Professor Timothy Bertram is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and holds an affiliate appointment in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. His research focuses on atmospheric and environmental chemistry, leveraging advanced mass spectrometry techniques to investigate chemical processes at ocean-atmosphere interfaces and urban air pollution. Alma Mater: B.A. (2000) from Colby College, Ph.D. (2006) from UC Berkeley, Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007–09) at University of Washington His work spans three primary areas: marine volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions , nocturnal nitrogen oxide chemistry , and bacteria-mediated sulfur compound production . Projects integrate laboratory experiments, field campaigns, and instrumental development for high-resolution atmospheric measurements. Recent publications highlight expertise in sea spray aerosol dynamics, DMS oxidation, PFAS emissions, and urban VOC speciation. Collaborations with NSF CCI CAICE, NOAA, and NASA support field deployments and instrument innovation. The Bertram Group trains graduate students and engages in K-12 outreach via sensor development.
Ruth R. Montgomery is a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health , with a secondary appointment in Pathology . As Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs , she leads institutional research initiatives. Director, Yale CyTOF Facility (since 2013) Co-Chair, University Provost’s ITS Advisory Committee Principal Investigator, IMPACC Study on hospitalized COVID-19 patients Research Focus: Cellular immunology with emphasis on age-related immune dysregulation , innate immunity , and human translational studies of viral infections (West Nile, Dengue, Zika, SARS-CoV-2). Key methodologies include single-cell mass cytometry and multi-omics profiling . Scientific Contributions: 2025 AAAS Fellow; pioneer in aging-immunity interactions; identified CD16 polymorphisms reducing severe COVID-19 risk; discovered ELF4 deficiency as a monogenic mimic of Behçet's syndrome. Article Trends: Recent work spans age-dependent immune signatures in viral pathogenesis, multi-omics modeling of severe infections, and therapeutic immune monitoring in mepolizumab-treated populations. Collaborations span Yale Center for Research on Aging , Human and Translational Immunology Program , and Yale-BI Biomedical Data Science Fellowship . Honors: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2025) Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (2020) Key Collaborations: Frequent co-authorships with Erol Fikrig , Albert C. Shaw , Steven Kleinstein , and David Hafler across 161 publications. Faculty leadership roles in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Public Health Data Science initiatives.
Dr. Joseph Vinetz is Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Anthropology, and Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale University, with additional affiliations as Research Professor at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Senior Investigator at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine. His work bridges clinical practice, laboratory research, and field epidemiology, focusing on malaria and leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon, Brazilian Amazon, and Sri Lanka. He leads a research program continuously funded by NIH since 2001, alongside support from WHO, Gates Foundation, and HHMI. Research Highlights: Malaria resilience mechanisms in Amazonian populations Molecular ecology of Plasmodium-Anopheles interactions Leptospirosis diagnostics and vaccine development Genomic studies of malaria vectors and parasites Climate change impacts on tropical disease transmission Scientific Recognition: Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation Fellow of American College of Physicians Bailey K. Ashford Medal recipient Doctor Honoris Causa from PGIMER, India Academic Leadership: Dr. Vinetz mentors multidisciplinary research teams and contributes to Yale's global health initiatives. His lab develops novel interventions for neglected tropical diseases while translating bench discoveries to clinical and public health applications.
Päivi Rajala-Schultz is a Professor in the Department of Production Animal Medicine within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki. She serves as Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine and is affiliated with Helsinki One Health (HOH). Her research focuses on ruminant health and animal reproduction science, with particular expertise in dairy cattle health management. PhD from Cornell University (1994-1998) Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (2008) Former faculty member at The Ohio State University (1999-2015) Professor Rajala-Schultz's research interests span veterinary epidemiology, mastitis management, dry cow therapy, and antimicrobial stewardship in dairy production. Her work emphasizes evidence-based approaches to improve dairy cattle health while promoting responsible antibiotic use. She has been instrumental in developing Nordic guidelines for mastitis therapy and has conducted extensive research on selective dry cow therapy as an alternative to blanket treatment. Analysis of her recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on dairy cattle udder health, with particular emphasis on selective dry cow therapy, mastitis prevention strategies, and the relationship between management practices and animal health outcomes. Her research spans both clinical field trials and epidemiological studies, often incorporating economic perspectives on veterinary interventions. Recent work has expanded to examine digital dermatitis, social hierarchy in dairy herds, and systemic inflammation markers. Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (2008) Professor Rajala-Schultz actively supervises graduate students, including Saara Soikkanen's Master's thesis in 2023. She manages multiple research projects, including 'Überis yhteistyö' (2025-2028) funded by Valio Oy, 'ÜBERIS_tutkimusyhteistyö' (2024-2028) funded by Vetcare Oy, and 'Uberis: Streptococcus uberis' (2024-2028) funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Her research has been supported by both corporate and governmental funding sources, reflecting the practical application of her work in the dairy industry. She manages the Farm Animal Research Laboratory of the Saari Unit, which supports her research on production animal medicine. Professor Rajala-Schultz is actively involved in Nordic collaborative research on mastitis and has presented her work at numerous international conferences, contributing to the development of evidence-based guidelines for dairy cattle health management across Europe.
