Sebastian Wenk, PhD, is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Engineering , University of Groningen , specializing in Molecular Systems Biology . His research focuses on synthetic metabolism, microbial engineering, and CO2 utilization. Sustainable Development Goals contributions Research Interests include synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and enzyme optimization. His work explores microbial systems for CO2 conversion and formaldehyde degradation. Scientific Awards highlight his 2022 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (Horizon 2020 EU program). Contact: s.wenk@rug.nl
Cédric Jacquard serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne within the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, affiliated with the Research Unit on Grapevine and Wines in Champagne (URVVC EA 4707) and SFR Condorcet FR CNRS 3417. His research focuses on climate change impacts on plant development and innovative biological control strategies for sustainable agriculture. Dr. Jacquard's primary research investigates climate change effects on flower development through physiological, molecular, and agronomic approaches, specifically examining abiotic stress (heat/cold) impacts on defense mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolism in grapevine. His secondary focus develops biological control strategies using beneficial bacteria (Burkholderia phytofirmans, Bacillus subtilis) and their secreted molecules (lipopeptides) to enhance plant protection in biotic/abiotic stress contexts across barley, grape, and wheat systems. Technical expertise includes in vitro culture, cytology, metabolite/enzyme analysis, PCR/qRT-PCR gene expression, and optical/electronic microscopy. His 2015 publications reveal strong thematic convergence across plant stress physiology and microbial interactions, with consistent emphasis on grapevine responses to environmental challenges, carbohydrate metabolic regulation during flowering, and bacterial elicitor mechanisms in defense activation. Key patterns include cultivar-specific stress adaptations, lipopeptide-induced defense pathways, and cross-talk between abiotic stresses and reproductive development. Dr. Jacquard heads the professional license program in "Agricultural Resources and Environment" (Crops and Environment option), teaching plant biology, biotechnology, and physiology from bachelor to master levels across five specialized modules. He has supervised 18 training students (bachelor to master), co-supervised one defended PhD thesis and one ongoing PhD, and co-supervised two engineering positions. Research funding includes: GLUCIFLOR 2 (2014-2017): Principal investigator studying grapevine flowering and climate change (funded by Reims Métropole/CIVB) PHYTOBIO (2010-2014): Partner in Interreg IV European program developing biocontrol pesticides (funded by FEDER/Champagne-Ardenne) GLUCIFLOR (2010-2013): Partner investigating cold effects on grapevine metabolism (funded by Champagne-Ardenne) He actively collaborates within the URVVC research unit and regional viticulture networks, focusing on translating stress physiology insights into practical agricultural solutions for Champagne vineyards facing climate challenges.
Jean-Marc Mwenge Kahinda is an Associate Professor of Water Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Johannesburg, South Africa. With over 20 years of experience in the water sector, he has established himself as a leading expert in water resources engineering and management, particularly in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. His educational background includes: PhD from University of the Witwatersrand MSc (Eng) in Water Resources Engineering and Management from University of Zimbabwe BSc (Eng) in Mining Engineering from University of Lubumbashi (DRC) Professor Mwenge Kahinda's research focuses on the critical intersection of land and water management, with particular emphasis on sustainable practices that address land degradation in semi-arid regions. His work integrates hydrological processes, ecosystem management, and climate change adaptation strategies to develop practical solutions for water security challenges. He has pioneered research on rainwater harvesting systems, developing GIS-based decision support tools that have contributed to nationwide implementation of these practices in South Africa. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on land degradation assessment in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality, utilizing advanced geospatial techniques and social-ecological systems approaches. His research increasingly incorporates remote sensing technologies (particularly Sentinel-2 satellite imagery) and multi-criteria analysis to understand the complex interactions between human activities, climate change, and land degradation processes in semi-arid environments. As an active academic, he serves as guest editor for the Elsevier Journal of Physics and Chemistry of the Earth and as an academic editor for PLOS Water. He regularly reviews for accredited journals and research reports in his field. Professor Mwenge Kahinda supervises PhD and MSc students across multiple universities and has extensive experience lecturing on water-related subjects throughout the SADC region. He organizes and conducts specialized training and short courses on water management topics. His leadership in multidisciplinary research projects focuses on securing and managing water resources through integrated approaches that consider both technical and social dimensions of water management challenges.
