Prof. Morten Hvitfeldt Iversen is a leading researcher in Polar Biological Oceanography at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). He serves as Section Head of the Polar Biological Oceanography department and leads the bridging group 'SeaPump' collaborating with University of Bremen and MARUM. His work focuses on organic matter production, export, and transformation in oceans, linking small-scale microbial processes to large-scale biogeochemical cycles in high-latitude regions. Iversen pioneers optical techniques to study marine aggregates and their role in the biological carbon pump. Research interests include Arctic and Antarctic carbon dynamics, microbial ecology, and the impact of climate change on ocean systems. He leads projects like the 'SeaPump' initiative and contributes to the 6.3 sub-topic 'The future of the biological pump' under POF IV. His work integrates field observations, mooring data, and satellite measurements to understand carbon fluxes and their climate feedbacks. Recent articles highlight his focus on Arctic carbon sinks, microplastic impacts, and zooplankton roles in the biological pump. Iversen actively participates in expeditions aboard the Polarstern and uses advanced optical tools to study particle dynamics. His contributions bridge experimental and observational science to address global climate challenges.
Dr. Benjamin Pontiller is a researcher at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, within the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Division and Biological Oceanography Research Unit . His work focuses on microbial carbon cycling in marine environments, particularly the role of bacterioplankton in transforming dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Current projects: INDICOM, ICEBERG, HOMER, BIOCAT Recent expeditions: RV SONNE (Indian Ocean 2024), RV POLARSTERN (Arctic 2024), RV METEOR (Atlantic 2022) His research integrates omics technologies with chemical and rate measurements to understand microbial functional potential in: Coastal upwelling systems Deep Arctic Ocean (HAUSGARTEN) Baltic Sea phage dynamics Trace metal impacts on microbial communities Education: PhD in Ecology (Marine Microbial Ecology) - Linnaeus University 2021 MSc in Ecology (Marine Biology) - University of Vienna 2015 BSc in Biology - University of Vienna 2013
Mahipal Singh is a Professor of Animal Biotechnology and Coordinator of the Animal Science Undergraduate Program at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), where he is affiliated with the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology and the Department of Agricultural Sciences. He has been at FVSU since 2000 in various capacities, progressing from Adjunct Biology/MPH Graduate Faculty to his current position as full Professor since 2019. Dr. Singh earned his educational credentials in India: a B.S. (Hons) in Zoology from Meerut College (1978), an M.S. in Zoology from the Institute of Advanced Studies, Meerut University (1983), and a Ph.D. in Zoology-Microbiology from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (1989). His academic journey included prestigious appointments such as International Visiting Fellow at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH (1991-1993) and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina (1989-1991). His research focuses on cutting-edge areas of animal biotechnology, particularly in postmortem cell recovery, genome editing in livestock, and myostatin gene targeting. Dr. Singh has pioneered work demonstrating that individual cells remain viable in mammalian tissues for much longer periods after death than previously believed, with applications for cellular therapies and germplasm preservation. His work with CRISPR/Cas technology aims to reduce milk allergens and mastitis in goats, while his myostatin research seeks to enhance muscular mass in meat goats for agricultural applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on cellular viability after death across multiple livestock species (cattle, goats, sheep), with particular attention to temperature effects and storage conditions. His work bridges basic cellular biology with practical agricultural applications, demonstrating how fundamental discoveries about postmortem cellular life can translate into biotechnological advances for livestock preservation and improvement. USDA-ARS 1890 Faculty Research Fellowship Award (2017) STEM Research Excellence Award, Fort Valley State University (2014-15) Multiple student research presentation awards at FVSU Annual Research Day symposiums Best Poster Award at National Symposium on Biotechnology, CIMAP, Lucknow, India (1999) Fogarty International Visiting Fellowship at NIH (1991-93) Dr. Singh has supervised an impressive 38 students across multiple educational levels, including 4 PhD, 13 MS, 7 BS, 8 HS, and 6 middle school students. His research has been supported by USDA-ARS, USDA-NIFA programs, and various other grants. He serves on multiple editorial boards, grant review panels, and university committees, and is an active member of professional societies including the American Society of Animal Science and Society for In Vitro Biology. Based in the Stallworth Biotechnology Building at FVSU, Dr. Singh leads research projects that bridge molecular biology with practical agricultural applications, working collaboratively with researchers from USDA-ARS, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, and other institutions to advance animal biotechnology and improve livestock production systems.
