Fredrik Inglis is a researcher at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Biology, specializing in evolutionary ecology and microbial population dynamics. His work addresses the persistence of cooperation and diversity in bacterial communities, particularly in well-mixed environments where exploitation risks are high. Primary Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis His research spans evolutionary biology, focusing on mechanisms like kin selection, group selection, and social strategies such as spite and cheating in bacteria. Key themes include: Phase transitions in microbial populations Evolutionary trade-offs in stress responses Game-theoretic models (e.g., rock-paper-scissors dynamics) Antibiotic resistance evolution Biofilm mechanics and interfacial behavior Recent work emphasizes population dynamics, social evolution, and environmental interactions. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches blending ecology, genetics, and biophysics.
Thibaut Brunet is a Researcher and Principal Investigator at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, leading the Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis laboratory within the Department of Cell Biology and Infection. He is affiliated with the Human Disease Models core facility and the Comparative Functional Genomics team. His research explores the cellular and molecular origins of animal multicellularity through the study of choanoflagellates. Institut Pasteur, Paris – Group Leader (G5), Department of Cell Biology and Infection (2021–present) University of California, Berkeley – Postdoctoral Fellow with Nicole King (2016–2021) EMBL Heidelberg – PhD with Detlev Arendt (2011–2016) École Normale Supérieure, Paris – Studies in Biology (2007–2011) His research focuses on understanding the evolution of morphogenesis, cell contractility, polarity, and collective behavior in choanoflagellates. Using interdisciplinary approaches from cell biology, developmental biology, biophysics, and molecular genetics, his lab investigates how unicellular ancestors of animals evolved multicellular traits. Key areas include the regulation of cell shape, environmental response, and the emergence of multicellular coordination. The recent publications of Dr. Brunet span evolutionary cell biology, biophysics, and developmental mechanisms. They reveal trends in the study of pre-animal systems, particularly the role of mechanical forces, signaling (e.g., nitric oxide), and structural dynamics (e.g., microvilli, cytoplasmic bridges) in the transition to multicellularity. His work often combines functional genetics with live imaging and physical modeling, especially in species like S. rosetta , M. brevicollis , and the recently discovered C. flexa . Scientific awards include: ERC Starting Grant (2022) Dr. Brunet advises a diverse team of post-doctoral fellows, PhD and master’s students, and visiting scientists. He is currently recruiting post-docs and interns, though new PhD students are not being accepted before 2025 due to lab capacity. His research is supported by competitive grants, including the ERC Starting Grant. He actively collaborates across disciplines and institutions, contributing to transversal projects such as the IP Stem Cell Initiative. His lab is part of the Human Disease Models core facility and engages in comparative functional genomics, leveraging advanced techniques such as CRISPR, live imaging, RNAseq, and innovative microscopy to study the biology of early-branching eukaryotes and their implications for understanding the origin of animal form and function.
Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre is a Research Director (DR1) at CNRS and leads a research group within the Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. Her work focuses on bacterial transmembrane systems, particularly molecular nanomachines involved in nutrient import, protein secretion, and signaling. She employs a multidisciplinary approach integrating biophysics, biochemistry, microbiology, and structural biology techniques such as NMR and cryo-EM. Her research interests center on understanding the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity, with a focus on membrane biology, host-pathogen interactions, and structural bioinformatics. She investigates systems such as TonB-dependent transporters, type II and type IV pili, and lipid trafficking machinery in Gram-negative bacteria and diderm Firmicutes. Her lab aims to decipher the structure, dynamics, and function of these macromolecular complexes to identify novel antibacterial targets. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in structural and biophysical studies of bacterial membrane systems, particularly using NMR and hybrid structural methods. Her work spans bacterial physiology, antibiotic resistance, and drug discovery, with increasing computational and integrative approaches. Several articles focus on protein dynamics, conformational switches, and macromolecular assemblies in secretion and transport systems. Research Director, CNRS Principal Investigator, Institut Pasteur She supervises research projects and collaborates on interdisciplinary initiatives, though no formal students are listed. She is actively involved in organizing scientific conferences on NMR and structural biology. Her research is supported by multiple ongoing projects including ENERGIR, Protein synthesis machinery of Trypanosomatid, Binding mode of antituberculosis compounds, and Bacterial Transmembrane Signaling. She is part of the Structural Bioinformatics team and contributes to the Biological NMR and HDX-MS Technological Platform at Institut Pasteur.
