Joseph A. November is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the history of biomedical computing, distributed computing, and the intersection of technology and medicine. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2006), an M.A. from the University of Chicago (2002), and a B.A. from Hamilton College (1997). His work includes the award-winning book Biomedical Computing: Digitizing Life in the United States (2012), which explores the co-development of biomedicine and computing technologies. Current projects include Revolutions@home , examining distributed computing in protein folding research, and a biography of computing pioneer Robert S. Ledley. He has received grants from the NSF, NIH, and the Charles Babbage Institute. Teaching interests span the history of science and technology, including courses on the history of medicine, digital humanities, and the role of games in historical education. He actively contributes to professional organizations like SHOT and the History of Science Society. Awards include the Computer History Museum Prize (2013) and the National Institutes of Health DeWitt Stetten Fellowship (2007-2008). His research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues in technology and biomedical ethics.
Didier Trono is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he leads the Laboratory of Virology and Genetics (LVG) within the School of Life Sciences. Formerly, from 2004 to 2012, he served as the founding dean of EPFL's Faculty of Life Sciences, orchestrating its development and growth during this formative period. Trono received his medical education at the University of Geneva, followed by clinical training in pathology, internal medicine, and infectious diseases in Geneva and at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. His scientific career began at the Whitehead Institute of MIT, and in 1990 he was recruited by the Salk Institute of San Diego to launch an AIDS research center. After seven years in the United States, he returned to Europe and eventually joined EPFL. Dr. Trono's research has evolved significantly over his career. Initially focusing on virus-host interactions, he studied pathogens like HIV and Hepatitis B virus, creating HIV-derived genetic transfer tools that are now successfully used in gene therapy. For approximately the last fifteen years, his research has centered on epigenetics, particularly exploring the impact of retroelements and their control mechanisms on development and physiology of higher organisms, including humans. His laboratory investigates how transposable elements and KRAB zinc finger proteins regulate gene expression, with important implications for understanding cancer biology and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a strong focus on transposable elements, KRAB zinc finger proteins, and their roles in gene regulation and cancer. His work combines molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics approaches to understand how these ancient viral remnants have been co-opted by the host genome to regulate development and cellular functions. The research spans basic molecular mechanisms to potential clinical applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy, with some recent work also addressing SARS-CoV-2 and immune responses. Throughout his career, Professor Trono has mentored numerous PhD students, including Bojkowska Karolina, Brandão Sanches Vong Martins Filipe Amândio, Bulliard Yannick, Coluccio Andrea, Corsinotti Andrea, Coudray Alexandre, De Tribolet-Hardy Jonas Caspar, and Dorschel Iris Arianna. His laboratory has received significant funding to support research at the intersection of virology, genetics, and epigenetics, contributing to EPFL's reputation as a leading institution in life sciences research. The Trono Laboratory continues to be at the forefront of research on retroelements and their regulatory mechanisms, maintaining a vibrant research environment that bridges fundamental biological questions with potential medical applications, particularly in cancer research and precision medicine.
Tommi Jaakkola is the Thomas Siebel Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his MSc in theoretical physics from Helsinki University of Technology in 1992 and his PhD from MIT in computational neuroscience in 1997. After completing a postdoctoral position in computational molecular biology as a DOE/Sloan fellow at UCSC, he joined the MIT EECS faculty in 1998. His research advances how machines can learn, predict or control, and do so at scale in an efficient, principled, and interpretable manner. His work in machine learning extends from foundational theory to modern applications, focusing especially on statistical inference and estimation tasks that lie at the heart of complex learning problems. He designs new methods, theory and algorithms to automate the use and generation of semi-structured data such as natural language text, images, molecules, or strategies. Jaakkola applies and develops algorithms to solve multi-faceted recommender, retrieval, or inferential tasks (particularly in biomedical contexts), design and optimize molecules or reactions for drug design, and model strategic, game theoretic interactions. His recent work heavily focuses on diffusion models, protein structure prediction, molecular design, and generative AI, with significant publications in top conferences including ICML, NeurIPS, and ICLR. His scientific contributions span multiple disciplines with significant impact in both theoretical machine learning and practical applications in computational biology and chemistry, including notable work on antibiotic discovery published in Cell. Current advisees: Julia Balla, Bowen Jing, Hannes Stärk, Peter Holderrieth, Chenyu Wang Recent graduates: Gabriele Corso (Boltz PBC), Ezra Erives (DE Shaw), Jason Yim (Xaira) Jaakkola maintains an active research program through MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), with his office located in the Stata Center (32-G470). His work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical applications, making significant contributions to both the academic field and potential real-world impact in healthcare and drug discovery.
