John Volckens is Professor and Director of the Center for Energy Development and Health at Colorado State University, with joint appointments in Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Health, and Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on air quality, low-cost sensors, exposure science, and air pollution-related diseases. He leads the CSU Partnership for Air Quality, Climate, and Health, developing science-based solutions to environmental health challenges. His work has secured over $20M in research funding from agencies including US EPA, NIH, CDC, and NASA. Major awards include the George T. Abell Outstanding Faculty Researcher Award (2017), NASA Earth Space Air Prize Finalist (2018), and David L. Swift Award for Best Paper (2017, 2021). His research on respiratory protection and air quality monitoring has significant public health implications. Dr. Volckens teaches courses on aerosol physics, mechanical engineering data analysis, and environmental health. He founded Access Sensor Technologies, a CSU spin-off company developing environmental diagnostic tools deployed globally.
Adrianna Szczepaniec is an Associate Professor of Horticultural Entomology at Colorado State University's College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agricultural Biology. Her research focuses on sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for crops like industrial hemp, quinoa, and chili peppers. She leads the Szczepaniec Lab, which investigates plant-insect interactions to enhance crop resistance mechanisms. Current projects include managing pests of emerging crops such as hemp russet mites and the stem-boring fly Amauromyza karli in quinoa. The lab emphasizes applying molecular and field-based approaches to develop ecologically sound pest control methods. Her academic contributions span over 50 publications, with recent work highlighting indirect plant defenses, aphid population dynamics, and biological control agents. She supervises a dynamic team of graduate and undergraduate students involved in projects like alfalfa mosaic virus management in chili peppers and endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents. Notable collaborations include developing IPM programs for hemp and quinoa pests, addressing climate-resilient crop systems in Colorado's urban forests. Education: Doctorate in Entomology (not explicitly stated in provided texts). Labs/Teams: Szczepaniec Lab, Colorado Center for Sustainable Pest Management. Awards: Lab members have received awards including the William M. Brown Professional Development Award and ESA Student Competitions. Grants: Collaborative projects funded by agricultural research initiatives (specific grants not listed). Her work bridges basic and applied research, with a focus on translating plant defense mechanisms into practical pest management solutions. Contributions extend to training future scientists through mentoring and outreach, including the Apply Now program for hands-on agricultural education.
Conjoint Associate Professor Roslyn Hickson serves as Science Leader for Emerging Infectious Diseases through a joint appointment between James Cook University and CSIRO. She holds affiliations with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), Centre for Tropical Biosecurity (CTB), Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS), WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Borne Diseases, and previously with the University of Melbourne's School of Mathematics and Statistics. PhD in Engineering (Heat/Mass Transfer), UNSW Canberra 2010 Research Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (ANU) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Newcastle (2011-2014) Research Scientist, IBM Research Australia (2014-2018) Research Fellow, Australian Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination (University of Melbourne, 2018) Her research program focuses on mathematical modeling of infectious disease transmission with emphasis on emerging pathogens, zoonotic spillover events, and vector-borne diseases through One Health and biosecurity frameworks. She develops quantitative tools for risk assessment, surveillance optimization, and policy evaluation across Australian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Island contexts. Current projects integrate ecological niche modeling, behavioral epidemiology, and multi-scale transmission dynamics to address challenges in pandemic preparedness and tropical disease control. Analysis of her 28 publications reveals consistent focus on mathematical frameworks applicable to real-world health security challenges. Her work spans influenza, dengue, malaria (particularly Plasmodium vivax), Japanese encephalitis, and bat-borne pathogens, with increasing emphasis on model reproducibility and policy translation since the COVID-19 pandemic. Key methodological contributions include multiscale modeling approaches, behavior-disease interaction frameworks, and spillover risk prediction systems. Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2018) ITS Award for Excellence in Research and Development (2020) Ria de Groot Prize for best female postgraduate student (2010) Two-time EmTech Asia Innovators Under 35 Finalist (2016, 2017) Corporate Social Responsibility Award (2017) As primary advisor for five doctoral candidates and multiple honours students, she supervises research on bat-pathogen ecology, feral pig zoonoses, and wildlife disease dynamics. Her committee service includes PREZODE international working group, Biosecurity Commons Advisory Panel, and editorial roles for BMC Infectious Diseases. Current research integrates ecological modeling with public health decision support systems through partnerships with WHO, CSIRO, and regional health authorities across the Indo-Pacific.