Pierrick Bourrat is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities at Macquarie University, where he is affiliated with the Ethics and Agency Research Centre. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney (2015) and has held academic positions at the University of Oxford and the University of Sydney. His research spans philosophy of biology, evolutionary theory, and cognitive science of religion. Research Interests: His primary focus is on the philosophy of biology, especially evolutionary transitions, individuality, levels of selection, and heritability. He also explores the psychology of altruism, cultural evolution, and the cognitive foundations of religious belief. His work often integrates formal modeling with philosophical analysis. Recent Publications: His recent articles examine function pluralism in biology, causality in individuality, and multilevel selection. They reflect a strong trend toward clarifying conceptual foundations in evolutionary biology using tools from philosophy and information theory. Macquarie University Research Fellowship (2017) ARC Postdoctoral Research Associate (2015–2016) Advising and Grants: While no students are listed, Bourrat leads significant research projects funded by Macquarie University and collaborative grants. These include 'Solving the puzzle of the emergence of individuals in evolution' and 'Inheritance and the Emergence of Individuals: From concepts to practice'. He collaborates with leading scholars such as Karola Stotz, Paul Griffiths, and Alan Love. Labs and Teams: He is part of the Ethics and Agency Research Centre at Macquarie University, which fosters interdisciplinary work in moral philosophy, agency, and the ethical implications of scientific research.
Kirsten ten Tusscher is a Professor in Computational Developmental Biology at the Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, affiliated with the Department of Theoretical Biology. Her research integrates multiscale biological data using computational models to understand developmental and evolutionary processes in plants and animals. Her research interests include: Developmental and evolutionary patterning in multicellular organisms Computational modeling of regulatory networks Plant adaptation to environmental stress (salt, phosphate, light) Auxin signaling and transport in root development Evolution of body axis segmentation in animals In silico evolutionary models to study developmental program origins Her recent publications highlight a strong focus on plant developmental responses to environmental cues, particularly halotropism and lateral root formation, using integrative modeling. There is also a significant emphasis on auxin dynamics and its role in coordinating growth and adaptation. Earlier work includes cardiac tissue modeling, showing her broad application of computational approaches across biological systems. She has received the NWO Vidi Award in 2014, a competitive fellowship recognizing excellent researchers. Additional recognition includes high citation counts and media attention for her work on root salt avoidance published in Development . She is actively involved in teaching and academic service, supervising students, coordinating the Complexity Master Profile, and organizing the Summer School on Complex Systems. Her research is supported by major grants including NWO VIDI, NWO Building Blocks of Life, FP7 Evoevo, and UU Focus en Massa. She leads a research group focused on theoretical and computational biology, collaborating with experimentalists to validate and refine models. Her work contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to life sciences and sustainable food systems.
Jiarui Ding is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia , within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on the intersection of bioinformatics, computational biology, and machine learning, with an emphasis on single-cell genomics and probabilistic deep learning. Key interests include computational immunology, cancer biology, and the application of AI to biomedical problems like food allergy neuroscience. He is affiliated with the CAIDA: UBC ICICS Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-making and Action and the Data Science Institute , indicating strong interdisciplinary engagement. He actively recruits doctoral students for research projects in these areas, with desired start dates year-round. His work bridges computational methods with biological systems, exemplified by publications on single-cell data integration ( e.g. , CellUntangler), generative models for T-cell receptors, and mechanistic studies of immune responses in diseases like eosinophilic esophagitis. His research also addresses challenges in multiomics data analysis and the development of novel algorithms for genomic data interpretation. No awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials, though his involvement in high-impact projects suggests potential external funding. He emphasizes collaboration, stating availability for interdisciplinary projects and undergraduate research mentorship.
Dr. Hsi-Wei LIU is an Associate Professor at Fu Jen Catholic University (FJCU), holding dual roles in the Department of Life Science and the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Engineering . He also serves as Director of the Biomedical and Photonic Interdisciplinary Research Center . He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from National Tsing Hua University in 2006 and joined FJCU in 2009. Research Focus: His work centers on innovative medical devices, biomaterials drug delivery, and tissue engineering , with a focus on clinical translation. Recent projects include: Intra-articular nanomicellar drug delivery systems for osteoarthritis therapy 3D bioprinting of multicellular spheroid-laden hydrogels for osteoarthritis microphysiological systems Tissue-on-a-chip models to evaluate cartilage regeneration Publications: Over 30 SCI-indexed articles published between 2013–2020, primarily in biomedical engineering and materials science domains. Labs/Teams: Leads the Biomedical and Photonic Interdisciplinary Research Center, fostering collaborations in biomaterials and clinical applications.
