Prof. Dr. Markus Schwarzländer leads the Arbeitsgruppe for Plant Energy Biology at the Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology (WWU Münster) . His research focuses on mitochondrial physiology, redox signaling, and biosensor development in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plant species, integrating molecular biology with systems-level analyses to understand energy regulation. Key Research Areas: Mitochondrial-NAD(P)H dynamics Redox-regulated signaling networks Organelle communication Stress-adaptive metabolism Recent work highlights Golgi-localized mitochondrial uncoupling proteins , chloroplast-mitochondria redox coupling , and mitochondrial calcium uniporter function . His group employs cutting-edge fluorescent biosensors and proteomic approaches to dissect energy physiology. Students benefit from hands-on training in bioimaging , metabolic modeling , and organelle biology through iMoPLANT and Life Sciences programs. Scientific Awards: DAAD Fellowship (2019) As an active member of the Faculty of Biology , he collaborates with international institutions including University of São Paulo , CEA France , and Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology , while maintaining a robust publication record in top journals like Plant Cell and Nature . His teaching emphasizes integrative plant sciences and advanced biosensing techniques for B.Sc. and M.Sc. students.
Megan L. Matthews is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences, where she leads an active research group focused on chemical biology and enzymology. Her lab develops innovative chemical proteomics technologies to uncover novel enzyme cofactors and regulatory post-translational modifications, particularly those involving reactive electrophiles, which cannot be predicted from genomic sequences. B.S. in Chemistry, Miami University (2005) Ph.D. in Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University (2011) Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute (2012–2017) Her research centers on the concept of the 'electrophilome'—a largely unexplored half of the reactive proteome. By designing 'reverse-polarity' chemical probes, her group enables the discovery of functionally significant electrophilic modifications in proteins, especially those involved in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. These discoveries open new avenues for therapeutic intervention through covalent targeting. The recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on enzyme mechanisms, cofactor discovery, and chemical probe development. Her work spans from fundamental enzymology (e.g., halogenases, ribonucleotide reductases) to applied chemical biology (e.g., hydrazine probes, chemoproteomic profiling). The keywords across her publications highlight emerging themes in metalloenzymes, radical chemistry, and covalent proteome mapping. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious fellowships, including the Merck Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship. She has published in top-tier journals such as Nature , Nature Chemical Biology , and Journal of the American Chemical Society . Dr. Matthews advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in her lab, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Her lab emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in scientific discovery. She has secured research funding to support projects in probe development, target characterization, and disease mechanism studies, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The Matthews Lab is actively engaged in advancing reverse-polarity activity-based protein profiling (RP-ABPP) for in vivo applications and inhibitor screening. The group collaborates with experts in structural biology, spectroscopy, and disease modeling to translate basic discoveries into therapeutic insights.
Jens S. Andersen is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, where he leads research in Biomedical Mass Spectrometry and Systems Biology. His work is centered on the development and application of quantitative mass spectrometry and microscopy-based proteomics to study human cell biology, particularly the structure and function of organelles such as centrosomes, cilia, autophagosomes, and mitochondria. His research focuses on determining the protein composition and dynamic properties of cellular organelles, the roles of specific protein groups, and their contributions to biological processes and diseases. He investigates cell signaling mediated by post-translational modifications, especially within the DNA damage response, autophagy, and immune systems. His lab, the Jens S. Andersen Lab, is part of the Research Section of Biomedical Mass Spectrometry. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary trend combining proteomics, structural biology, and cell signaling. His work spans cilia biology, RNA metabolism, DNA repair, and cancer mechanisms, with frequent use of advanced techniques like mass spectrometry, CRISPR, and live-cell imaging. The integration of systems biology approaches is evident across his research outputs. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark Head of Research, Biomedical Mass Spectrometry and Systems Biology Principal Investigator, Jens S. Andersen Lab ORCID: 0000-0002-6091-140X While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided texts, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals such as Science , Nature Communications , Molecular Cell , and EMBO Journal reflects significant scholarly contributions. He has supervised research projects and collaborated widely across Europe, though specific names of students are not listed. His research is supported by multiple ongoing projects, reflecting sustained funding and academic leadership. The Jens S. Andersen Lab operates at the intersection of proteomics and cell biology, contributing to fundamental understanding of organelle dynamics and disease mechanisms. The lab's work is highly collaborative, involving partnerships with groups in structural biology, RNA research, and cancer biology.
Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), leading research at the Cell Diversity Lab. His work bridges proteomics, computational biology, and snake venom research. Current projects: "The Proteomic Landscape during Influenza Infection" (2022-2025) Supervisor for PhD projects on protease network rewiring in psoriasis and wound exudate degradomics Research interests include: Proteomic analysis of inflammatory diseases Snake venom toxin structure prediction Extracellular matrix biomechanics De novo peptide sequencing algorithms Computational modeling of protease networks Recent article trends demonstrate his work in • Database-free proteomics (InstaNovo/InstaNexus) • Snake venom pathophysiology (V-ToCs clustering) • Inflammatory disease biomarkers (psoriasis, impaired healing) • Extracellular matrix mechanics (fibronectin tension, gut inflammation) Advising: Supervises PhD students Polhaus, C. J. M. and Haack, A. M., focusing on protease networks and wound healing.
Jeff Schorey is the George B. Craig Jr. Professor and a full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been a faculty member since 2004. He currently serves as Director of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) graduate program and previously held leadership roles including Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Associate Director of the Eck Institute for Global Health. His research focuses on the pathobiology of mycobacterial diseases, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium . His work investigates the molecular interactions between mycobacteria and host macrophages, with a special emphasis on the role of exosomes in immune modulation, diagnostics, and vaccine development. He also explores novel antibiotic development in collaboration with chemists at Notre Dame and global partners. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in extracellular vesicle biology, host-pathogen signaling, and translational applications in TB diagnostics and treatment. The articles span immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology, with recurring themes in exosome function, RNA sensing, and antimicrobial development. George B. Craig Jr. Collegiate Professor Dr. Schorey has advised graduate students and leads an active research lab focused on mycobacterial pathogenesis. His work is supported by collaborations across disciplines and institutions, particularly in drug development and clinical translation. He has contributed significantly to understanding how exosomes can serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic tools. His lab employs cellular immunology, animal models, and clinical sample analysis to study mycobacterial infections. He leads the IBMS program, shaping graduate education in biomedical sciences at Notre Dame.
Matthias Barz is a Professor of Biotherapeutic Delivery at the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) , Faculty of Science , Leiden University . He leads the Barz Lab , focusing on polymer science and biomedical applications of functional nanoparticles. Professor of Biotherapeutic Delivery (Leiden University) Head of the Division of BioTherapeutics Researcher in reactive polymer systems and nanocarrier design His research bridges polymer chemistry with biomedical applications, emphasizing polypept(o)ide-based nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Key areas include: Stimuli-responsive polymer architectures Secondary structure-driven self-assembly Core-crosslinked micelles for controlled cargo release Redox-sensitive disulfide bonds for intracellular delivery Protein-repellent nanoparticle shells Riboflavin-functionalized nanocarriers for tumor targeting The lab's publications highlight advancements in polysarcosine-containing copolymers , orthogonal functional group utilization , and modular nanoparticle platforms with precise control over morphology and function. Current projects explore the clinical translation of these systems for immunotherapy and diagnostics. Scientific recognition includes: Dozentenpreis des Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (2018) PMSE Young Investigator Award (2018) Nachwuchswissenschaftlerstipendium der GDCh (2017) His team trains graduate students in polymer synthesis, nanoparticle characterization, and biomedical application testing. Collaborations span institutions like the University of Tokyo and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , with ongoing projects under the SFB 1066 initiative for malignant melanoma immunotherapy.