Dr. Xinhui Li is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, specializing in food microbiology with research focused on antibiotic resistance in food chains and inactivation of foodborne viruses. She holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (2011) and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Delaware. Research areas include: Antibiotic resistance transmission in food systems Inactivation methods for noroviruses and other pathogens Emerging food safety technologies Microbial contamination in fresh produce Industrial fermentation microbiology Current projects investigate antibacterial/antiviral nanocomposites and hybrid training for small-scale food processors, supported by WiSys-Ignite and USDA grants. Her laboratory employs molecular, genomic, and biochemical approaches to address food safety challenges. Dr. Li teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Fundamentals of Microbiology, Food Microbiology, and Industrial Fermentation. She has been recognized as a Wisconsin Teaching Fellow (2024) and received USDA-NIFA funding for assessing antibiotic resistance in vegetable supply chains.
Christopher Whipps is a Professor and Faculty Director of the SUNY Center for Applied Microbiology at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). His research focuses on parasitology, microbiology, and infectious diseases in aquatic and wildlife systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology (Oregon State University, 2004) and a B.Sc. in Biology (University of Victoria, 1997). His work includes studies on myxozoan parasites, mycobacterial infections in zebrafish, and emerging zoonotic pathogens like Echinococcus multilocularis. He teaches courses in parasitology, molecular biology techniques, and biotechnology. Recent research highlights include investigations into wildlife disease dynamics and conservation biology implications. Whipps advises graduate students in environmental and forest biology, with current advisee Peter Foley focusing on MPS research. His lab explores pathogen transmission in aquatic systems and wildlife health, supported by grants addressing emerging infections and disease ecology. He maintains an active collaboration network in microbiology, parasitology, and conservation science.
David Champredon is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McMaster University, Canada. His research focuses on mathematical epidemiology, particularly in modeling viral infections, public health surveillance, and pandemic preparedness. He has contributed to studies on SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other infectious diseases, with a strong emphasis on integrating wastewater-based epidemiological data into transmission models. His work bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in public health policy, such as evaluating non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccine efficacy. Key affiliations include collaborations with the Public Health Agency of Canada and academic institutions. His research spans topics like reproduction number estimation, antigenic drift analysis, and the role of social determinants in infectious disease spread. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work addressing the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and wastewater surveillance methodologies. Champredon’s contributions extend to software development, including the 'ern' R package for epidemiological modeling. His interdisciplinary approach combines biostatistics, genomics, and environmental science to address pressing public health challenges.
Prof. Lorenzo Pellis is a Professor of Mathematical Biology and Statistics at the University of Manchester’s School of Mathematics. His research focuses on infectious disease dynamics, particularly using mathematical models to understand transmission patterns, pathogen evolution, and public health interventions. He holds a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship and leads projects on multi-scale epidemiological models, including co-infection dynamics. His work integrates ordinary differential equations, stochastic simulations, and Bayesian statistical methods to inform policy, such as pandemic response strategies for SARS-CoV-2 variants. He collaborates with institutions like the UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London, and his research bridges theoretical models with real-world data analysis. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemic Models from Imperial College London 4-year degree in Mathematics from Università di Trieste Research Interests: Pellis specializes in modeling infectious diseases within socially structured populations, including household and age-based networks. His current projects address: Multi-scale models linking within-host viral dynamics to population-level transmission Statistical methods for parameter estimation in epidemiological models Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron and their impact on vaccination strategies Key Projects: Lead researcher in the Mathematical Epidemiology Group at Manchester Collaborative work on UK Health Security Agency’s pandemic response models Development of consensus forecasting tools for hospital admissions during the pandemic Labs/Teams: He contributes to interdisciplinary teams at Manchester, Warwick, and Imperial College, focusing on computational epidemiology and data-driven public health strategies.