Maartje Hooning serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Her research focuses on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes, particularly among BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers, with emphasis on risk assessment, prevention strategies, and long-term health outcomes following cancer treatments. Her primary research interests include breast cancer genetics, ovarian cancer prevention through risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, cardiovascular health in cancer survivors, and pharmacogenomics of breast cancer therapies. She investigates how genetic predispositions interact with cancer treatments to influence long-term morbidity, particularly cardiovascular complications in high-risk populations. Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus bridging oncology, cardiology, and genetics. Key themes include cardiovascular risk assessment after risk-reducing surgeries, post-surgical cancer occurrence patterns in BRCA carriers, and genetic factors influencing treatment response. This work demonstrates her commitment to optimizing survivorship care through precision medicine approaches for hereditary cancer populations. Scientific Recognition: No specific awards were documented in the provided materials. Academic Leadership: Dr. Hooning has supervised 3 research projects or students. She maintains active collaboration within the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Group Netherlands (HEBON), contributing to national consortia studying genetic and environmental factors in breast and ovarian cancer. Her research integrates clinical oncology with cardiovascular medicine to address critical survivorship issues. Research Infrastructure: As a core member of HEBON, she participates in large-scale genomic and epidemiological studies. Her work leverages multi-institutional collaborations across Dutch academic medical centers to investigate cancer risk prediction models and long-term treatment outcomes in genetically predisposed populations.
Brendan Higgins serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering within Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. His research focuses on sustainable biological processes that incorporate algae and bacteria for waste remediation, water quality improvement, and production of high-value products. With funding from organizations including the USDA, NSF, and USGS, Higgins leads innovative projects addressing critical environmental challenges in agriculture and water management. Dr. Higgins received his educational foundation from prestigious institutions, earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, followed by an M.S. in Transportation Technology & Policy and a Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of California-Davis. His academic journey in Davis, California, cultivated his appreciation for environmental protection and sustainability that drives his current research. Ph.D. Biological Systems Engineering, University of California-Davis M.S. Transportation Technology and Policy, University of California-Davis B.S. Civil Engineering, Northwestern University Higgins' research spans multiple innovative areas including poultryponics (recycling poultry processing wastewater for crop irrigation), aquaponics (integrating fish farming with hydroponic crop production), algal cultivation on agricultural wastewaters for animal feed production, and upcycling solid wastes from poultry processing. His laboratory employs advanced analytical techniques including HPLC, LCMS, GCMS, quantitative PCR, and microbial community analysis to investigate organism interactions in biological treatment systems. Analysis of Higgins' recent publications reveals a strong focus on sustainable waste-to-resource conversion, particularly in poultry and aquaculture industries. His work demonstrates expertise in nutrient cycling, pathogen dynamics in food production systems, and developing practical solutions for wastewater treatment that simultaneously create valuable products. The geographical focus on Southeastern US conditions reflects his commitment to regionally relevant solutions for agricultural waste management. Higgins actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in his laboratory, with documented success in guiding students through degree completion and research competitions. His REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides valuable research opportunities for students interested in bioprocessing and waste valorization. Current grants support projects including poultry waste conversion, aquaponics optimization, and drinking water quality research funded by USDA, NSF, USGS, and municipal water utilities. The Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory led by Higgins features capabilities in algae and bacteria cell culture, sterile handling (BSL2 certified), multiple chromatography techniques for metabolite analysis, ion chromatography for nutrient analysis, quantitative PCR, and microbial community analysis. The lab operates pilot-scale systems including the "poultryponics" system for growing lettuce with treated poultry wastewater and one of the largest university-based aquaponics facilities in the country, which supplies produce to campus dining services and local markets.