Kathrin Lang is a Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, and Head of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory. Her research focuses on chemical biology, particularly the development of tools for genetic code expansion to incorporate non-canonical amino acids into proteins and advance bioorthogonal chemistries for studying biological processes. Keywords: Genetic Code Expansion, Bioorthogonal Chemistry, Protein Engineering, Ubiquitylation Networks, Post-Translational Modifications. Lang’s work emphasizes proximity-triggered crosslinking reactions, bioorthogonal labeling, and in vivo chemistries to address challenges in protein interaction mapping and structural elucidation. Her group’s recent publications highlight methodologies for dual protein labeling, deciphering ubiquitin code, and enhancing cycloaddition reactivity. Current projects include exploring cyclopropene-fused dibenzocyclooctynes for improved labeling and investigating methylated lysine as a conformational regulator in Hsp90. Funding sources include the ERC (Ubl-tool), DFG (SFB1035, SPP1926), and ETH Zurich. She contributes to education through courses like Genetic Code Expansion for Studying Posttranslational Modifications and Chemical Biology and Synthetic Biochemistry . Collaborative efforts span structural biology, microbiology, and synthetic biochemistry, with applications in ubiquitin research and cellular imaging.
Dr. Jacques Archambault is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University , and an associate member of the Division of Experimental Medicine since 2016. His research focuses on the molecular biology and pathogenesis of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and polyomaviruses (HPyVs), with an emphasis on their replication mechanisms as episomes in host cells. The Archambault laboratory employs functional genomics, proteomics, and chemical biology approaches to identify cellular pathways exploited by these viruses and develop high-throughput assays for screening small molecule inhibitors of viral replication. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on HPV and HPyV replication machinery, including studies on the E1 helicase, UAF1-USP1 interactions, and structural characterization of viral proteins involved in DNA replication. His work bridges virology, oncology, and drug discovery, particularly targeting oncogenic HPV types implicated in anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as HPyVs like BKPyV and JCPyV that cause pathologies in immunosuppressed patients. Current efforts in the lab aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which HPVs and HPyVs replicate their genomes and to develop antiviral therapies targeting these processes. Techniques such as fluorescence anisotropy, NMR spectroscopy, and crystallography are frequently employed to study protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions critical to viral replication.
Professor Richelle Mychasiuk, affiliated with the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney, specializes in Sleep Biology and the neurobiological impacts of early life experiences. Her research focuses on how perinatal trauma and adverse childhood events shape neurodevelopment, increasing susceptibility to sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and post-concussive symptomologies in adolescents, with a particular emphasis on sex differences. Education: PhD in Neuroscience Her work explores mechanisms by which early life stressors "under the skin" to alter neuroplasticity and microbiome-gut-brain interactions. She co-founded The GIN hub, integrating Gastroenterology, Immunology, and Neuroscience to study complex chronic disease models. Recent articles highlight her contributions to understanding dietary influences on pain, epigenetic modifications, microbiome depletion effects, and neurovascular interventions in TBI models. Grants: 2025 FMH Start-up Scheme (Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney) Collaborations: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney; clinical research partnerships for translational studies.
Emmanuel Stamatakis is a Professor of Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Population Health at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health). He holds NHMRC Leadership Fellowships (2021-2025 and 2026-2030) and leads the Charles Perkins Centre's Physical Activity & Exercise Theme. His research focuses on lifestyle behaviors' impacts on cardiometabolic conditions, cancer, and cardiovascular health, using large-scale cohort studies and wearable device data. Key roles include directing the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub and co-chairing WHO's Physical Activity Guidelines Development Group. Education: PhD from University of Bristol (2003), post-doctoral training at University College London. He leads the ProPASS consortium, involving 45 cohorts with wearable data. Over 460 peer-reviewed publications, including Clarivate's Highly Cited list since 2019. Research interests integrate physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep analytics with clinical outcomes. Current projects explore wearables-based measurement innovations, SPAN (sleep-physical activity-nutrition) synergies, and intervention designs for GLP-1 receptor agonist users. Recent articles emphasize VILPA (vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity) benefits, sleep-cardiovascular links, and multimodal lifestyle optimization. Awards include Australia's Top Researcher in Sports Medicine and multiple NHMRC grants. Supervises PhD projects on physical activity measurement and intervention design. Active in 50+ peer-reviewed journals and national/international funding bodies.
