Dr. Nika Otrin is affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, where she holds a researcher position in the Department of Process Systems Engineering. Her work focuses on constructing artificial cells, particularly reconstituting membrane proteins into microcompartments like giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). She develops microfluidic setups for real-time monitoring of protein-functionalized GUVs and investigates mechanisms such as salt, charge, and SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Her research also explores artificial lipid rafts, interbilayer transport of phospholipids, lateral diffusion, membrane disorder, bending rigidity, and passive proton permeability. Dr. Otrin’s methodologies bridge biophysical analysis with engineering principles to advance understanding of elementary process functions in chemical production, energy conversion, and biological systems.
Neha Kamat is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and (by courtesy) Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on synthetic biology and biomaterials engineering to design artificial cells and membrane-based systems. She leads the Kamat Lab, which explores membrane biophysics, cell-free systems, and synthetic biology applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Education: B.S., Bioengineering, Rice University Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital Research Interests: The Kamat Lab investigates biological membranes as biomaterial platforms. Key areas include: Membrane protein folding mechanisms Engineering synthetic cells and vesicles for therapeutics Cell-free systems for biomanufacturing Membrane mechanobiology Biosensing via synthetic membranes Their work bridges synthetic biology and materials science to create cell-like structures with sensing, communication, and manufacturing capabilities. Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2022) NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Advising & Collaborations: Active in mentoring graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates. Collaborates with Northwestern's Center for Synthetic Biology on NSF-funded projects involving synthetic cell design and bacterial microcompartments. Recent lab moves to Mudd Hall facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. Labs/Teams: The Kamat Lab is part of the McCormick School of Engineering and the Center of Synthetic Biology. Current research projects include: Designing synthetic cells with programmable functions Optimizing cell-free expression systems in synthetic vesicles Membrane mechanobiology studies using micropipette aspiration and microfluidics
Hung Ton-That is a Professor in the School of Dentistry and the Department of Dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds an academic rank of Professor, with affiliations in both the Dentistry Department and the MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics) program. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, particularly in Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. His work employs multidisciplinary approaches, including bacterial genetics, biochemistry, electron microscopy, and rodent models of infection. Education: B.S. in Chemistry, UCLA, 1996 Ph.D. in Microbiology, UCLA, 2000 Postdoctoral Fellowships at UCLA (Microbiology, 2001) and the University of Chicago (Microbiology, 2004) Research Interests: Dr. Ton-That’s laboratory investigates three major areas: pilus assembly, protein folding, and fusobacterial pathogenesis. Key topics include the biogenesis of bacterial surface structures, mechanisms of virulence in pathogens like Fusobacterium nucleatum, and the role of pili in interbacterial interactions and biofilm formation. His work integrates structural biology, enzymology, and genetic approaches to uncover molecular mechanisms. Recent Publications: Recent studies highlight investigations into the Rnf enzyme complex’s role in Fusobacterium nucleatum virulence, the structure-function relationships of pilus proteins, and the development of biomaterials with antibacterial properties. His work frequently explores the interplay between bacterial surface proteins, host interactions, and disease outcomes. Grants and Funding: Principal Investigator on multiple NIH grants, including R01DE017382 (Molecular Assembly on Actinomyces Cell Surfaces), R01DE033900 (Fusobacterium nucleatum outer membrane tubules), and R21DE032906 (Metabolic modulation of virulence). Training grants (R90DE031531, T90DE030860) for dental and oral health researchers. Laboratory: The Ton-That Lab at UCLA fosters interdisciplinary research, providing advanced training in microbiology, structural biology, and pathogenesis. Current projects aim to elucidate mechanisms of bacterial surface assembly and their implications for infection and disease.
Nghiem Nguyen is a researcher affiliated with the Australian National University (ANU), working within the Divisions of Biomedical Science & Biochemistry and Plant Sciences. His research focuses on enhancing carbon fixation in crops through engineering carboxysomes—protein microcompartments that optimize photosynthesis in cyanobacteria—to improve C3 crop yields. Key areas include carboxysome biogenesis, Rubisco packaging, and chloroplast modification. Research interests center on plant biochemistry, photosynthetic efficiency, and metabolic engineering. His work aims to transplant cyanobacterial CO₂-concentrating mechanisms into crops to address limitations in natural carbon fixation. Nguyen collaborates on projects involving bicarbonate transporter engineering and disordered protein interactions critical for carboxysome assembly. Publications highlight advancements in carboxysome-based CO₂ sequestration, hybrid carboxysome design, and structural insights into Rubisco condensation. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions have been cited in high-impact journals like Nature and Plant Journal .