Alexandre Poulain is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa and Vice Dean for Research and Infrastructure in the Faculty of Science. His multidisciplinary research bridges biogeochemistry, microbial physiology, and environmental toxicology. Education: B.Sc. (Angers, France), M.Sc. (INRS, Canada), Ph.D. (Université de Montréal, Canada), Postdoc (MIT, USA) Research Interests: Mercury cycling in Arctic and temperate ecosystems, microbial metal transformations, biosensor development for contaminants, redox reaction dynamics, bioremediation using environmental microbes, and mercury-organic matter interactions. His lab (2017-2025) has produced 15 recent publications on mercury biogeochemistry in oil sands, rice paddies, and Arctic lakes, alongside arsenic speciation studies and pesticide impacts on pollinators. Current students explore archaeal mercury regulators, acidothermophilic biosensors, and microbial remediation. Scientific contributions include: NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2009) Co-PI on Microbright, a startup commercializing microbial water treatment Developed portable arsenic biosensor tested in Cambodia Co-edited mercury-climate synthesis in Nature Communications
Prof. Om Parkash Dhankher is a distinguished Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. His research integrates plant biotechnology, phytoremediation, and climate-resilient crop development, focusing on detoxification of heavy metals, stress tolerance, and metabolic engineering for biofuels. He leads the Dhankher Lab , which pioneered transgenic plants for arsenic phytoremediation and manipulation of glutathione pathways. Education: Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology, Durham University (1998) M.Phil. in Biochemistry and Genetics, Kurukshetra University (1998) M.Sc. in Botany, Kurukshetra University (1987) B.Sc. in Medical, Maharishi Dayanand University (1985) Research interests include molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance, glutathione homeostasis for oxidative stress, arsenic-free crop engineering, and nanotechnology applications in agriculture. His work on sulfur nanoparticles has demonstrated reduced toxicity in rice and Brassica napus, while his Crambe abyssinica and Camelina sativa projects focus on biofuel yield enhancement. He pioneered the first transgenic plant combining arsC and γECS for arsenic remediation. Scientific leadership is reflected through editorial roles in Plant Cell Reports , Frontiers in Plant Sciences , and Environmental Pollution (among others). His accolades include fellowships from CSSA, ASA, ISEB, and ISPP, alongside US patents for metal-resistant plants and oil content engineering. Notably, his research on plant-based nickel extraction featured in the Wall Street Journal (2025) and was highlighted in Nature Biotechnology (2002), earning over $10M in research funding. Publications span 117 peer-reviewed articles and 4 books, including breakthroughs on arsenic detoxification , nanoparticle-plant interactions , and stress-associated proteins . His work has been featured in Science , Nature , PNAS , and ACS Nano , with recent 2025 articles on Camelina nickel tolerance and nanomaterial gene delivery . Collaborations span institutions in India, China, Italy, and Egypt through international outreach programs.
Dr. Jake O'Brien is a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) within the University of Queensland. He holds an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship and serves as Chair of the EMCR@UQ Committee. His work focuses on wastewater-based epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental chemical exposure assessment. O'Brien co-leads the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program and has contributed to understanding pharmaceutical impacts on wastewater systems. His research spans analytical chemistry, environmental toxicology, and public health, with particular emphasis on antimicrobial resistance gene mobility and plastic pollution in air/water matrices. Key research areas : Wastewater-based epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, plastic pollution, pharmaceutical fate in environment Techniques : High-resolution mass spectrometry, non-target screening, in-sewer stability analysis O'Brien's recent publications examine antidepressant correction factors, tobacco product monitoring, and antimicrobial resistance gene dynamics. He has advised over 15 PhD students on topics including microplastics in biosolids, SARS-CoV-2 wastewater tracking, and novel psychoactive substance detection. Scientific Awards NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship His team's work impacts national drug policy evaluation, environmental health monitoring, and wastewater treatment regulations.