Mateja Pećina is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Animal Science and Technology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, specializing in molecular genetics and biotechnology applications in animal production. She holds a PhD in Animal Science and Technology and has been affiliated with the university since 2016. PhD in Animal Science and Technology (2017-2023) MSc in Animal Science and Technology (2013-2015) BSc in Food Science and Technology (2010-2013) Her research focuses on: Developing molecular methods for animal production Gene polymorphism effects on meat quality Bioremediation techniques in food processing Genetic markers for sensory properties in livestock Dry ageing impacts on beef burgers Conservation of endangered local breeds Recent publications highlight trends in genetic influence on meat composition, bioremediation advancements, and sustainable practices in livestock farming. She coordinates two major projects: Genetic, Economic, and Social Interactions in Local Breed Conservation (Croatian Science Foundation, 2021-2024) and Boosting Excellence in Experimental Research for Agri-Food Economics and Management (Horizon 2020, 2020-2023). Her international collaborations include scientific visits to the University of Padova, University of Bologna, and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences for research in animal biotechnology and meat analysis.
Christos Ouzounis is a Professor of Bioinformatics at the Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , with a career spanning institutions including the European Bioinformatics Institute , King's College London , and University of Toronto . His work bridges Computational Biology , Digital Biology , and Metagenomics , focusing on large-scale data analysis, machine learning applications, and functional annotation of proteins. Education : BSc in Biological Sciences (1986), MSc in Biological Computation (1987), and DPhil in Computational Chemistry (1993) Key Roles : Director of the Bioinformatics Centre at King's College London (2007-2010), Research Director at IDEP-EKETA (2014-2020) His research interests include low-complexity protein sequences , Covid-19 seasonality patterns linked to UV radiation, and metagenomic analysis of urban microbiomes in cultural heritage sites. Current projects involve machine learning models for microbial coexistence networks, ontological classification of biomedical literature, and bioinformatics tool development . Publications highlight trends in archaeal genomics , functional dark matter in metagenomics, and epidemiological modelling . Notable collaborations include work on BioTextQuest v2.0 for concept discovery and MjCyc for metabolic pathway analysis.
Edward J. Crane is a Professor of Biology and Chair of the Biology Department at Pomona College, where he has held faculty positions since 2002. His laboratory (Seaver Biology 14) and office (Seaver Biology 21) are central to his research on microbial respiration in extreme environments, with expertise spanning biochemistry, enzymology, and extremophile microbiology. Education: Ph.D. in Classics and Critical Theory, University of Washington, 2002 Crane specializes in anaerobic respiration mechanisms, particularly sulfur- and iron-based processes in acid hot springs, deep-sea sediments, petroleum reservoirs, and hydrothermal vents. His work integrates mechanistic enzymology, microbial community analysis, and geochemical impacts, with significant focus on hyperthermophiles like Pyrococcus species. Key research themes include coenzyme A metabolism in thermophiles, oxidative stress protection systems, and the role of microbial respiration in astrobiology. His publication record (2000-2006) reveals consistent focus on enzymatic disulfide metabolism in extremophiles, with recurring investigations of NADH oxidases/peroxidases and coenzyme A reductases across Borrelia and archaeal models. These studies bridge biochemistry, microbiology, and earth sciences, demonstrating how microbial redox processes shape extreme environments. Scientific recognition includes: Wig Distinguished Professorship for Teaching Excellence (Pomona, 2005) Two Cottrell College Science Awards (Research Corporation, 2000-2005) National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (1994-1996) Salisbury University Distinguished Faculty Award (1999) Johns Hopkins University Harry D. Kruse Award (1992) Crane has secured major research funding including $55,000 from ACS Petroleum Research Fund (2007-2010), DOE Genomes to Life Initiative participation (2007-), $235,780 NSF instrumentation grant (2003-2006), and HHMI undergraduate education support (2003-2006). He teaches Advanced Biochemistry and laboratory courses while mentoring independent studies in biochemistry and chemistry. His Seaver Biology 14 laboratory operates within Pomona College's molecular biology research infrastructure, collaborating with institutions including University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University on projects like the DOE's Shewanella ecophysiology studies.