Thomas Walz, PhD, is a Professor at The Rockefeller University and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Electron Microscopy. Previously, he held positions as Assistant, Associate, and Professor at Harvard Medical School (1999–2015) and was an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2008–2015). He earned his PhD and BS in biophysics from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Sheffield. Walz completed his education at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland, where he received his Diploma in Biophysics (1992) and PhD in Biophysics (1996). He furthered his training as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sheffield (1996–1999). His research focuses on understanding membrane-related processes and the structural biology of membrane proteins in lipid environments. Utilizing cryo-electron microscopy and nanodisc technology, he investigates how lipid bilayers influence membrane protein structure and function. Key areas include mechanosensitive channels, T-cell receptor dynamics, and telomere maintenance mechanisms. Collaborations with the de Lange lab explore the CST-Polα/primase complex's role in telomere regulation. Walz has been recognized with the Genzyme Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biomedical Sciences (2004) and continues to contribute to advancements in structural biology and membrane protein research. While specific student advisees are not listed, Walz actively mentors through his roles in the David Rockefeller Graduate Program and Tri-Institutional programs. His research is supported by grants and institutional funding, though specific grants are not detailed here. He directs the Laboratory of Molecular Electron Microscopy at Rockefeller, a hub for innovative structural biology and membrane protein studies. The lab collaborates widely, integrating cryo-EM with electrophysiology and molecular dynamics simulations.
Jun Hyung Lee is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). His research focuses on advancing forest tree improvement and conservation through molecular and synthetic biology approaches, with a particular emphasis on enhancing plant resilience to environmental stresses via beneficial microbial interactions. He teaches courses in plant biotechnology and tissue culture methods. Education includes a Ph.D. in Forest Genetics from Purdue University (USA), and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Plant Science from Seoul National University (South Korea). His work integrates cutting-edge genetic engineering techniques with ecological studies to address challenges in plant stress tolerance, symbiosis, and epigenetic regulation. Recent projects include identifying novel symbiosis pathways for thermotolerance and analyzing flooding tolerance in hybrid poplars. Publications highlight contributions to plant-microbe interaction research, synthetic biology applications, and genome editing epigenetic impacts. Collaborations span institutions like Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Georgia, reflecting his transdisciplinary approach to plant science. Lee’s teaching emphasizes practical skills in biotechnology, bridging laboratory innovation with field applications.
Sriram Subramaniam is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds the Gobind Khorana Canada Excellence Research Chair in Precision Cancer Drug Design. His research leverages cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to advance structural biology and drug design, focusing on protein dynamics and therapeutic target identification. Education: PhD in Physical Chemistry (1987) from Stanford University; MSc in Chemistry (1981) from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Subramaniam's interdisciplinary work combines cryo-EM with computational tools and molecular biology to study protein structures at atomic resolution. His lab has pioneered cryo-EM applications in precision medicine, including mapping small molecule drugs on patient-specific cancer mutants. Recent publications (2024-2022) highlight his contributions to understanding SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion, structural mechanisms of ATPases, and AI integration in structural biology. His research spans viral entry mechanisms, CRISPR systems, and neurodegenerative disease pathways. Scientific Awards: Gobind Khorana Canada Excellence Research Chair NIH Director’s Award for Scientific Excellence Fellow of the Biophysical Society Breakthrough Prize nomination Based at the Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, Subramaniam leads the Program in Cryo-EM Guided Drug Design, contributing to over 177 peer-reviewed publications with a career h-index of 58 and citations exceeding 12,340.