Rodney Burton, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Ave Maria University. He holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, followed by postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. His research focuses on biophysical mechanisms of electron transport proteins, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase in tuberculosis/leprosy pathogens, and vault shell protein complexes for cancer treatment applications. Dr. Burton’s lab investigates vault proteins—large eukaryotic complexes with unknown functions but elevated presence in cancer cells. His team develops methods for vault protein assembly and bioengineering for drug delivery systems, while prioritizing student development as Christian disciples through scientific integrity and teamwork. Key research goals include understanding vault protein assembly mechanisms and translating findings into therapeutic strategies. Recent publications span bacterial microcompartment engineering, enzymology, and structural biology. Though no explicit awards are listed, his work aligns with Ave Maria’s mission through grants like the EASE Grant. He emphasizes lab stewardship, ethical science communication, and mentoring students in both research and faith-based ethics.
Prof. Dr. Jacob Piehler is a Professor in the Department of Biophysics at the University of Osnabrück. His research focuses on understanding the spatiotemporal mechanisms of cytokine receptor signaling in cellular membranes, with applications to diseases like leukemias. He employs advanced techniques such as single molecule fluorescence imaging and nanomaterial-functionalized systems to study receptor assembly, JAK kinase activation, and membrane environment effects. Research interests include oncogenic mutation-driven dysregulation of signaling pathways, membrane microcompartment roles in receptor dynamics, and engineering functionalized nanoparticles to modulate cellular signaling. Methodologies span protein purification, solid-supported membrane models, and surface functionalization. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. His group collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving structural biology, biochemistry, and biophysics. Advising and grant details are not detailed here, but the lab actively publishes in high-impact journals like Science and Nature Communications .
Dr. Michael Ormsby is a Lecturer in One Health Microbiology/Antimicrobial Resistance at the University of Glasgow's School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, within the One Health Research into Bacterial Infectious Diseases (OHRBID) group. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from Heriot-Watt University (2011) and a PhD in Bacteriology from the University of Glasgow (2015). His research focuses on bacterial pathogen ecology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and environmental microbiology. Key interests include understanding pathogen evolution in environmental matrices, zoonotic pathogen emergence, and climate change impacts on disease transmission. He employs culture-based and molecular approaches to study bacterial survival mechanisms and their clinical implications. Research Themes: Bacterial persistence and adaptation in environmental and clinical settings AMR dynamics in enteric pathogens Zoonotic disease transmission driven by climate change Host-pathogen interactions in Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory conditions Grants: Wellcome Trust ISSF ECR Catalyst Funding (2021–2022): Investigating C. difficile S-layer roles in immune signaling Tenovus Scotland (2018–2019): Exploring bacterial microcompartments in Crohn’s disease-associated E. coli pathogenesis Advising & Collaborations: Accepts undergraduate students for Microbiology Society Vacation Studentships. Collaborates with institutions in Malawi and Tanzania on environmental pathogen studies.
Gwenaelle Le Gall is a Lecturer in Nutritional Biochemistry at the Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, since March 2019. She specializes in metabolomics and lipidomics, with over 20 years of expertise in metabolite analysis using NMR and mass spectrometry. Her research focuses on microbial metabolism, host-microbiota interactions, and applications in human nutrition, food authenticity, and disease mechanisms. Education : PhD (2001): Food authentication using 1 H NMR and chemometrics, University of East Anglia. MSc (1997): Organic chemistry (food authentication), University of Nantes. BSc (1996): Asymmetric cyclopropanations, University of Nantes. Research Interests : Her work spans microbial metabolomics, bile acid metabolism, short-chain fatty acids, and the role of dietary components in health and disease. She has contributed to projects on gut microbiota-host interactions, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s), and arthritis. Key techniques include metabolite identification, multivariate analysis, and thermal analysis by structural characterization (TASC). Grants & Projects : Lead investigator on projects funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, Versus Arthritis, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Developed organoid models to study Crohn’s disease and Salmonella infections. Affiliations : Member of Lifespan Health and Nutrition and Preventive Medicine research groups at UEA. Previously managed the metabolomics unit at the Quadram Institute (2010–2018).
Dr. Ben Long is a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Plant Biology at the University of Newcastle, affiliated with the School of Environmental and Life Sciences. He leads the Biological CO₂ Capture Lab and directs the Don McNair Herbarium. His research focuses on harnessing cyanobacterial CO₂ concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to enhance plant photosynthesis and mitigate climate change. Long’s work involves synthetic biology approaches to engineer carboxysomes and bicarbonate transporters into crop plants, aiming to boost carbon capture efficiency by up to 60%. Education: PhD in Plant Biology (La Trobe University), BSc with Honours (La Trobe University) Research Interests: Cyanobacterial CCMs, Rubisco function, carboxysome engineering, and synthetic biology applications for agriculture. His team’s breakthroughs include encapsulating Rubisco in tobacco chloroplasts and elucidating carboxysome assembly mechanisms. Key collaborations involve the RIPE consortium and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Long actively trains the next generation of scientists through teaching and supervising Honours/PhD students in CO₂ capture projects. Publications highlight advancements in carboxysome engineering and bicarbonate transport systems. Awards include the Dean’s Commendation for Supervision (2022) and the Michael D. Gale Award (2018). Current grants explore endophyte biopesticides and carbon capture technologies.