Justine E. Vanden Heuvel is a Professor in the Horticulture Section at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science . Her work bridges viticulture research and undergraduate education . Education: Doctorate (2002) from the University of Guelph M.Sc. in Plant Agriculture (1999) from the University of Guelph B.Sc. (1996) from the University of Guelph Research Interests: Focus on digital viticulture for precision management, flavor/aroma optimization in wine grapes, and ecophysiological factors affecting fruit-wine composition. Implements computational tools like NDVI imaging and computer vision for sustainable practices in cool climates. Publication Trends: Research spans soil-plant interactions , climate adaptation , and vineyard technology . Key areas include under-vine vegetation for environmental sustainability, microbial composition studies , and canopy management to improve grape quality. Outreach Activities: Actively engages through @thegrapeprof YouTube content and media contributions to outlets like the New York Times Well blog and HuffPost Science . Teaches courses such as The Science of Grapevines (VIEN 3300) , Advanced Viticulture (VIEN 4460) , and Wine Culture (VIEN 2810) . Contact: G14 Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14853
Associate Professor Paul Jensen from The University of Queensland is a leading academic in the School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB) . With a PhD in Engineering, he specializes in anaerobic biotechnology, resource recovery, and sustainable waste management. His research focuses on: Biogas production from livestock and agricultural waste Wastewater nutrient recovery for circular economies Bio-plastic and fertilizer synthesis from low-value biomass Microbial inhibition dynamics in anaerobic systems Over the past decade, his 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in waste valorization , biofilm reactor design , and anaerobic digestion kinetics , particularly for paunch waste and microalgal biomass. Notable projects include: 2025: Alkaline pretreatment of paunch waste for methane optimization 2024: Engineering process design curricula for chemical engineering students 2023: Hydrothermal treatment economics for sludge-derived fuels 2022: Biocomposite development from paunch fibers His work integrates engineering , biological sciences , and process modeling to deliver real-world solutions for municipal and industrial partners. Current grants include: 2024-2025: Pilot-scale Anaerobic Co-digestion at Central SEQ Municipal STP 2022-2027: ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites 2021-2025: Sludge-to-resource CRC-P projects Paul supervises PhD candidates in topics such as anaerobic digestion microbiology , biogas process acceleration , and sewage sludge sustainability , collaborating with experts like Professors Damien Batstone and William Clarke.
Paul Lant is a Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland. He served as Head of School (2009-2013), leading major teaching and research initiatives. His career includes founding Wastewater Futures Pty Ltd (20-year directorship) and extensive industry consultation, including expert witness roles. He co-founded the UQ Energy and Poverty Research Group (2014) and UQ R!SK (2015), focusing on hazardous industry risk management. Research interests span biodegradable plastics (17+ years leading UQ's PHA group), urban water-energy systems, and sustainable energy solutions for impoverished communities. His work integrates engineering with social science, policy, and business perspectives to address global sustainability challenges. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on polymer sustainability, urban resource management, and energy transitions. Recent articles emphasize bioplastic environmental behavior, water-energy nexus optimization, and socioeconomic dimensions of energy access. Scientific Awards & Honors: Fellow, Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Registered Professional Engineer Qld (RPEQ) Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors (1998-2019) National Teaching Awards for undergraduate/postgraduate education (2005, 2006) Supervised 50+ PhD students and secured >$21M in research funding, including 19 ARC projects. Led establishment of the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation ($10M gift) and ARC ITCC for Bioplastics ($6.5M). Founded IWES, Australia's leading environmental short-course provider. Directs the PHA Research Group and co-leads interdisciplinary initiatives including UQ R!SK (risk management) and the Energy and Poverty Research Group. Maintains global industry partnerships with Veolia, Norske Skog, and others.
Donya Kamravamanesh is a Lecturer at Aalto University , affiliated with the Bioproducts and Biosystems department. Her work focuses on advanced biochemical processes and sustainable energy systems. Research interests include: Biological Methanation for gaseous feedstock conversion Anaerobic Digestion of organic waste streams Crystallization Process Modeling in synthetic/fermentation systems Nutrient Recovery in circular economy frameworks Recent publications highlight her expertise in batch cooling crystallization for industrial applications and in-situ biomethanation of syngas. She collaborates on topics spanning renewable energy , chemical engineering , and waste valorization .
Jennifer Burgain is a Lecturer at the University of Lorraine, France, specializing in physical chemistry and food process engineering. Her research focuses on food powder characterization, microencapsulation of probiotics, and the impact of processing/storage on technofunctional properties. Research Interests: Multi-scale analysis of food powders (agro-resources/co-products) Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for nanoscale particle characterization Glass transition effects on powder stability Microencapsulation of probiotics using dairy matrices Optimization of dairy powder processing parameters Scientific Awards: FIL France grant (2011) for probiotic encapsulation research Publications & Projects: Author of ~50 peer-reviewed articles, 6 book chapters, and 2 patents. Principal investigator for the ANR-funded ExPowSE project (2022-2026) analyzing plant-origin food powders. Teaching: Heads the Master 2 MILQ program on dairy industries and quality. Supervises practical process engineering work and teaches physicochemistry/biochemistry of milk proteins.