Adam Runions is a researcher in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, leading the MPG Partner Group in computational analysis of leaf development through collaborative work with Miltos Tsiantis. His group is embedded in the Graphics Cluster, focusing on interdisciplinary problems at the intersection of computer science and developmental biology. University of Calgary - Department of Computer Science MPG Partner Group (2022) Graphics Cluster affiliation His research explores computational modeling and analysis of plant form and development across multiple scales, integrating geometric modeling, physically-based simulation, and computer-aided design. Key themes include plant morphogenesis, self-organization of natural forms, and cross-disciplinary applications in computer graphics and animation. Recent publications emphasize plant development (leaf shape, bark patterning), mathematical modeling (auxin-driven patterning), and geometric techniques (subdivision surfaces, PUPs). Collaborations span institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. Scientific Awards Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Best Paper Award (International Conference on Cyberworlds 2015) Best Student Paper Award (Computer Graphics International 2011) The group actively recruits BSc, MSc, and PhD students with backgrounds in computer science and mathematics for projects on plant form simulation and digital content creation. Research integrates evolutionary biology, biomechanical modeling, and computational techniques.
Syed Hani Hassan Abidi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences , School of Medicine , Nazarbayev University , Kazakhstan. His research integrates virology , immunology , viral oncology , and bioinformatics , with a focus on HIV molecular epidemiology , viral evolution , and drug resistance . He has led international projects across Pakistan, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan, and is recognized for innovative teaching and MOOC development. Education: PhD in Virology and Immunology Research Interests: His laboratory employs bioinformatics (machine learning, AI), genomics , and proteomics to study HIV phylodynamics , viral co-infections , and oncogenic viruses like EBV in prostate cancer. He also explores microbiome-immunity interactions and designs antiviral drugs/vaccines . Recent Research Trends: His 2025 publications emphasize COVID-19 immunopathology , HIV/syphilis epidemiology in Pakistan , and particle physics contributions via ATLAS , showcasing interdisciplinary impact. Awards & Recognition: Outstanding Teachers Award (2019, Aga Khan University) Fellowship of Higher Education (UK, 2022) Teaching & Grants: He pioneered Pakistan’s first MOOC on Computer-Based Drug Discovery (2014) and received a 2022 SoTL grant for MOOC-based molecular biology education. His teaching integrates animations , films , and flipped classrooms . Collaborations & Labs: Leads projects on HIV drug resistance , HCV genomics in Kazakhstan , and AI-driven dementia diagnostics (Kazakh Brain Atlas). His lab collaborates with global institutions to advance viral disease surveillance and therapeutic innovation .
Jiaxuan You is an Assistant Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, leading the U Lab focused on achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in digital environments. His research spans graph neural networks (GNNs), relational data, foundation models, and machine learning systems. PhD and MS in Computer Science from Stanford University (2021) Developed GraphGym and PyTorch Geometric (PyG) for graph learning Core member at Kumo AI (2021-2023) His research explores: Graph-enhanced LLMs: Integrating relational structures into foundation models AGI Development: Self-optimizing AI agents and tool utilization ML Systems: Scalable architectures and redundancy-free computation Interdisciplinary Applications: Financial networks, crop yield prediction, and metro systems Recent publications focus on temporal reasoning, multi-agent dynamics, and hybrid architectures for LLMs. He actively develops open-source tools like DBGYM and GraphRouter. Scientific recognition includes: JPMC PhD Fellowship Baidu Scholarship Best Student Paper at AAAI 2017 World Bank Big Data Innovation Challenge winner He mentors PhD and intern students, emphasizing machine learning systems expertise. His lab collaborates on AGI workshops (e.g., ICLR 2024) and industry projects.