Kathrin Busch is a biological oceanographer conducting systems-oriented and interdisciplinary environmental research focused on cold and deep marine environments. Her work integrates ecological perspectives with advanced methodological approaches to study microbial communities within "deep-sea forests" formed by sponges and coral reefs. Research Interests: Ecosystem dynamics across spatial-temporal scales Matter fluxes and nutrient cycling Biodiversity assessments of marine microbiomes Abiotic-biotic interactions in extreme environments Biological networks and feedback mechanisms Connectivity in deep-sea ecosystems Methodological Expertise: In situ observational and experimental approaches Molecular ecology techniques Big data management and bioinformatics pipelines Integrative modeling frameworks Advanced data visualization "Digital ocean" technologies
Jeb P. Owen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University, specializing in parasitic disease ecology and vector-host interactions. His research bridges medical entomology with agricultural systems, focusing on how vertebrate immune responses shape arthropod vector dynamics and pathogen transmission. Education: Ph.D. in Medical & Veterinary Entomology (U. California-Riverside, 2007) Current Projects: USDA-funded studies on organic poultry disease ecology, NIH-SEPA HEAL project for STEAM education Research Themes: Ecological immunology of bird-ectoparasite systems, landscape epidemiology, and multidisciplinary science education initiatives. His work addresses USDA-ORG priorities by optimizing organic farming practices through holistic parasite/pathogen analysis. Publications: Over 34 peer-reviewed articles with impact factors ranging from 1.3 to 57, including high-profile journals like Science , Ecology , and Trends in Parasitology . Key findings include host immune tolerance mechanisms in Galápagos mockingbirds and soil-pathogen interactions in poultry environments. Scientific Awards: USDA-NIFA Grant (2017-51106-27026) NIH SEPA Grant #1R25GM129814-01 Shortlisted for Southwood Prize (2020) Student Mentorship: Advises Ph.D. candidates in Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program and Entomology, with alumni including Kendra Weston (2024), Olivia Smith (2019), and Cami Jones (2015). His lab trains students in field ecology, immunology, and science communication. Laboratory Initiatives: The Owen Lab investigates disease systems across wildlife, livestock, and human interfaces. Current projects include landscape-scale parasite transmission modeling, STEAM-based curricula for infectious disease education, and soil microbiome studies for pathogen resistance in organic poultry systems.
Alasdair Cohen, PhD, MPH, MSc is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. His research focuses on environmental epidemiology, drinking water quality, and sanitation in low-income and rural areas. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science from UC Berkeley, an MPH in Epidemiology from UC Berkeley, and an MSc in Water Science from the University of Oxford. Key professional experiences include over 10 years of work with UN agencies (IFAD, FAO, WFP), including leading the development of the Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool (MPAT), a global monitoring tool used across multiple countries. His research integrates environmental health metrics with socioeconomic factors to improve water programs and reduce health disparities. Research interests include wastewater-based surveillance for disease monitoring, household water treatment efficacy, and the intersection of climate change with water access. Recent work examines rural Appalachian drinking water safety, antibiotic resistance in sewer systems, and ethical frameworks for wastewater testing. Published over 40 peer-reviewed articles across environmental health, epidemiology, and development studies. Recipient of grants supporting water quality interventions in India, China, and sub-Saharan Africa. Advisor to global health organizations on water safety plans and poverty assessment methodologies. His lab collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to bridge environmental engineering, public health, and policy-making for equitable water solutions.
Dr. David Crowder is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University (WSU), where he leads the Crowder Laboratory. His research bridges basic and applied ecology, focusing on arthropod community dynamics in agricultural systems, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable pest management strategies. Education: Ph.D., Entomology, University of Arizona (2008) M.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois (2004) B.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois (2003) Research Interests center on understanding how landscape diversity , invasive species , and vector-borne pathogens shape insect communities. His work advances biological control , organic farming practices , and pollinator conservation , with applications for agroecosystem resilience . Google Scholar highlights his 2025 studies on: Biological control of vector-borne plant pathogens Ecological niche modeling for invasive pests Soil rhizobia-plant-insect interactions Bee community responses to farm management Current projects include recruiting PhD students in Entomology and Molecular Plant Sciences , with fieldwork and lab experiments across the Pacific Northwest. Collaborations span plant-insect-pathogen dynamics, pollination networks , and insecticide resistance management .