Univ.Prof.Dr.rer.nat. Lars Küpfer is a Professor at the Institute for Systems Medicine with focus on Organinteraction at RWTH Aachen University Hospital. His research combines physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling at whole-body level with systems biology effect models at cellular/tissue scale, particularly studying the gut-liver-axis and quantitative systems pharmacology/toxicology. He has a strong background in chemical engineering (TH Karlsruhe, RWTH Aachen, Carnegie Mellon University) and computational systems biology from his PhD work at ETH Zurich on yeast metabolism. Since 2005 at Bayer AG and 2011 at RWTH Aachen, he has developed multiscale models for drug development applications. Current focus areas: PBPK modelling, systems biology of human/microbial metabolism, drug-induced toxicity prediction Recent article trends show specialization in liver/kidney pharmacokinetics, metabolic disease biomarkers, and cross-species drug translation Key collaborations include Bayer AG, PortaCellTec, EU-STANDS4PM consortium, and HeCaToS He actively mentors students and researchers like Ömer Faruk Bay, René, Ravi Jairam, and Ahenk Zeynep Sayin in systems medicine projects.
Dr. Shijie Cao serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, where he leads the Cao Lab focused on innovative drug delivery approaches for immunological disorders. His research bridges pharmaceutical sciences with immunology to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome and immune system. Dr. Cao earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Fudan University in Shanghai, China in 2013, followed by a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington in 2018. He completed postdoctoral training in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago from 2019-2023 before joining the UW faculty in June 2023. His research program centers on mucosal immunoengineering and microbiome pharmaceutics , with the goal of developing translatable tools to prevent and treat immunological disorders including allergies, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. The lab specifically focuses on developing therapeutics that modulate the immune system by targeting the microbiome and its associated metabolites. By leveraging advanced drug delivery tools and microbiome modulation strategies, Dr. Cao's team aims to unravel the complex interplay between the microbiome and various organ systems to improve human health. Analysis of Dr. Cao's recent publications reveals a strong trajectory in developing microbiome-targeted therapies, particularly using butyrate and other microbial metabolites for autoimmune conditions and food allergies. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in delivery systems, with recent publications focusing on glycosylation-modified antigens for tolerance induction, serine-conjugated butyrate prodrugs with high oral bioavailability, and injectable butyrate-prodrug micelles for long-acting immune modulation. The research spans applications from autoimmune arthritis and neuroinflammation to peanut allergy treatment and chronic wound healing. Dr. Cao actively collaborates with prominent researchers including Jeffrey A. Hubbell and maintains strong connections with his previous mentors at the University of Chicago. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals including Nature Biomedical Engineering, Cell Reports Medicine, and Biomaterials, reflecting the significance and innovation of his contributions to pharmaceutical sciences. The Cao Lab is currently accepting graduate students and maintains active research programs in two primary areas: developing tolerance-inducing vaccines for food allergies and autoimmune conditions, and creating microbiome-targeted delivery systems for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The lab employs interdisciplinary approaches combining nanotechnology, immunology, and microbiome science to address unmet medical needs in immune-mediated disorders.
Professor Tiago Moreira is a leading scholar in the Department of Sociology at Durham University, with fellowships at the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing and the Institute for Medical Humanities. His work bridges science and technology studies with social and cultural gerontology. Professor of Sociology Fellow of Wolfson Research Institute Fellow of Institute for Medical Humanities Research focuses on: Intersections of aging, technology, and society Knowledge organization in health care Priority setting in health innovation Social studies of medicine Recent publications explore engineered living materials, AI in aging, biological age metrics, and post-COVID frailty dynamics. Collaborations span Physics, Medical Humanities, and Environmental Sciences. Scientific roles include: Plenary speaker at BSA Medical Sociology Conference (2014) Research Professorship at Copenhagen University (2013) Editorial board memberships (Science, Technology and Human Values, Journal of Aging Studies) ESRC Inclusive Ageing Programme panel (2021) Supervises postgraduate researchers in: Jiaxi Li Katie Smith Luany Promenzio Shuman Xie Trayten Zhang Coleads SMART Soils Laboratory initiative and founded the Health and Social Theory Research Cluster, advancing responsible innovation frameworks in biotechnology and aging studies.
Cristina L. M. Silva is an Associate Professor at the Escola Superior de Biotechnology within Universidade Católica Portuguesa . She specializes in Food Science and Engineering with a focus on modeling and optimization of food processes , sustainable food systems , and preservation technologies like ultrasound, ozone, and UV-C radiation. Her work extends to by-product valorization , particularly in fruit and vegetable processing. She was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST) in 2022, reflecting her global leadership in food engineering education. She chairs the IUFoST Education Working Group 1.2 and serves on the advisory board of the ISEKI-Food International Association . Additionally, she is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Food Studies and associate editor for multiple journals. Research Interests: Food process modeling, sustainable technologies, microbial safety, by-product valorization, and educational innovation in food science. Leadership: Deputy Director for Internationalization at ESB; led the CBQF Food Processing Engineering lab . Scientific Awards: IAFoST Fellow (2022).