Daniel Finley is a Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), leading the Finley Lab focused on the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and related regulatory mechanisms. He holds academic appointments within the Department of Cell Biology and sits on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Proteostasis and X-Chem Pharmaceuticals. His research investigates proteasome function, ubiquitin-like proteins, and proteostasis roles in diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS. Dr. Finley earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from MIT. After postdoctoral training at MIT, he joined HMS in 1988. His lab explores topics including erythroid proteome remodeling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. Key research areas include: (1) Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulation, (2) Proteasome structure/function, (3) Nonproteolytic roles of ubiquitination, and (4) Pathophysiological roles of proteostasis defects in diseases. His work bridges basic cell biology with translational medicine, particularly in neurodegeneration and anemia. Finley has secured NIH funding for projects like 'Regulation of Proteasome Activity' (R35GM145246) and 'Erythrocyte maturation through global proteome remodeling' (R01HL153970). Collaborations with industry and academic partners extend his impact in drug discovery and proteasome-targeted therapies. His lab’s contributions include defining ubiquitin chain editing mechanisms, identifying USP14’s role in mitophagy, and elucidating proteostasis defects in Alzheimer's models. Research tools developed include advanced cryo-EM analyses of proteasomal structures and functional assays for ubiquitin system enzymes.
Prof. Dr. Björn Corzilius is a University Professor (W2) of Physical Chemistry at the University of Rostock, Germany, leading the Corzilius group. His research focuses on solid-state NMR spectroscopy, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), and applications in biomolecules and materials. He holds affiliations with the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and serves on multiple academic boards, including the transregional Collaborative Research Center TRR 386 and the journal Magnetic Resonance . Education: 1999: Studies of Chemistry, TU Darmstadt 2005: Diploma in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) 2008: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (TU Darmstadt) Research Interests: Solid-state NMR, DNP for sensitivity enhancement, paramagnetic metal ions, biomolecular dynamics, and method development. His work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches to advance structural and functional studies of complex systems like proteins, nucleic acids, and catalytic materials. Recent Article Trends: Focus on DNP applications in biomolecular interfaces, novel polarizing agents (e.g., Gd(III) complexes), and methodological advancements like serial polarization transfer and electron-decoupled DNP. Contributions span inorganic chemistry, materials science, and biophysical systems. Awards: Emmy Noether Fellowship (2012) Felix Bloch Lecture (2016) Regitze M. Vold Memorial Prize (2017) Best Ph.D. Supervision (2018) Grants & Labs: Principal Investigator of the Emmy Noether Group (2013–2019), now leading the DNP research team at the University of Rostock. Collaborates closely with LIKAT on catalytic and materials projects. His group actively develops open-access publishing platforms like Magnetic Resonance and hosts international conferences. Labs/Teams: The Corzilius group at the Institute of Chemistry (Rostock) specializes in NMR method development and applications. Associated with LIKAT for interdisciplinary catalysis research.
Dawn Y. Sumner is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on geobiology, paleobiology, and planetary science, particularly reconstructing ancient environments on Earth and Mars. She is a key member of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory team, contributing to the Curiosity rover’s exploration of Gale Crater on Mars. Sumner’s work integrates field studies, lab analyses, and interdisciplinary approaches to understand microbial life’s role in shaping Earth’s history and potential habitability on other planets. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1995). Research interests include microbialite formation, Antarctic lake ecosystems, and the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. She investigates modern microbial communities in ice-covered lakes (e.g., Lake Vanda) to understand ancient environments and their biosignatures. Her scientific awards include the California Academy of Sciences Academy Fellow (2020) and Geological Society of America Fellow (2014). Sumner emphasizes inclusive education and supports student success in STEM through feminist research practices. Labs/Teams: W.M. Keck Center for Active Visualization in the Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES), Antarctic Lake Research Group.
