Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Jered Haun is an Associate Professor at the Samueli School of Engineering , University of California, Irvine , with joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , and Materials Science and Engineering . Based in 3107 Natural Sciences II , his research focuses on developing nanoengineering and molecular medicine technologies to improve disease diagnosis and treatment. Email: jered.haun@uci.edu Phone: (949) 824-1243 Research Interests include: Nanomaterial Probes for molecular profiling and disease detection Microfabricated Platforms for cell analysis and tissue processing Targeted Delivery Carriers that interact with unique disease molecules Technologies employed in his lab encompass: Fluorescence imaging and MRI enhancements Bioorthogonal chemistry and nanosensor development Micro-NMR for tumor analysis Quantum dot-based detection systems Awards include: NIH National Cancer Institute's Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies Funding The Haun Laboratory actively recruits graduate and undergraduate students for projects related to nanoengineering, molecular medicine, and microfluidic device development.
Assoc Prof Ng Teng Yong is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (NTU), specializing in numerical modeling and simulation. With a background as Research Manager at A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, his work spans materials science, nanotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Current focus on graphene-based desalination membranes Expertise in molecular dynamics simulations Investigates nanoscale fluid mechanics and structural dynamics Recent publications highlight advancements in energy-efficient electrodialysis, smart robotics, and nonlinear vibration analysis. His interdisciplinary approach integrates computational methods with experimental validation in additive manufacturing and soft material mechanics.
David Melcher is Professor of Psychology and Program Head in Psychology at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where he also serves as a Global Network Professor. He is affiliated with the Division of Science and leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab, focusing on the integration of perception, attention, memory, and action within a cognitive neuroscience framework. PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science, Rutgers University (2001) Former researcher and professor in Italy and the UK Current leadership: Program Head, Psychology, NYUAD David Melcher's research centers on cognitive neuroscience , particularly how perception, attention, working memory, eye movements, and self-motion interact to shape cognition and behavior. His lab emphasizes active cognition —the idea that perception is not passive but dynamically shaped by action, context, and goals. He investigates how temporal dynamics in neural processing organize perceptual experiences and guide decision-making. His work spans both healthy and clinical populations, exploring individual differences in spatial and temporal processing across the lifespan. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on temporal organization in cognition , perception-action coupling , and neural mechanisms of attention and memory . Keywords across these works include cognitive neuroscience, perception, and neuroimaging, with subfields ranging from eye movement research and neural synchrony to computational modeling and clinical neuropsychology. Collectively, they demonstrate a trajectory toward integrative models of brain function that bridge behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational approaches. Among his notable recognitions is the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association (2011), highlighting the early impact of his work in cognitive neuroscience. Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, APA (2011) David Melcher has advised numerous students through capstone projects in psychology and computer science, fostering interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cognitive science and technology. His research has been generously supported by major funding agencies including the European Research Council , the US National Institutes of Health , the Italian Ministry of Research and Education , and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Expert Affairs . He also contributes to the academic community as a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Vision , Psychonomic Bulletin & Review , Perception , and iPerception . He leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab at NYUAD, which employs a multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral experiments, neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), eye-tracking, computational modeling, and clinical assessments. The lab’s research aims to understand how the brain constructs stable percepts from dynamic sensory input, particularly during active engagement with the environment.