Roy Johnsen is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in corrosion and surface technology. With a Dr.ing. degree from NTH (1984), he has extensive industry experience from Statoil Research Centre (1985-1991) and CorrOcean (1991-2004), where he expanded the company globally. His current research focuses on hydrogen embrittlement, corrosion protection, and integrity management in offshore systems, with collaborations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Hannah van Zanten is a Full Professor in Earth Systems and Global Change at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Her work emphasizes circular food systems, livestock production optimization, and environmental impact mitigation. She has received multiple awards, including the Storm-van der Chijs award (2015) and several Best Oral Presentation accolades at academic conferences. Her research spans topics like protein upcycling, soil biodiversity, and the environmental implications of livestock feed. She supervises PhD projects on regenerative agriculture, circular food transitions, and ecosystem services in South American grasslands. Recent projects include redesigning European food systems to enhance food security under climate change and modeling circularity impacts. Key research interests include: sustainable diets, land-use efficiency, and the integration of biodiversity conservation with agricultural practices. She has published extensively on topics like earthworm farming, circular protein systems, and the compatibility of animal-sourced foods with circular principles. Awards: 5 major prizes for academic contributions, including innovation in animal sciences and sustainability. Grants/Projects: Leading 19 active projects, including EU-funded initiatives on sustainable livestock and circular food system modeling. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like SUSFANS (Sustainable Food Systems) and Re-Livestock (resilient livestock systems).
Guofeng Cao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado . His research integrates GIScience , GeoAI , geostatistics , and remote sensing to develop advanced methodologies for analyzing heterogeneous geospatial data and modeling complex spatiotemporal patterns. Focus areas: Uncertainty-aware geographic knowledge discovery, land cover/land use dynamics, spatiotemporal bias analysis, geospatial cyberinfrastructure development Applications: Natural hazards, environmental science, public health, global change studies Recent publications emphasize generative adversarial networks for climate downscaling, neural processes for uncertainty modeling, and fusion transformers for disaster assessment. His work combines deep learning with Bayesian inference to address scalability challenges in geospatial data processing. Scientific Recognition : NASA and USDA grants for spatiotemporal research Advising : Mentoring graduate students in geospatial data science Laboratory : Leads the STAR lab (Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis & Research)
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.
Ehud Gazit is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Life Sciences. He holds the Chair for Nano-Biology and serves as Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University. Professor Gazit has held numerous prestigious visiting appointments including at Umeå University, Fudan University, and Cambridge University. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. (summa cum laude) from Tel Aviv University's Special University Program for Outstanding Students in 1991, followed by a Ph.D. (with distinction) from the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1997, and postdoctoral training at MIT from 1997-2000. Professor Gazit's research focuses on molecular structure and self-assembly at the nano-scale, particularly examining protein folding, unfolding, and misfolding phenomena. His laboratory investigates the mechanisms and significance of protein unfolding and misfolding, with experimental systems including bacterial toxin-antidote systems, type II diabetes-related amyloidogenic proteins, and the VHL tumor suppressor protein. His work bridges fundamental biochemistry with nanotechnology applications, exploring how molecular self-assembly can be harnessed for technological innovation. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in peptide-based nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on amyloid formation mechanisms, peptide self-assembly for functional materials, and therapeutic applications targeting neurodegenerative diseases. His work spans multiple disciplines including biochemistry, nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedical engineering, showing increasing integration of fundamental research with practical applications. Professor Gazit has received numerous prestigious awards including: 2020 Landau Prize in Sciences and Arts in the Field of Healthy Aging 2019 Rappaport Prize for Excellence in Biomedical Research 2018 Foreign Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India 2016 ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council 2015 Elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Professor Gazit has been actively involved in mentoring students and researchers, as evidenced by his extensive publication record with numerous collaborators. He has secured significant research funding including an ERC Advanced Grant. His professional activities include editorial board memberships for journals including Journal of Peptide Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology - Asia, and Amyloid. He previously served as Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Science and Technology (2012-2014). His laboratory has developed innovative approaches to studying molecular self-assembly, with particular expertise in peptide nanostructures. The research team has made significant contributions to understanding amyloid formation mechanisms while simultaneously developing novel biomaterials with applications ranging from electronics to medicine. They have established strong collaborations with research groups worldwide, creating a dynamic interdisciplinary research environment focused on the intersection of biology and nanotechnology.