Tom Bobik is a Professor at Iowa State University's Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. His research focuses on bacterial microcompartments (MCPs), bacterial genetics, and metabolism, with applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. His interdisciplinary approach combines bacterial genetics, protein biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology. Education: B.S., Microbiology, Indiana University, Bloomington (1979) M.S., Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana (1986) Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana (1990) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (1990–1995) Research Interests: Dr. Bobik's lab investigates bacterial microcompartments—proteinaceous organelles critical for bacterial physiology and biotechnological applications. Key areas include MCP structure-function relationships, metabolic pathways, and potential applications in medicine and industry. The lab emphasizes structural biology and interdisciplinary methods to advance understanding of these systems. Awards/Grants: No specific awards or grants listed in the provided text. Advising: No listed advisees (students array empty). Labs/Teams: Active in the lab focused on bacterial metabolism and structural biology, contributing to the university's research infrastructure.
David Savage is a Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His lab focuses on understanding protein machinery involved in carbon fixation and compartmentalization in bacteria, particularly the carboxysome, a protein-based organelle critical for photosynthetic efficiency. Research combines biochemistry, microbiology, and synthetic biology to study CO₂ concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), enzyme engineering, and CRISPR-based genome editing tools. Key projects include reconstituting CCMs in heterologous hosts, developing novel genome editing technologies (e.g., allosteric Cas9 variants and MISER-directed evolution), and characterizing protein assembly principles in bacterial microcompartments. Savage's work bridges fundamental biology with applications in improving photosynthetic efficiency and enabling plant genetic engineering. Research methodologies include high-throughput screening, cryo-electron microscopy, and systems biology modeling. Recent advances include the first functional reconstitution of a bacterial CCM (Flamholz et al. 2020) and structural insights into Rubisco-carboxysome interactions (Blikstad et al. 2023). Ongoing efforts explore sulfur metabolism compartments and CRISPR-based diagnostic tools. Labs and collaborations: Savage Lab (http://savagelab.org), with interdisciplinary connections to molecular biology, structural biology, and synthetic biology communities. Research is supported by HHMI and NIH grants focusing on energy biology and genome engineering.
Eddy Smid is a Professor in Food Microbiology at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in the microbial ecology and biotechnology of food fermentation systems. His research focuses on understanding microbial communities in traditional and novel fermented foods, with particular emphasis on lactic acid bacteria, probiotics, and aroma compound formation. He leads projects addressing food safety, functional food development, and microbial adaptation in plant-based fermentation systems. Key collaborations involve studying traditional African fermented foods (e.g., mabisi, ogi) to enhance food security and nutritional value. His work integrates genomic, metabolic, and ecological approaches, often involving experimental evolution and systems biology. Smid supervises multiple PhD candidates exploring topics like extracellular vesicle functions, vitamin B12 fortification, and microbial community dynamics. Smid's research spans from fundamental microbial physiology to applied biotechnology, with over 300 publications and datasets on microbial community composition, fermentation optimization, and probiotic applications. He actively participates in international conferences and media engagements, promoting the scientific and cultural importance of fermented foods.
Richard Notebaart is an Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in Food Microbiology. His research focuses on microbial metabolism, bacterial pathogenesis, and fermentation processes, with applications in food safety and biotechnology. He co-leads the FERMI project series aimed at optimizing fermentations using rational models and collaborates on microbial community design for plant-based foods. Research Interests: Metabolic pathways in food-relevant bacteria Bacterial microcompartments and their biotechnological potential CRISPR-Cas applications in fermentation optimization Recent Research Trends: His work integrates systems biology approaches to understand microbial behavior under stress conditions (e.g., vitamin deficiencies), ethanol production mechanisms in Propionibacterium and Saccharomyces, and Listeria monocytogenes pathogenicity. Recent studies emphasize anaerobic growth dynamics and enzyme regulation in food fermentation contexts. Advising & Projects: Supervises 5 ongoing PhD projects (FERMI series, Microbial Community design) Contributed to datasets on CRISPR-Cas genome editing in CML cells Labs/Teams: Active in the Food Microbiology group at WUR, focusing on microbial systems biology and food safety innovations.
Henrik Bringmann is a Professor at Technische Universität Dresden leading the Bringmann Lab, which investigates sleep regulation and its biological functions using Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models. The lab focuses on molecular mechanisms of sleep-related health benefits and developing tools for long-term experimental observation. Developed agarose hydrogel microcompartments for imaging sleep behavior Created Codon Adapter web tool for gene expression control Engineered non-Mendelian inheritance systems in worms Designed OptoGenBox for optogenetic stimulation protocols Research findings aim to address sleep disorders and develop regenerative therapies. The lab includes 10+ active researchers with positions ranging from Predoc to Postdoc.
Eugenie Carrière is a Researcher affiliated with the Microorganisms, Genome and Environment Laboratory (LMGE UMR CNRS6023) at Université Clermont Auvergne. Her work focuses on microbial genomics and environmental interactions, particularly bacterial microcompartments. She is part of the temporary academic staff at UCA, contributing to research in microbiology and environmental science. Contact: Eugenie.CARRIERE@uca.fr