Nori Franco serves as Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Michigan and Chief Scientist at RIKEN's Theoretical Quantum Physics Laboratory in Japan. His dual appointments reflect his significant contributions to both American and Japanese academic communities, with continuous service at Michigan since 1990 and at RIKEN since 2002. His research spans quantum information, condensed matter physics, and quantum optics, with particular focus on light-matter interactions, superconducting qubits, optomechanics, and quantum open systems. Franco's work bridges theoretical foundations with experimental implementations, especially in circuit quantum electrodynamics and quantum computing applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on non-Hermitian quantum systems, quantum control techniques, and applications of quantum information science to fundamental physics problems. His research group consistently produces highly cited work, with publications appearing in top journals across quantum physics and condensed matter disciplines. Scientific Awards: Charles Hard Townes Medal (2024) - sole recipient for fundamental contributions to quantum optics and quantum information processing Research Doctorate Honoris Causa from University of Messina (2024) Highly Cited Researcher for eight consecutive years (2017-2024) Member of Academia Europaea (2023) Willis E. Lamb Medal (2023) for quantum electronics research Throughout his career, Franco has secured significant research funding and mentored numerous students and postdoctoral researchers. His work has received international recognition through invitations to deliver prestigious lectures including the Stanislav Ulam Lecture and Sir Nevill Mott Lecture in 2024. His research group maintains strong collaborations across multiple continents, reflecting his global impact on quantum physics. At RIKEN, Franco leads the Quantum Information Physics Theory Research Team within the Quantum Computing Center, directing cutting-edge theoretical work that complements experimental efforts in quantum computing hardware development.
Dr. Daniel Roxbury is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director at the Department of Chemical, Biomolecular and Materials Engineering within the University of Rhode Island's College of Engineering. With expertise in nanoscience and carbon nanomaterials, his research focuses on nano-bio interactions, developing functionalized nanotubes for biomedical applications and environmental monitoring through his NanoBio Engineering Laboratory. His work spans multiple disciplines including: Biomedical nanosensors Smart wearable biomaterials Targeted drug delivery systems Environmental nanotechnology Single-molecule imaging Nanotoxicology Recent publications emphasize machine learning-enhanced spectral analysis, coral reef conservation nanotechnology, and wearable stress monitoring textiles. His 2024 ACS Nano study introduces AI-driven macrophage phenotyping, while 2023 Nature Nanotechnology work explores coral reef restoration strategies using nanomaterials. Awarded the 2019 NSF CAREER grant for cellular nanometrology, he leads multiple NIH-funded projects including: $820,000 NSF CAREER: Spectral Imaging for Sub-Cellular Nanometrology $140,000 Miriam Hospital COBRE: Cortisol Detection Textiles $700,000 NSF EAGER: Multiplexed Wound Biomarker Detection His laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment including: Near Infrared Hyperspectral Microscope Custom NIR Fluorescence Spectrometer Jasco UV/VIS/NIR Spectrophotometer Biosafety Cabinet Cell Culture Incubator Cryo-Storage System
Raphael Franzini serves as Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Utah, actively contributing to the Biological Chemistry PhD Program. His research pioneers innovative chemical approaches for therapeutic development, with dual focus on DNA-encoded library technologies and bioorthogonal drug delivery systems. His educational foundation includes an M.S. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Lausanne) and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. This training underpins his group's multidisciplinary methodology combining organic synthesis, bioconjugation, computational modeling, and advanced imaging techniques. Dr. Franzini's research program centers on two transformative areas: First, advancing DNA-encoded library screening through computational integration to identify leads for challenging targets like Tankyrase and Sirtuin 6, with recent work addressing false negatives in machine learning prediction. Second, developing novel bioorthogonal release chemistry using isonitrile-tetrazine reactions for spatiotemporally controlled drug activation, validated in zebrafish models. His group emphasizes both technological innovation and therapeutic translation, with chemistry designed to minimize off-target effects in solid tumors. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals escalating integration of computational methods with experimental library screening, alongside refinement of bioorthogonal release kinetics. The work spans chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences, with growing emphasis on machine learning for library data interpretation and in vivo validation of drug-release systems. Dr. Franzini maintains an active research laboratory that provides comprehensive training in cutting-edge drug discovery methodologies. His group culture prioritizes both scientific innovation and researcher development, with projects spanning from fundamental reaction kinetics to therapeutic applications. The lab's infrastructure supports organic synthesis, molecular imaging, and computational analysis for advancing precision therapeutics.