Xiaoning Qian is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he also serves on the Faculty Advisory Committee for the Texas A&M Institute of Data Science (TAMIDS) and the Executive Committee for the Texas A&M TRIPODS Research Institute for Foundations of Interdisciplinary Data Science (FIDS). He holds a joint appointment in the Applied Math group within the Computational Science Initiative at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). Previously, he was an Associate Professor (2018-2022) and Assistant Professor (2013-2018) at Texas A&M, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Florida (2009-2013). Dr. Qian received his B.S.E. and M.S.E. degrees from Shanghai Jiaotong University, China, and his M.Ph. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Yale University. Dr. Qian's research focuses on developing mathematical models and computational algorithms in signal processing, machine learning, and Bayesian methods, particularly in learning, uncertainty quantification, and experimental design. His work spans multiple disciplines, with applications in life sciences and materials science. His research group, the Biomedical Imaging, Sensing, and Genomic Signal Processing Group, actively applies probabilistic models and optimization algorithms to solve complex problems in interdisciplinary domains. His research has evolved from foundational work in bioinformatics and biomedical image processing to more recent applications in materials science and broader AI for science initiatives. Dr. Qian has received numerous scientific awards and recognitions including: National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award Segers Family Dean's Excellence Professorship II in the College of Engineering TEES (Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station) Senior Faculty Fellow Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar J. T. Oden Faculty Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin Finalist of the 2023 INFORMS QSR Best Paper Faculty Impact Fellow from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering As an advisor , Dr. Qian has mentored numerous graduate students through their PhD and MS programs, with many of his alumni securing positions at prestigious institutions and companies including NIH/NCBI, Microsoft, Baidu Research Lab, and Qualcomm. His research has been supported by multiple grants, including an NSF CAREER award and collaborative research funding from the Information Integration and Informatics program. He is actively recruiting postdoc and graduate student research assistants for projects in machine learning and optimization methods with applications in bioinformatics and materials science. Dr. Qian is involved with several research initiatives including the Objective-Based Uncertainty Quantification (ObjectiveUQ) project, which provides a mathematical framework for integrating prior knowledge and data while enabling effective operational and experimental design under uncertainty. He also co-organizes the Bio-Seminar series for the Biomedical Imaging, Sensing & Genomic Signal Processing group at Texas A&M.
Professor Riikka Rinnan (University of Copenhagen) is a leading expert in ecosystem-atmosphere interactions, focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Arctic environments. Her groundbreaking discovery of VOCs in permafrost has advanced climate prediction models, revealing complex interactions between climate warming, insect herbivory, microbial activity, and vegetation shifts. Current position: Professor, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen Major research themes: Permafrost VOCs, Arctic climate feedbacks, plant-insect-microbial interactions International collaborations: China, Germany, Russia Her work combines field expeditions in extreme Arctic conditions with laboratory experiments and advanced VOC analysis. Climate warming experiments show VOC emissions could increase 40-fold with combined warming and insect attacks, while Arctic soils may act as unexpected VOC sinks. Key publications appear in Nature Communications , Nature Geoscience , and Global Change Biology . Riikka Rinnan has received prestigious awards including the EliteForsk Award, European Research Council Consolidator Grant, and Sapere Aude Research Leader. She leads international research teams, advises five PhD candidates, and supervises four postdocs (including two Marie Curie fellows). Her Siberian expedition plans demonstrate commitment to real-world scientific challenges.
Dr. Sanandam Bordoloi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University's School of Engineering, specializing in Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Engineering. He earned his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and has held postdoctoral positions at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Expertise in unsaturated soil mechanics Specializing in biochar applications for geotechnical systems Focus on carbon capture and waste valorization Developed novel techniques for soft clay remediation Recipient of Telford Premium Prize His recent publications highlight trends in biochar-amended composites , CO2 mineralization , landfill restoration , and soil-hydrological interactions . Key subfields include contaminant transport mechanisms, cementitious material innovation, and root-soil feedback systems. Scientific Awards: Telford Premium Prize for exceptional civil engineering research
Jenn Brophy is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University, developing technologies for genetic engineering of plants and microbes to address environmental stress resilience and agricultural sustainability. Her lab focuses on synthetic genetic circuits for plant root reprogramming and stress response optimization. B.S. in Bioengineering, UC Berkeley (2010) Ph.D. in Biological Engineering, MIT (2016) Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University (Biology) Research spans synthetic biology, plant genetics, and microbiome engineering, emphasizing climate adaptation and sustainable biotechnology. Current projects include: Plant-microbe interaction engineering Stress-responsive biosensors High-throughput genetic tool development Plant cell atlas integration Sustainable laboratory practices Her recent publications highlight advances in recombinase circuits, root architecture engineering, and plant cell mapping, with applications in climate resilience and microbiome design. Collaborators include José Dinneny (Stanford) in plant synthetic biology research.