James B. Kaper is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He serves as Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and previously held leadership roles as Senior Associate Dean (2014–2019) and Chair (2007–present). His research focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae , including vaccine development and bacterial-host interactions. Education: BS (1973) and PhD (1979) in Microbiology from University of Maryland; Postdoc in Molecular Pathogenesis at University of Washington (1979–1981) Dr. Kaper’s work has led to the creation of live attenuated cholera vaccines, including CVD 103-HgR, the first licensed recombinant bacterial vaccine. His lab investigates bacterial genetics, intestinal colonization, and immune system activation, particularly TLR5 response to V. cholerae flagellin. He has authored 303 peer-reviewed articles and 68 book chapters. His research has been funded continuously by NIAID since 1982. Key publications include foundational work on V. cholerae vaccines (1984), genomic structure (1998), and quorum sensing in EHEC/EPEC (1999). His lab’s recent studies focus on phosphotyrosine proteomics (2013) and pathogenicity island regulation (2007). Scientific awards: Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (1994); NIH Merit Award (2004); ASM DC White Award (2019) Editorial roles: Editor-in-Chief, EcoSal (2006–present); Associate Editor, International Journal of Medical Microbiology (2000–present) As an academic leader, Dr. Kaper has mentored over 60 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He holds multiple patents for cholera vaccines and E. coli diagnostics, including U.S. Patents 4,935,364; 5,399,494; and 6,204,004. His lab at UMSOM combines basic science with translational applications for enteric disease prevention.
Pierre Vandergheynst is a Full Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in the Department of Electrical Engineering, with a courtesy appointment in Computer and Communication Sciences. He serves as EPFL’s Vice-Provost for Education since 2015 and leads the Signal Processing Laboratory 2 (LTS2). His research spans harmonic analysis, sparse approximations, mathematical data processing, and applications in signal/image processing, computer vision, machine learning, and graph-based data analysis. PhD in Mathematical Physics (1998), Université catholique de Louvain Postdoctoral Researcher at EPFL (1998-2001) Assistant Professor at EPFL (2002-2007) His research explores geometry/symmetry in high-dimensional data, redundant dictionaries for dimensionality reduction, and computational harmonic analysis on manifolds. Recent work focuses on protein structure modeling, geometric deep learning, and graph-based signal processing. Key article trends include graph neural networks for protein analysis, geometric deep learning in neuroscience, and structured knowledge priors in neural models. His 2023-2025 publications emphasize interpretable AI, long-range dependencies in graphs, and molecular representation learning. Scientific Awards: IEEE Signal Processing Magazine Best Paper Award (2023) Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award (2022) Apple ARTS Award (2007) De Boelpaepe Prize, Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium (2009-2010) He has supervised over 30 PhD theses and contributed to foundational work in graph signal processing, compressive sensing, and geometric deep learning. His lab develops tools for data science on non-Euclidean structures, with applications in medicine, astronomy, and wireless systems.
Alexis Battle is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Computer Science , and Genetic Medicine (secondary). She directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare and serves as Deputy Director of the Data Science and AI Institute . Educated at Stanford University (PhD in Computer Science, 2013), Battle transitioned to academia after leadership roles at Google. Research Focus: Battle’s work bridges genomics and machine learning , emphasizing the impact of genetic variation on human health. Her lab develops tools like Watershed to predict functional effects of rare variants, aiming to enhance rare disease diagnosis. Key themes include non-coding DNA analysis , personalized genomics , and systems biology , with applications in cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders . Publications & Awards: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Biology , with recent emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics , multiomics integration , and telomere biology . Recipient of the President’s Frontier Award (2022), Microsoft Investigator Fellowship (2019), and Searle Scholar (2016). Scientific Awards: 2022 President’s Frontier Award 2019 Microsoft Investigator Fellowship 2019 Johns Hopkins Discovery Award 2017 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award 2016 Searle Scholar Advising & Funding: Mentors 11 PhD students, 3 undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is funded by NIH, Searle Scholars, and institutional grants. The Battle Lab collaborates on projects like the GTEx Consortium , focusing on gene regulation and clinical genomics .