Svitlana Mayboroda is a Professor of Mathematics at ETH Zurich and the McKnight Presidential Professor at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on partial differential equations, harmonic analysis, and wave localization phenomena. University of Minnesota: School of Mathematics, 127 Vincent Hall, Minneapolis, MN ETH Zurich: Department of Mathematics, Ramistrasse 101, Zurich Research Interests: Analysis and partial differential equations Wave localization and Anderson localization Elliptic theory on non-smooth and lower-dimensional domains Harmonic measure and geometric measure theory Applications to quantum mechanics and semiconductor physics Recent Publications: Her 2023-2022 works investigate Anderson mobility edges, landscape functions in spectral theory, regularity problems for elliptic operators, and Green function estimates. Key themes include localization landscape theory, uniformly rectifiable domains, and spectral analysis of disordered systems. Grants & Collaborations: Simons Collaboration on Localization of Waves (Director, 2018–2025, $14M) NSF RAISE–TAQS grant ($1M) Academic Leadership: She has organized numerous conferences and workshops, including annual meetings of the Simons Collaboration on Wave Localization (2020–2024) and programs at MSRI and PCMI. Her mentorship includes postdocs and PhD students working on elliptic theory, spectral problems, and applied mathematical physics.
Virginia Davis is the Dr. Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Auburn University's College of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Rice University, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tulane University. Research Focus: Self-assembly of nanomaterials, rheology, lyotropic liquid crystals, additive manufacturing, polymers, nanocomposites, and biosensors Key Projects: USDA-funded agricultural outreach, NSF grant for MXene dispersion studies, Alabama STEM Council member Her recent publications explore cellulose nanocrystals, MXene 3D printing, and sustainable polymer recycling. Davis has received multiple honors including the Breeden Professorship, AIChE Fellowship, and Auburn University Faculty Awards for research and mentorship. Research Trends: Dominated by bio-based nanomaterials (cellulose nanocrystals, MXenes), with applications in additive manufacturing, environmental remediation (PFAS adsorption), biosensors (carbofuran detection, cancer biomarkers), and agricultural delivery systems. Scientific Awards Auburn University Faculty Awards (2023, 2025) AIChE Fellow (2023) Dr. Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Professorship Davis leads outreach initiatives like the Tomorrow’s Community Innovators camp and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on plastic recycling innovations. Her work emphasizes both fundamental material science and practical applications addressing environmental and agricultural challenges.
Professor Malcolm Kadodwala holds the Gardiner Chair within the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. His research spans chiral nanophotonics, surface science, and spectroscopy with applications in biomolecular detection and nanomaterials. He maintains an active laboratory producing high-impact publications in top journals including Nature Nanotechnology, ACS Nano, and JACS. PhD from University of Nottingham Gardiner Chair in School of Chemistry Active research group with extensive international collaborations His research interests focus on three interconnected themes: (1) spectroscopic investigations of electronic properties in nanostructured materials; (2) development of electron-based chirally sensitive spectroscopic techniques; and (3) creation of novel chiroptical spectroscopic probes. Current work emphasizes superchiral fields for ultrasensitive biomolecular detection, chiral plasmonics, and nanoscale light-matter interactions. His group has pioneered techniques for detecting protein conformations and viral structures at unprecedented sensitivity levels. Publication trends show consistent high-impact output with 15+ recent articles (2021-2025) in nanophotonics and chiral sensing. His work bridges physics, chemistry, and biology, with strong emphasis on practical biosensing applications. Key journals include Nano Letters, ACS Nano, and Nature Nanotechnology. PhD from University of Nottingham Professor Kadodwala advises multiple PhD students including Calum Jack, Affar Karimullah, and Ryan Tullius. His research has attracted significant funding including an MRC discipline-hopping grant (Ref. G0902256). He maintains active collaborations with institutions worldwide including EPFL, University of Jena, and Heriot-Watt University. His laboratory specializes in chiral plasmonic nanostructures and superchiral field generation, with applications in disposable biosensors and viral detection platforms. Current projects involve nanoscale control of electronic properties using structured light and development of chiral metasurfaces for advanced optical applications.