James Shorter is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He is affiliated with multiple prestigious institutes, including the Institute on Aging (IOA), the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT), the Penn Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the Chemistry-Biology Interface (CBI), and the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. He mentors several training programs such as the Penn Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP), PennPREP, and the Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP), and serves as a Primary Trainer at the Center for Neurodegenerative Research (CNDR). Ph.D. in Cell Biology, University of London, 2000 M.A. in Biology, University of Oxford, 1995 Dr. Shorter’s research focuses on protein homeostasis, particularly the mechanisms of protein disaggregation and the role of prion-like domains in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. His lab investigates the Hsp104 disaggregase from yeast and has engineered variants to combat human proteinopathies. They also identified the mammalian disaggregase system (Hsp110/Hsp70/Hsp40) and explore how small molecules and nuclear import receptors can reverse pathological phase transitions of RNA-binding proteins like TDP-43 and FUS. His work bridges structural biology, genetics, and translational neuroscience. His recent publications highlight trends in targeting TDP-43 and FUS proteinopathies, engineering Hsp104 for selective detoxification, understanding mitochondrial disaggregases like Skd3, and modulating phase transitions with nuclear import receptors. His research spans from fundamental mechanisms of protein folding to therapeutic development for neurodegenerative diseases. Faculty Member, Institute on Aging (IOA) Faculty Member, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) Mentor, Penn Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) Primary Trainer, Center for Neurodegenerative Research (CNDR) Faculty Member, Penn Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Member, Penn Institute for RNA Innovation Mentor, Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP) Dr. Shorter advises numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Cell and Molecular Biology graduate groups. His lab receives funding from NIH and other sources to support research on protein disaggregation, phase separation, and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. He has trained many scientists now active in academia and biotech. His lab, located in Stellar-Chance Laboratories, operates at the intersection of biochemistry, cell biology, and translational medicine, with active projects on Hsp104 engineering, mitochondrial proteostasis, and the role of RNA-binding proteins in disease. The lab collaborates widely across Penn and with international partners to advance understanding and treatment of protein misfolding disorders.
Dr. Xi Chen is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. His research spans carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, and cancer biology, with notable contributions to chemoenzymatic methods for glycoconjugate synthesis. Dr. Chen's work focuses on developing hybrid chemical-enzymatic approaches to synthesize complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, characterizing glycosyltransferase mechanisms, and designing enzyme mutants for improved catalysis. He also investigates carbohydrate-based diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly in cancer and inflammatory diseases. His recent publications highlight interdisciplinary studies linking carbohydrate metabolism to p53 tumor suppression pathways and RNA-binding protein regulation in cancer. Awards include AAAS Fellow (2015), ACS Isbell Award (2012), and NSF CAREER Award (2006). He earned his Ph.D. at Wayne State University (2000) and B.S. at Xiamen University (1994). Scientific Awards American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2015) Dean's Team Award for Excellence (2013) Carbohydrate Research Award for Creativity (2013) ACS CARB Horace S. Isbell Award (2012)
Rafael Brüschweiler is a Professor and Ohio Research Scholar at The Ohio State University, holding joint appointments in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology. He serves as the NMR Executive Director for the Ohio State Campus Chemical Instrument Center and the NSF-funded National Gateway Ultrahigh Field NMR Center. His research focuses on biophysical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and computational modeling, emphasizing protein dynamics, metabolomics, and NMR method development. He received his Ph.D. from ETH Zurich and completed a postdoc at the Scripps Research Institute. His research integrates experimental NMR, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning to study protein structure-function relationships, metabolic pathways, and biomolecular interactions. Key areas include the dynamics of oncogenic K-Ras, glucokinase glucose sensing, and nanoparticle-assisted NMR techniques. His work is funded by the NIH and NSF, with applications in biomedical diagnostics and drug discovery. Dr. Brüschweiler leads a multidisciplinary lab training students and postdocs in NMR spectroscopy, computational methods, and metabolomics. His lab developed tools like DEEP picker and COLMAR for automated NMR data analysis, contributing to the SECIM metabolomics center. He actively recruits students interested in protein dynamics, computational modeling, or metabolomics.