Dr. Benjamin Matthews is an Assistant Professor in Zoology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Science. He is affiliated with the Biodiversity Research Centre and focuses on understanding the genomic and neurobiological basis of adaptive behaviors in mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, which transmit diseases like Dengue and Zika. His lab employs techniques including genomics, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and neurobiological assays to study blood-feeding, egg-laying preferences, and sensory mechanisms. Research interests center on vector biology, sensory systems, and behavioral genetics. Key topics include mosquito host-seeking behavior, olfactory and thermal sensing, and the genetic underpinnings of oviposition. Matthews' work has advanced CRISPR-based tools for editing mosquito genomes and quantifying behavioral traits like egg-laying site selection. Recent publications highlight innovations in gene editing validation, sensory compensation in host attraction, and the molecular basis of oviposition behavior. His studies also address ecological concerns, such as invasive mosquito species in Canada and the evolution of blood-feeding adaptations. Matthews collaborates on interdisciplinary projects bridging genetics, ecology, and public health. He leads a lab at UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre (2212 Main Mall, Vancouver), emphasizing both fundamental research and applied strategies for vector control. His work contributes to understanding how environmental and genetic factors shape vector competence and disease transmission dynamics.
Lars Dreier is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in UCLA's Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine. His research bridges biophysics and neurobiology, focusing on protein dynamics, mitochondrial autophagy, and synaptic mechanisms using C. elegans models. Research explores ubiquitin-mediated protein regulation in neurodegeneration. Key investigations include: F-box proteins in GABAergic neurotransmission, VDAC-Parkin interactions in mitophagy, and ALS-linked SOD1 aggregation. Methodological expertise in NMR spectroscopy underpins quantitative biomolecular analysis. Publications demonstrate neurobiological applications of model organisms. Recent work focuses on pathogenic mechanisms in Parkinson's and ALS.
Dr Michael Waller is a Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics at The University of Queensland's School of Public Health, affiliated with the Australian Women's and Girls' Health Research Centre. His research focuses on dementia epidemiology, statistical methodology, and linked data analysis, particularly through the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). He has extensive experience in cancer screening and military health studies, including analyses of deployment-related health outcomes and antimicrobial resistance. Education : BSc (Hons) from University of Liverpool, MSc from University College London, PhD from The University of Queensland. Research Interests : Dementia rates and risk factors using linked datasets, biostatistical methods, and public health surveillance. Projects include assessing dementia prevalence via administrative data and evaluating health policies around sugar taxes. Publications : Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work addressing bloodstream infections, military-related skin infections, and longitudinal studies on mental health among burn survivors. His articles span infectious diseases, military health, and epidemiological modeling. Awards : Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. Advising & Grants : No specific grants or supervisees listed in available texts. Labs/Teams : Collaborates with the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health team and military health research groups.
Lindy McBride is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in Princeton University's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute. Her lab studies the genomic and neural basis of behavioral evolution in mosquitoes, focusing on adaptations to human hosts that enable disease transmission. Research integrates evolutionary genomics, neurophysiology, and field ecology to understand host-seeking behaviors. Her research examines: 1) Molecular basis of host preference evolution, 2) Neural coding of human odor signatures, 3) Genomic adaptations in disease vectors, and 4) Ecological drivers of anthropophilic specialization. Current projects use CRISPR-based neural imaging and single-cell transcriptomics. Recent publications in Nature and eLife explore olfactory coding mechanisms and the evolutionary history of human-biting mosquitoes. Studies combine electrophysiology, comparative genomics, and behavioral assays across mosquito populations. She has received the NIH New Innovator Award, Pew Scholarship, and Princeton's Graduate Mentoring Award. She serves on editorial boards of Journal of Consumer Policy and Journal of Public Policy and Marketing. Lab members include postdoctoral researchers studying olfactory processing and graduate students investigating neural circuit evolution. The lab maintains field sites across multiple continents and collaborates with Rockefeller University and NIH.