Prof. Casper Hoogenraad is a full professor in Molecular Neuroscience at the Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University. His research focuses on understanding how intracellular protein trafficking underlies neuronal development and function, with particular emphasis on the microtubule cytoskeleton, synaptic cargo trafficking, and synaptic plasticity. He leads an active research group within Utrecht University's Cell Biology department and collaborates extensively with other neuroscience research groups. Education: PhD, Erasmus University Rotterdam (1996-2001) Postdoc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2002-2005) Hoogenraad's research spans three main themes: cytoskeleton dynamics during neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, motor proteins and adaptors as regulators of synaptic transport, and psychiatric and neurologic disease disorders linked to intracellular transport. His work combines genetics, biochemistry, molecular, and cellular biology methods in in vitro (neuron cultures), ex vivo (brain slices), and in vivo (mice) systems, along with advanced microscopy techniques including immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, high-resolution live cell imaging, and photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM). Analysis of Hoogenraad's recent publications reveals a strong focus on microtubule organization, neuronal polarity, and the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic function and dysfunction. His work frequently explores how disruptions in intracellular transport contribute to neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders, with particular attention to the relationship between cytoskeletal organization and cargo transport in neuronal compartments. Scientific Awards and Memberships: ZonMW-VIDI (2004) European Young Investigators (EURYI) award (2005) NWO-ALW VICI (2011) ERC Consolidator grants (2013) FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (2014) European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) (2015) Young Academy of Europe (YAE) (2015) IBRO Kemali Prize (2016) Hoogenraad leads a research group studying neuronal development and function, with a particular focus on how intracellular transport mechanisms contribute to both normal brain function and neurological disorders. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience techniques to investigate the molecular basis of neuronal polarity, synaptic plasticity, and the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. He has secured significant research funding through prestigious grants including ERC Consolidator grants. The Hoogenraad lab operates within the Cell Biology department at Utrecht University, collaborating with other research groups focusing on cellular dynamics, biophysics, and neurobiology. The lab utilizes advanced microscopy techniques including immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, high-resolution live cell imaging (spinning disc microscopy and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy), and quantitative analysis using advanced high-resolution microscopy (photo-activated localization microscopy). Current lab technicians include Phebe Wulf and Bart de Haan.
Dr. Eva-Maria Graefe is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Imperial College London. She specializes in quantum dynamics, focusing on the interplay between quantum and classical systems, particularly chaos and dissipation in non-Hermitian systems. Her research explores foundational questions such as how quantum motion relates to macroscopic physical laws and how dissipation can be engineered to control quantum behavior. Education: She earned her PhD in theoretical quantum physics from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, followed by a postdoctoral position at the University of Bristol’s mathematical physics group. She joined Imperial College in 2010 as a Junior Research Fellow. Research Interests: Her work spans non-Hermitian quantum systems (e.g., PT-symmetric models), quantum chaos, semiclassical quantization, and Bose-Hubbard systems. She investigates exceptional points, Landau-Zener transitions, and the dynamics of open quantum systems with losses or gain. Her group is supported by the Royal Society and an ERC Starting Grant. Scientific Contributions: Notable achievements include studies on Husimi distributions in non-Hermitian systems, quantum-jump dynamics, and the semiclassical analysis of Bloch oscillations in dissipative lattices. Teaching & Outreach: She teaches quantum mechanics to undergraduates and Master’s students and engages in outreach to inspire high school students. She mentors a research group of PhD and Master’s students. Labs/Teams: Her lab focuses on theoretical and computational studies of quantum dynamics, supported by advanced grants and collaborations within Imperial’s Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Cesare Franchini is a full Professor at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Physics, leading the Computational Materials Physics research