Renee Boyer is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Food Science & Technology at Virginia Tech, serving as Department Head since 2021. She holds a Ph.D. (2006), M.S. (2002) in Food Science from Virginia Tech, and a B.S. in Biology from Radford University (1999). Her research focuses on pre- and post-harvest interventions to enhance food safety, particularly for fresh produce and food handler education. She leads Virginia's Food Safety Team, developing programs like ServSafe and So Easy to Preserve. Her work addresses pathogen control in produce (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria) and evaluates interventions such as antimicrobial plant extracts and bacteriophage applications. She has authored peer-reviewed studies on food safety practices in retail, deli environments, and agricultural settings. Awards include the 2009 Outstanding Team Award for her Food Safety Team. Extension efforts emphasize consumer education, food pantry safety, and mitigating risks in farmers' markets and food recovery organizations. Key publications span 2002–2023, with recent work on microbial interactions in agricultural soils, phage-based pathogen control, and food handling during the pandemic. She collaborates on food safety education initiatives and compliance with federal regulations like the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
Maria Dimaki is a Senior Researcher at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine. Her research focuses on microfabrication, dielectrophoresis, microfluidics, and biosensing, with contributions to nanotechnology and biomedical engineering. She holds a PhD in Dielectrophoretic Assembly of Carbon Nanotube Devices from DTU (2004), preceded by studies in Engineering and Physical Science at Imperial College London (2001) and Electrical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (2000). Her research interests include developing advanced microfluidic systems for biomedical applications, such as pathogen detection, milk analysis, and neural studies. She has supervised multiple PhD students, including projects on photonic sensors, bacterial viability classification, and milk contaminant detection. Her work aligns with UN SDGs, particularly addressing sustainable health and innovation. Recent publications emphasize microfluidic platforms for PCR, impedance-based cytometry, and nanoscale sensor technologies. She has co-invented methods for improving milk sample analysis and has participated in international conferences on microfluidics and analytical miniaturization. Her lab integrates nanotechnology, biosensors, and biomedical engineering for innovative diagnostic solutions.
Zeba Wunderlich is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Boston University, with an affiliated faculty position in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She holds a PhD in Biophysics from Harvard University and a BA in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Statistics from Rutgers University. Her research focuses on understanding gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in Drosophila, particularly their architecture, robustness, and evolution in developmental and immune contexts. Dr. Wunderlich’s work combines experimental approaches like imaging and genomic measurements with computational models to study GRNs in Drosophila embryonic patterning and innate immunity. She investigates how regulatory DNA variation impacts transcriptional regulation, leveraging both natural sequence diversity and experimental perturbations. Awards: PECASE (2025), Teaching Excellence (2021), Dean’s Honoree (2020), Chancellor’s Research Award (2019), Hellman Fellowship (2017), and NIH K99/R00 (2012). Advising: Mentors PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students in Biology, BME, and related programs. Alumni hold positions at top institutions such as Emory, UCSF, and Harvard. Labs/Teams: Leads the Wunderlich Lab, integrating experimental and computational methods to study GRNs.
Robert Hunter is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in the development of advanced biosensors and analytical platforms for medical diagnostics and biomedical applications. His research focuses on integrating nanotechnology and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the early detection of diseases such as ovarian cancer, bacterial infections, and viral pathogens. He has pioneered work on exosome-based biosensors, light-triggered antimicrobial surfaces, and optofluidic diagnostic systems. Key research interests include the application of machine learning algorithms to biomedical spectral data, the design of electrochemical sensors for on-farm livestock health monitoring, and the use of C. elegans as a model organism for drug discovery. His interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering, chemistry, and biology to address challenges in precision medicine and rapid diagnostics. As a Full-time Faculty member, Dr. Hunter contributes to teaching and research in cutting-edge technologies, with a focus on translating laboratory innovations into practical clinical and agricultural solutions.
Dr. Christina Boucher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on bioinformatics, with a particular emphasis on developing algorithms and software for genomic data analysis, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and metagenomics. She is known for her contributions to succinct data structures and alignment methods, and her work on tools like MEGARes and AMRPlusPlus has significantly impacted antibiotic resistance classification. Dr. Boucher holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where she was supported by prestigious awards including the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship and NSERC Fellowships. Her research interests span computational genomics, algorithm design, and software development for high-throughput sequencing. She has pioneered methods for pangenome indexing, long-read haplotype reconstruction, and portable metagenomics analysis. Dr. Boucher actively promotes diversity in bioinformatics through her roles on committees such as the NSF Research Traineeships Program advisory board and the University of Florida’s Implicit Bias committee. Key Awards: ESA 2016 Best Paper Award, NSERC Doctoral Award, Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Software Contributions: MEGARes, AMRPlusPlus, METAMarc, Moni Professional Roles: NIH BDMA Study Section Standing Member, Board Member of SIG BIO Dr. Boucher’s publications reflect a blend of algorithmic innovation and applied genomic research. Recent work addresses challenges in portable sequencing device security, resistome-mobilome colocalization detection, and high-accuracy assembly polishing. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span microbiology, veterinary medicine, and clinical sciences, underscoring the translational impact of her computational approaches. Her teaching and mentorship efforts focus on curriculum development and fostering inclusive environments in STEM. She has been a key figure in advancing computational tools for antimicrobial resistance monitoring and has contributed to NIH-funded initiatives aimed at improving antibiotic therapy through causal modeling techniques.