Dr. Elizabeth 'Betz' Halloran is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Washington and an Adjunct Professor in Applied Mathematics. She leads the Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology (BBE) Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division. Her roles include directing the Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) and the Center for Inference and Dynamics of Infectious Diseases (CIDID), which advises federal responses to outbreaks. Affiliations: School of Public Health, University of Washington; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Education: MD (Freie Universität Berlin), MPH and DSc (Harvard University), BS (University of Oregon) Her research focuses on vaccine trial design, causal inference in infectious diseases, and modeling strategies to mitigate outbreaks of threats like Ebola, Zika, and influenza. She has pioneered methods for evaluating direct and indirect vaccine effects, contributing to global public health strategies. Key Achievements: Elected to the National Academy of Medicine (2019) Recipient of the Nathan Mantel Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) Developed statistical frameworks for analyzing vaccine efficacy in populations Her work spans collaborations with institutions like NIH, WHO, and universities worldwide. She advises on pandemic preparedness, including modeling SARS-CoV-2 transmission and vaccine strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matthew Wascher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics at Case Western Reserve University. He is affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and holds office locations at 2145 Adelbert Rd. and Sears 5th Floor. His research focuses on infectious disease modeling , interacting particle systems , phylogenetics , and mathematical biology , with applications to epidemiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. His work spans theoretical and applied domains, including projections of pandemic impacts, freeze tolerance mechanisms in organisms, and statistical methods for disease transmission analysis. Notable contributions include frameworks for environmental pathogen surveillance and methods to correct biases in disease prevalence estimates. His research also addresses vaccination group dynamics and survival analysis in epidemics. Wascher’s articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches, combining mathematical modeling with biological systems to address challenges in public health, organismal physiology, and evolutionary genetics. Despite prolific output, no scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided materials. He currently advises no listed students but collaborates on projects involving university outbreaks, species tree inference, and integrative biochemical studies. His lab or team affiliations are not detailed here, though his work suggests involvement in collaborative networks focused on mathematical biology and infectious disease systems.
Emanuele Giorgi is a Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics at Lancaster Medical School, part of Lancaster University's Faculty of Health and Medicine. His work focuses on applying advanced statistical methods to public health challenges, particularly in the context of neglected tropical diseases and infectious disease control. Giorgi leads research projects that integrate geostatistical modeling, spatial epidemiology, and clinical data analysis to inform global health policies. His research group develops innovative methodologies for disease surveillance, including applications in malaria, leptospirosis, and lymphatic filariasis. Key areas of focus include early warning systems for disease outbreaks, evaluation of mass drug administration programs, and modeling human mobility patterns to predict transmission dynamics. Giorgi collaborates with international organizations to design cost-effective intervention strategies using data-driven approaches. Giorgi supervises PhD students such as Freya Clark and Jana Purkiss, whose work spans biostatistical methodologies and their applications in global health. He is actively involved in research groups focused on model-based geostatistics, tropical disease elimination, and health systems analysis. His lab has developed user-friendly tools like Maplaria and MBGapp to democratize access to spatial health data analysis. Giorgi has pioneered the use of covariate-informed geostatistical models for disease prevalence mapping, enabling more precise targeting of public health interventions. His recent work addresses the impact of environmental determinants, urbanization, and climate change on disease distribution. Despite his prolific output, no scientific awards were explicitly mentioned in the provided texts.
Professor Denise M. Krol is a materials scientist at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the UC Davis College of Engineering. Her research focuses on femtosecond laser processing of optical materials, particularly in ternary zinc phosphate glasses and fused silica. Key interests include nanostructuring, waveguide fabrication, and applications in bio-sensing, data storage, and optical signal processing. She explores laser-material interactions at ultrafast timescales, plasma dynamics, and structural modifications induced by femtosecond pulses. Her work spans from fundamental studies of warm dense matter in silicon dioxide to applied projects like fiber Bragg gratings and semiconductor-doped glasses. Recent projects investigate hydrogen loading effects and compositional impacts on laser-induced defects, while earlier contributions include pioneering femtosecond laser writing techniques for photonic structures. Prof. Krol has also applied Raman spectroscopy and laser tweezers to microbiological studies, analyzing bacterial responses to antibiotics. Publications highlight her expertise in ultrafast laser-material interactions, structural characterization of modified materials, and the development of novel optical devices. Current research integrates semiconductor nanoparticles into glass matrices for advanced photonic applications. She maintains an active lab group focused on femtosecond laser processing and spectroscopic analysis, with collaborations in both academia and industry.