group. His work focuses on theoretical understanding and computational modeling of quantum materials using first principles methods, particularly VASP. He maintains an active research program with numerous postdocs, PhD students, and collaborations across multiple institutions including the University of Bologna. Professor Franchini's research centers on quantum materials with many interacting degrees of freedom (lattice, spin, and electron orbital) that enable novel electronic and magnetic phases. His specific interests include metal-insulator transitions, polaron physics (electron-phonon interactions), non-collinear spin orderings, topological Dirac/Weyl phases, multiferroism, and superconductivity. He has increasingly incorporated machine learning data-driven tools and diagrammatic Monte Carlo techniques into his computational approaches. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on polaron physics across multiple material systems, with significant work on hematite, titanium dioxide, and quantum paraelectrics like KTaO3. His research increasingly integrates machine learning with traditional first-principles methods, particularly for studying hydrogen diffusion, surface science phenomena, and electronic structure calculations. There's also substantial work on single-atom catalysis and the application of advanced computational techniques to understand fundamental charge transport mechanisms in energy materials. Professor Franchini actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdocs, including Andrea Angeletti, Viktor Birschitzky, Lorenzo Celiberti, and several others working on diverse aspects of computational materials physics. He leads or participates in major research projects including TACO (Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling), DCAFM (Doctoral College Advanced Functional Materials), and the recently launched Spin-orbit entangled anharmonic polarons project. His group maintains strong collaborations with experimentalists at Charles University, Technical University of Vienna, and other international institutions.
Lena Simine is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. She holds a B.Sc. (2009) and Ph.D. (2015) from the University of Toronto, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Rice University (2015–2019). Her laboratory is located in P&P 118A, focusing on developing computational approaches for modeling molecular phenomena in theoretical chemistry and chemical physics. Her research interests center on computational materials design, quantum dynamics, and the application of machine learning to chemistry. Specific areas include simulating amorphous materials, aptamer design, and quantum systems modeling. She teaches CHEM 365 (Statistical Thermodynamics) and CHEM 593 (Statistical Mechanics and Machine Learning for Chemistry). Her work explores interdisciplinary frontiers, such as path-integral simulations, GFlowNets for molecular design, and the physical principles underlying deep learning in materials science. Recent studies highlight innovations like DeltaGzip for binding affinity prediction and the MAP protocol for 3D disordered matter simulations. Her lab’s contributions span computational methods, material innovation, and quantum phenomena, with a focus on advancing both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in chemistry and materials science.
Hatice Altug is a Full Professor at EPFL's Institute of Bioengineering within the School of Engineering, where she leads the Bionanophotonic Systems Laboratory. Her research integrates nanophotonics, plasmonics, and microfluidics to develop advanced biosensors for real-time molecular diagnostics. She holds dual roles in EPFL's doctoral programs and academic committees. Education: PhD in Applied Physics, Stanford University (2000-2007) B.S. in Physics, Bilkent University (1996-2000) Her research centers on creating label-free, high-sensitivity optical biosensors using nanophotonic technologies. Key innovations include dielectric metasurfaces for mid-infrared spectroscopy, AI-enhanced detection platforms, and portable nanoplasmonic imagers for point-of-care diagnostics. Her work bridges fundamental light-matter interactions with clinical applications like sepsis monitoring and cancer biomarker detection. Her publications emphasize nanophotonic biosensor design, metasurface applications, and single-cell analysis. Recent trends show increased focus on AI integration, vibrational spectroscopy, and wafer-scale manufacturing for clinical translation. Awards & Honors: Optical Society Fellow (2020) Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE, 2011) ERC Consolidator Grant (2016) IEEE Photonics Society Young Investigator Award (2011) She mentors numerous PhD students and leads interdisciplinary teams developing optofluidic platforms. Her laboratory pioneers nanoplasmonic microarrays and collaborates globally on projects like neurodegenerative disease biomarker detection. She co-directs EPFL's doctoral program in photonics and champions women in STEM through executive roles in diversity initiatives.
