical water quality challenges. Dr. Mohseni maintains affiliations with the Clean Energy Research Centre and the Bioproducts Institute at UBC, demonstrating his commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses environmental challenges through innovative engineering solutions. His work aims to advance the science behind water treatment technologies while offering communities more efficient and cost-effective solutions to protect human health and the environment.
Jennifer L. Clarke is a Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Director of the Quantitative Life Science Initiative. She holds leadership roles in enabling big data integration across the University of Nebraska system through collaborative research programs. Her affiliations include the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dr. Clarke's research focuses on statistical methodology for high-dimensional data, computational biology, bioinformatics, and bacterial genomics. Her work bridges statistical innovation with applications in oncology, microbiome analysis, and agricultural phenomics. Key areas include predictive modeling, machine learning, and genomic/metagenomic data integration. Her recent publications span cancer biomarker discovery, plant phenotyping methodologies, and microbial community analysis, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Articles emphasize translational applications like therapeutic target identification and precision agriculture. Dr. Clarke leads initiatives fostering collaboration between statisticians and domain scientists, including the Quantitative Life Science Initiative and contributions to the Agricultural Genome-to-Phenome Initiative (AG2PI). Her work advances data-driven solutions for healthcare and food security challenges. Notable projects include developing statistical tools for microbiome studies, analyzing root architecture via 3D imaging, and investigating cranberry-derived compounds' cancer-inhibitory mechanisms. Her methodological contributions include hybrid clustering techniques and predictive model validation frameworks.
Dr. Michael Wilczek is Assistant Teaching Professor in Biotechnology/Bioinformatics at Northeastern University's Roux Institute. His research bridges virology, bioinformatics, and educational innovation, with particular focus on JC polyomavirus pathogenesis and graduate education reform. Key research domains include: Molecular mechanisms of viral infections Bioinformatic analysis of host-pathogen interactions Observational health and real-world evidence Evidence-based graduate education His publication record demonstrates: Expertise in JC polyomavirus cellular pathways Innovative applications of machine learning in virology High-throughput drug screening methodologies Health disparities research in aging populations
Amit R. Reddi is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on metalloproteins, particularly the mechanisms of heme trafficking and redox signaling in relation to cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. He has received numerous awards for both research and teaching excellence. Education : B.A. from Carleton College (2003) Ph.D. from Columbia University (2008) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University (2013) Research Interests : The Reddi laboratory investigates cellular mechanisms of metalloprotein activation and inter-biomolecular communication in metabolic and signaling pathways critical to human health. Key projects explore heme trafficking pathways and the role of Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) in redox signaling, with implications for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and microbial pathogenesis. Scientific Awards : Vasser Woolley Faculty Fellowship (2021) Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching Class of 1934 Award (2021) CTL/BP Junior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2019) Bergmann Memorial Award (2018) Blanchard Professorship (2016) NSF CAREER Award (2015) NIH NRSA Post-doctoral Fellowship (2008-2011) Grants & Fellowships : NSF CAREER Award (2015) Sigma Xi Grants-In-Aid-of-Research (2003) NIH Cancer Research Training Award Fellowship (1999-2001)
Prof. Dr. Jing Wang is a Full Professor at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zürich. His research focuses on air pollution control, nanoparticle transport, and environmental health and safety (EHS) impacts of nanomaterials. He has held roles including Assistant Professor at ETH Zürich (2010–present), Research Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota (2007–2010), and postdoctoral associate in Particle Technology (2005–2007). Education: Bachelor’s in Engineering (2000) – Tsinghua University, Beijing Master’s in Computer Sciences (2003) – University of Minnesota PhD in Aerospace Engineering (2005) – University of Minnesota Research Interests: Air/water filtration technologies Nanoparticle emission reduction and measurement Multiphase flow mechanics Environmental impacts of nanomaterials Collaborations: Industrial partnerships include 3M, BASF, Boeing, Intel, Samsung, and others in nanoparticle measurement and filtration solutions. Honors: 2011 Smoluchowski Award (Association for Aerosol Research) 2006 ‘Best Dissertation’ Award (University of Minnesota) 2004 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Teaching: Courses include Air Pollution Control, Environmental Engineering Seminars, and Excursions for Environmental Engineers. Labs/Teams: Leads the Particle Technology Lab and collaborates with the Institute of Environmental Engineering at ETH Zürich.