Križan Jurinović is a PhD researcher at Imperial College London in the Principles of Biomolecular Systems group under Dr. Thomas Ouldridge, funded by the Royal Society. His research focuses on developing minimal mechanisms for polymer self-replication, contributing to synthetic biology and the creation of synthetic life systems. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Bioengineering from Technical University of Munich and Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences. His prior work includes studying DNA origami structures in cancer biology at the Max Planck Institute. His research interests span synthetic biology, nucleic acid chemistry, and biomolecular engineering. Recent work includes studies on RNA/DNA hybrid strand displacement kinetics, cytomegalovirus chemokine activity, and apoptosis signaling models using DNA origami platforms. His Royal Society-funded PhD aims to advance foundational understanding of self-replicating systems, with potential implications for synthetic biology applications. He collaborates within the interdisciplinary Principles of Biomolecular Systems group at Imperial College.
Mimi A. R. Koehl is a Professor of the Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Integrative Biology. Her active research program combines physics, biology, and ecology to investigate how physical forces shape biological form and function across diverse organisms and environments. Her research spans biomechanics, fluid dynamics in biological systems, marine organismal biology, evolutionary biomechanics, sensory ecology, and biohydrodynamics. She addresses critical questions including microscopic swimming mechanics in turbulent flows, marine larval recruitment, evolutionary transitions to multicellularity, aerodynamics of extinct flying ancestors, wave-battered marine organism survival, hydrostatic movement, and sensory particle capture mechanisms. Analysis of her 2021-2024 publications reveals a consistent focus on environmental context as a determinant of biomechanical outcomes, with studies spanning marine and evolutionary contexts through integrated field and laboratory methodologies. Dr. Koehl mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, as evidenced by her lab's collaborative activities. Her research group maintains active funding for experimental work though specific grants remain undocumented in available materials. The Koehl Lab operates as a dynamic research environment conducting field and laboratory experiments, with extensive documentation of team activities and research processes visible through their public Flickr repository.
Tomás Alarcón is an ICREA Research Professor at the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) in Bellaterra, Barcelona, where he leads the Cancer Modelling Group. He has been affiliated with CRM since November 2010 and was appointed to an ICREA Research Professorship in October 2015. He also serves as deputy director of CRM since March 2016 and is an Affiliated Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona since September 2013. Dr. Alarcón earned his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Barcelona in 2000. Following his PhD, he held postdoctoral positions at the University of Oxford (2001-2003), University College London (2003-2006), and Imperial College London (2006-2009). He briefly served as a senior researcher and group leader at BCAM in Bilbao, Spain (2009-2010) before joining CRM. His research focuses on mathematical modeling of complex biological systems, with particular emphasis on multiscale modeling of tumor growth, hybrid methods for multiscale models, stochastic modeling of somatic cell reprogramming, robustness and evolvability in relation to drug resistance, stochastic models in population dynamics, and membrane biophysics and microfluidics of biofluids. His work integrates phenomena across different biological scales, from angiogenesis to cell-cycle progression under oxygen starvation. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on computational oncology, with particular attention to epigenetic regulation, tumor microenvironment mechanics, and cancer metabolism. His work combines mathematical rigor with biological relevance, often collaborating with experimentalists to validate theoretical predictions. Key themes in his recent work include chromatin dynamics, metabolic regulation in cancer, multiscale modeling approaches, and the application of dynamical systems theory to biological problems. ICREA Research Professorship (2015) Dr. Alarcón has mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to successful academic careers. His group collaborates extensively with researchers at institutions including University of Oxford, University College London, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and various international centers. He has received research funding for projects related to cancer modeling and mathematical biology, though specific grants are not detailed in the provided information. His laboratory, the Cancer Modelling Group at CRM, consists of research fellows, postdocs, PhD students, and collaborators working on various aspects of mathematical oncology and computational biology. The group is also part of the DysCoVir I2SysBio-CRM Associated Unit, indicating a broader collaborative network in systems biology.
Allison Hall serves as an Assistant Professor in the Biology department within Regis College at Regis University, where she leads research on cellular development mechanisms using model organisms. Her primary research focuses on cell polarization dynamics across single-cell and multicellular systems. Dr. Hall employs Caenorhabditis elegans as her model organism to investigate early embryonic development and temporal changes in cellular interactions during organismal growth. Her methodology integrates genetic manipulation , molecular cell biology techniques , and advanced microscopy to alter and visualize protein functions within developing organisms. Dr. Hall demonstrates strong commitment to academic mentorship, actively engaging students in research to cultivate the next generation of scientific talent through hands-on laboratory experiences.