Dr. Christina Leslie is a Research Professor and Member of the Computational & Systems Biology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). She leads an active research laboratory focused on developing computational approaches to understand complex biological systems. Dr. Leslie earned her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and has established herself as a leading computational biologist in cancer research and immunology. Computational & Systems Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Leslie's research focuses on developing novel computational methods to study cellular biological systems from a global and data-driven perspective. Her lab exploits diverse high-throughput functional and genomic data to understand molecular networks underlying fundamental cellular processes, including transcription regulation, pre-mRNA processing, signaling, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Her algorithmic methods draw heavily on machine learning to build accurate predictive models from noisy and high-dimensional biological data. Key areas of interest include modeling cell-type specific transcriptional programs and dissecting co- and post-transcriptional regulation, particularly microRNA-mediated gene regulation. Analysis of Dr. Leslie's publication record over the last five years reveals a strong focus on computational approaches to cancer genomics, immunology, and epigenetics. Her work bridges multiple disciplines, with a particular emphasis on developing machine learning methods to interpret complex biological data. The publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in integrating multiple data types (genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic) to understand cancer biology and immune responses. Recent work shows a growing emphasis on single-cell technologies and spatial analysis of tumor microenvironments. Introduction of string kernel methodology for SVM classification of biological sequences Development of algorithms for predictive modeling of gene regulation First systems-level analyses of competition between microRNAs and between target transcripts Dr. Leslie actively mentors numerous graduate students and research associates, with current lab members including Vianne Gao, Alireza Karbalaghareh, Erik Ladewig, and several others. Her lab has received significant research funding to support their work on computational approaches to cancer biology and immunology. The Leslie Lab maintains close collaborations with multiple experimental groups at MSK, facilitating the translation of computational insights into biological understanding. The Leslie Lab operates within the Computational & Systems Biology Program at MSK, with strong ties to both the research and clinical missions of the institution. The lab maintains state-of-the-art computational infrastructure for analyzing large-scale genomic and proteomic datasets and collaborates extensively with wet-lab researchers to validate computational predictions experimentally.
Kristina Schoonjans is an Associate Professor at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences, where she leads the Laboratory of Metabolic Signaling (UPSCHOONJANS). Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of bile acid signaling, nutrient sensing, and intermediary metabolism, particularly in the context of metabolic disorders such as obesity, fatty liver disease, and cancer. She investigates how the liver-gut-brain axis integrates metabolic signals through nuclear receptors and mitochondrial dynamics. Her research interests include: Bile acid signaling and its role as a hormonal regulator Nutrient and metabolite sensing in energy homeostasis Intermediary metabolism and metabolic disorders Role of nuclear receptors (e.g., TGR5, LRH-1) in liver, gut, and adipose tissue Mitochondrial dynamics and fission in metabolic regulation Organoid models for studying liver and intestinal metabolism Systems genetics using BXD mouse populations The most recent articles highlight a strong focus on bile acid signaling, particularly through TGR5 and LRH-1, in regulating metabolic health. Themes include the conversion of white fat to beige fat (beiging), hepatic tumorigenesis, mitochondrial fission, and the use of organoid and genetically engineered mouse models. There is a consistent emphasis on translational applications for obesity, fatty liver disease, and cancer. Scientific honors include: Windaus Prize from the Dr. Falk Foundation (2010, shared with Johan Auwerx) for the discovery of the signaling/endocrine function of bile acids Prof. Schoonjans actively supervises PhD students and has advised numerous doctoral candidates who have since completed their theses. Her lab is supported by multiple grants from Swiss and international funding agencies, including the Swiss National Science Foundation, EPFL, CONACYT, and the Foundation for Health and Education. She teaches in several doctoral programs at EPFL, including Life Sciences Engineering, and contributes to education through the SSV and EDBB/EDCB/EDMS-ENS programs. The Schoonjans Lab brings together scientists, doctoral assistants, and technicians working on projects related to metabolic signaling. The team uses advanced techniques such as genetically modified mouse models, organoid cultures, and multi-omics (metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics) to study the liver-gut and brain-liver axes. The lab has a strong track record of high-impact publications and collaborations with institutions worldwide.