Lawrence Goodridge is a Professor and Director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS) at the University of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College. He holds the Leung Family Professorship in Food Safety and leads research at the intersection of food safety, antibiotic resistance, and One Health principles. His work focuses on applying genomic technologies to study foodborne pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Cronobacter) and leveraging wastewater surveillance for infectious disease outbreak prediction. Academic History: BSc Microbiology (University of Guelph, 1995), MSc Food Microbiology (2003), PhD Food Microbiology (2002), followed by post-doctoral training in Food Safety at the University of Georgia (2002). Joined CRIFS in 2003. Research Interests: Genomic analysis of pathogen emergence, wastewater-based epidemiology, bacteriophage applications, and consumer education strategies for food safety. His lab develops innovative methods for rapid pathogen detection in food systems and environmental samples. Articles Trends: Over 100 peer-reviewed publications emphasize genomic surveillance of foodborne pathogens and SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on wastewater sampling innovations. Recent work explores multi-modal data integration for public health forecasting and ethical data protection frameworks for surveillance programs. Awards: While no specific prizes are listed, his $50M+ research funding from Canadian/international sources underscores recognition of his impactful work. Grants support projects like phage-based sanitization and antimicrobial resistance tracking. Advising & Labs: Leads CRIFS laboratory operations and collaborates globally on food safety initiatives. His research has informed food industry guidelines and policy frameworks for mitigating pathogen risks in agricultural and environmental systems.
Prof. Dr. Oliver Krüger is a behavioral ecologist and evolutionary biologist at Bielefeld University 's Faculty of Biology , where he leads the Department of Animal Behaviour since 2013. His research spans avian and marine mammal systems, focusing on life history strategies, parasite-host interactions, and environmental adaptation. Education: Biology studies at Bielefeld University (1994-1996) MSc in Oxford (1996-1997) PhD at Bielefeld University with Fritz Trillmich and Jan Lindström (1998-2000) Research Themes: Behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and population dynamics across tropical and temperate ecosystems. Key projects include NC³ (Niche Choice/Construction) and studies on Galápagos sea lions, common buzzards, and pinniped species. Scientific Leadership: Spokesperson, SFB TRR 212 "NC³" (2018-2025) Advisory Board member: German Ornithologists Union, IUCN SSC pinniped group, German Primate Centre Peer review roles: Humboldt Foundation, DFG, HFSP, NSF Awards: Leopoldina Prize (2001) Niko Tinbergen Award (2008) DFG Heisenberg Professorship (2010-2015)
Jonathan Conway is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University and an associated faculty member of the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI). He leads the Conway Lab, which focuses on engineering plant-microbe interactions for applications in bioagriculture, bioenergy, and biochemical industries. Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame (2011) M.S. Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University (2013) Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University (2017) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill & Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2017-2021) Research Interests: The Conway Lab develops genetic engineering approaches for non-model bacteria at plant-microbe interfaces. Key research areas include: chemical signaling between plants and microbes, microbiome impacts on plant immunity, environmental stress responses in agricultural systems, and enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosic biomass using thermophilic bacteria. The lab employs bacterial genetics, systems biology, and biomolecular engineering to create technologies for sustainable bioindustries. Publication Trends: Recent work demonstrates strong emphasis on molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe communication (2020-2024), enzyme characterization in biomass degradation (2024-2025), and development of synthetic microbial communities for climate resilience (2024). Earlier research focused on extremophile enzymology and metabolic engineering (2012-2019). Student Advising: Currently mentors 4 graduate students and 8 undergraduates. Alumni include 9 former advisees who graduated between 2022-2024. The lab actively recruits students through Princeton's Chemical Engineering graduate program and undergraduate research initiatives. Laboratory: The Conway Lab develops microfluidic systems for root microbiome studies and genetic tools for engineering plant-associated bacteria. Current projects include designing thermophilic microbial consortia for consolidated bioprocessing and characterizing bacterial immune evasion strategies.