Matthew Cody Nitschke is a Research Fellow at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering, affiliated with the Global Ecology Laboratory and Ecology Evolution and Environment Research Section. His work focuses on mathematical biology and mechanistic modeling of evolutionary processes. PhD in Mathematical Sciences (University of Adelaide, 2022) MSc in Mathematics (North Dakota State University, 2010) MSc in Physics (University of North Dakota, 2005) Research spans three major domains: Mathematical Biology: Evolutionary transitions in individuality, emergence of multicellularity, and human behavior development Mechanistic Modelling: Population dynamics using ordinary differential equations and agent-based models Eco-Epidemiology: Spatial disease spread modeling with stochastic multi-patch systems His publications demonstrate expertise in: Evolutionary bottlenecks and population genetics Stochastic modeling of biological systems Agent-based simulations of social behavior Scientific recognition includes: Australian Research Council Grant Funded Research Scholarship (2017) Teaching Assistantships at University of North Dakota (2004-2005) Professional engagements: Invited talks at international conferences (2022-2024) Collaborations with experts in biology, philosophy, and ecology Current work on disease impact modeling in Aboriginal Australian populations
Elena Kuzmin, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, where she holds a Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Synthetic and Functional Genomics. She supervises MSc and PhD students in Biology and teaches courses in Cancer Evolution, Computational Biology, and Genome Evolution. Research Interests Mapping complex genetic interaction networks Cancer genomics and rare genetic diseases Genome evolution and functional genomics Yeast genetics as model systems Systematic genetic screening techniques Single-cell RNA/DNA sequencing applications Recent Article Trends Focus on genotype-phenotype relationships in cancer Development of yeast-based synthetic biology tools Investigations into gene duplication retention mechanisms Exploration of mechanical stress in cellular systems Neurogenomic cross-species comparisons Large-scale genetic network rewiring studies Awards Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Synthetic and Functional Genomics Labs & Collaborations Kuzmin Lab at Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology Collaborations in biochemistry, cancer research, and neuroscience
Denis Wirtz is the Vice Provost for Research and Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor at Johns Hopkins University. He is affiliated with the Whiting School of Engineering, the Data Science and AI Institute, and holds joint appointments in Pathology and Oncology. His research spans mechanobiology, cancer metastasis, and 3D biomedical imaging. PhD, Chemical Engineering, Stanford University (1993) MSc, Chemical Engineering, Stanford University BSc, Physics Engineering, Free University of Brussels (1988) Wirtz’s research focuses on cell motility , tumor microenvironment dynamics , and AI-driven 3D tissue reconstruction . His lab developed CODA , a groundbreaking pipeline for cm-scale 3D tissue mapping, and pioneered work in mechanobiology and high-throughput cell phenotyping. Recent projects include analyzing pancreatic precancerous lesions, skin aging, and immune cell organization in tumors. Key research trends include 3D cell migration models , machine learning applications in pathology , and mechanotransductive feedback in cancer progression. His work bridges physics , oncology , and biomedical engineering . NSF CAREER award (1995) Theophilus H. Smoot Professor (2009) Fellow, AIMBE (2007), AAAS (2009), APS (2010) Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium Wirtz has advised numerous PhD students, including Kyu Sang Han, and mentors a lab team working on metastasis , extracellular vesicles , and immunology . His lab collaborates with the NCI-funded Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Cellular Cancer Biology Imaging Research Center. The Wirtz Lab, part of the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT), focuses on quantitative methods like particle-tracking microrheology and CODA for 3D tissue analysis. Recent additions include Master’s students from Instituto Superior Técnico and new PhD cohorts in 2023–2024.
Elise Cachat is a Senior Lecturer in Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences and serves as Director of Community and Culture at the Centre for Engineering Biology. As a Group Leader within the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology (IQB3), she bridges fundamental research with industry applications and art-science collaborations. Education: PhD Microbiology, Heriot-Watt University (2001-2005) MPhil Organic Chemistry, Heriot-Watt University (2000-2001) Her research centers on mammalian synthetic biology with three core thrusts: engineering synthetic sensor circuits for disease pathway interrogation (e.g., cancer-macrophage interactions in metastasis), developing community toolkits like chromobodies and CRISPR systems, and addressing biotech industry challenges through engineered CHO cells and microalgae. She pioneers interdisciplinary work through BioArt projects exploring yeast-mammalian coexistence and speculative fiction about urban biotechnology. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong interdisciplinary convergence, integrating synthetic biology with computer science (HCI), art, and industrial bioprocessing. Key trends include therapeutic receptor engineering, sustainable bioproduction, and ethical frameworks for cross-kingdom cellular systems. Scientific Awards: Nominated for Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024 in Art & Science category at Falling Walls Science Summit Dr. Cachat actively supervises five PhD students across theoretical and applied projects, supported by BBSRC funding and industry partnerships with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies and MiAlgae. Her MSc Synthetic Biology program trains next-generation engineers through hands-on tool development courses. She leads the Cachat Lab within the UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, fostering collaborations between biologists, artists, and social scientists through initiatives like 'Crossing Kingdom' and 'Biopolis', which explore societal implications of engineered biological systems.