Staffan Kjelleberg is a Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Director of the Singapore National Biofilm Consortium (SNBC) and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE). He holds previous positions as Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, and has led major research initiatives globally. His academic career spans over four decades, with roles including Head of School at UNSW and Professorships at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Education: BSc (Chemistry and Biology, 1975), PhD (Microbiology, 1981), and Docent (Microbiology, 1983) from the University of Gothenburg. He has authored over 384 journal papers with significant citations, reflecting his leadership in microbial biofilm research. Research focuses on microbial biofilms and microbiomes, addressing environmental sustainability, public health, and industrial applications. He employs an interdisciplinary approach to study biofilm community dynamics, matrix properties, and translational technologies for biofilm control. Key contributions include discoveries on quorum sensing inhibitors, biofilm dispersal mechanisms, and eDNA roles in biofilm structure. Honours include Fellowships from the Australian and American Academies of Microbiology, Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher status, and Editor roles for 15 international journals. He leads major programs like the Marine Climate Change Science initiative and has co-directed global research centers such as the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation. Advising and grants: While specific student names are not listed, his extensive leadership in research programs indicates mentorship of numerous scholars. His work bridges fundamental and applied microbiology, impacting environmental and biomedical fields. Labs/Teams: Directs SCELSE and SNBC, co-founded the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, and collaborates internationally on biofilm and microbiome research.
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 .
David Serre is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with an additional appointment at the Institute for Genome Sciences. His research focuses on developing genomic approaches to study eukaryotic pathogens, particularly Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of malaria outside Africa. His laboratory investigates parasite responses to antimalarial drugs, host immune responses, and mosquito vector biology using genomic and transcriptomic techniques. Education 1997–2000: Engineering degree in Chemistry, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Montpellier, France 2000–2004: PhD in Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany 2004–2007: Postdoctoral fellowship, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Canada Research Focus Dr. Serre’s work integrates genomics to study Plasmodium vivax’s drug resistance, relapse mechanisms, and interactions with hosts and vectors. Key areas include: Genomic assays to characterize parasite drug responses Transcriptomic analysis of host immune responses Genomic studies of Anopheles mosquitoes as malaria vectors Recent Trends in Publications Recent work highlights genomic and transcriptomic approaches to dissect Plasmodium vivax biology, including: Single-cell RNA sequencing to resolve transcript isoforms and stage-specific expression Analysis of relapse dynamics and drug resistance mechanisms Microbiome studies in mosquitoes and environmental contexts Grants & Advising No explicit grants or advisee names are listed in the provided text. Collaborators include institutions like the Max Planck Institute, McGill University, and the Institute for Genome Sciences. Labs & Teams His lab is affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Institute for Genome Sciences, focusing on genomic and molecular approaches to infectious diseases.
Megan L. Matthews is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences, where she leads an active research group focused on chemical biology and enzymology. Her lab develops innovative chemical proteomics technologies to uncover novel enzyme cofactors and regulatory post-translational modifications, particularly those involving reactive electrophiles, which cannot be predicted from genomic sequences. B.S. in Chemistry, Miami University (2005) Ph.D. in Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University (2011) Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute (2012–2017) Her research centers on the concept of the 'electrophilome'—a largely unexplored half of the reactive proteome. By designing 'reverse-polarity' chemical probes, her group enables the discovery of functionally significant electrophilic modifications in proteins, especially those involved in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. These discoveries open new avenues for therapeutic intervention through covalent targeting. The recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on enzyme mechanisms, cofactor discovery, and chemical probe development. Her work spans from fundamental enzymology (e.g., halogenases, ribonucleotide reductases) to applied chemical biology (e.g., hydrazine probes, chemoproteomic profiling). The keywords across her publications highlight emerging themes in metalloenzymes, radical chemistry, and covalent proteome mapping. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious fellowships, including the Merck Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship. She has published in top-tier journals such as Nature , Nature Chemical Biology , and Journal of the American Chemical Society . Dr. Matthews advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in her lab, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Her lab emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in scientific discovery. She has secured research funding to support projects in probe development, target characterization, and disease mechanism studies, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The Matthews Lab is actively engaged in advancing reverse-polarity activity-based protein profiling (RP-ABPP) for in vivo applications and inhibitor screening. The group collaborates with experts in structural biology, spectroscopy, and disease modeling to translate basic discoveries into therapeutic insights.
