Joshua Owade, PhD, serves as a Post-doctoral Research Associate on a fixed-term appointment within the Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University, jointly administered by the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and the College of Engineering. His role focuses exclusively on research within the university's agricultural and engineering framework. His core research interests include: Food Microbiology Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Food analysis Food policy Dr. Owade's work integrates engineering principles with food safety science, emphasizing data-driven risk modeling to address microbial hazards in food systems and inform policy development. He is based at 100 Farrall Agricultural Hall (524 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824). No information regarding scientific awards, graduate student supervision, or research grants was provided in the source material.
Alexis Mraz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). She holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences with a minor in Epidemiology from The Ohio State University (2018) and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Drexel University (2011). Research Focus: Her work centers on environmental microbiology, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Key projects include assessing health risks from combined sewer overflows, Legionella pneumophila growth models in plumbing systems, and WASH interventions in Kathmandu, Nepal. Awards: Early Career Faculty Excellence Award (TCNJ, 2025) Support of Scholarly Activities (SOSA) Award (TCNJ, 2023) Mildred DeHane Award (TCNJ, 2021) Grants: NSF grants (2022-2025, 2023-2026) for Legionella risk modeling US EPA grant (2023-2026) for optimized disinfection strategies AHRQ grant (2023-2028) for HAIs prevention Service: Active in TCNJ committees including Admissions, QI, Alumni, and Environmental Studies. Chair of Admissions and QI Committees since 2024.
Wanda Wilczyńska-Michalik serves as Professor at the Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Krakow since 1994. Her research bridges environmental geochemistry and urban air quality, focusing on pollution impacts in Krakow through mineralogical analysis of atmospheric particles. Her research interests center on atmospheric pollution characterization , with three interconnected pillars: (1) Microplastic quantification in urban aerosols using innovative semi-quantitative frameworks, (2) Mineralogical fingerprinting of technoparticles (magnetic particles, TiO 2 nanoparticles, combustion by-products), and (3) Long-term documentation of pollution-induced deterioration in historical stone monuments. This work uniquely connects source identification , environmental transport , and health/cultural impacts in Central European urban contexts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals evolving methodological sophistication: early work (2014-2018) established combustion emission profiles, while 2019-2022 research pioneered microplastic threat assessment and integrated aerosol microbiology. Current studies emphasize applied environmental forensics with direct policy relevance for urban air quality management. As a long-tenured professor, she maintains active supervision of graduate researchers through the Institute of Geography. Her publication record demonstrates consistent grant funding, particularly for Krakow-focused atmospheric monitoring projects. Collaborative patterns show strong institutional partnerships across Polish research universities. Her laboratory work operates within the university's shared geoscience facilities, contributing to Krakow's status as a European reference site for urban pollution studies. Current projects address urgent needs in microplastic regulation and cultural heritage preservation amid increasing anthropogenic pressures.
Filip Scheperjans serves as Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Medicine and Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research at HUS Neurocenter. His academic appointment commenced on June 24, 2020, and he maintains active clinical and research roles within Helsinki University Hospital's neurology division. Professor Scheperjans' research centers on Parkinson's disease pathophysiology with distinctive focus on gut-brain axis mechanisms , particularly gut microbiome interactions. His work investigates REM sleep behavior disorder as an early biomarker, dopaminergic imaging patterns, and complications of advanced Parkinson's therapies . Recent publications reveal growing emphasis on microbial metagenomics and translational clinical applications. His publication record demonstrates significant expansion from 1 paper in 2002 to 7+ annually since 2021, with 82 total publications including high-impact journals like Scientific Reports and NPJ Parkinson's Disease . Current research output focuses on gut microbiome transplantation trials, dopaminergic imaging correlations, and therapy-related neuropathies. Professor Scheperjans actively supervises doctoral candidates through the Clinical Research Programme and participates in SPARK Finland's health tech acceleration initiative. His clinical trial on fecal microbiome transplantation for Parkinson's patients has generated substantial media coverage and represents a pioneering therapeutic approach.
Alfonso Carlos Martínez Estudillo is a Full Professor in the Department of Quantitative Methods at Loyola University's School of Business and Economics. He serves as Director of the Master's Program in Research Methods Applied to the Social Sciences and is a member of the Quantitative Research Methods and Applications (MICA) research group. With a PhD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (2008) and a Computer Engineering degree (1995), both from the University of Granada, his academic journey includes previous roles as Network and Systems Administrator, Database Programmer, and IT Service Coordinator at ETEA-Faculty of Economics and Business. His research focuses primarily on evolutionary computation and neural networks for solving machine learning problems, with specialization in product-unit neural networks. His doctoral thesis opened an important research line within the AYRNA Research Group, where he has been a member since 2001. This work has led to publications in leading journals such as IEEE Transactions and Systems, Man and Cybernetics, and Neural Networks, with applications spanning predictive microbiology, chemical kinetics, pollen prediction, remote sensing, and financial risk assessment. Currently, he is working on multi-objective optimization, ordinal classification, and data mining with large databases using Big Data techniques. Professor Martínez Estudillo has participated in numerous research projects including R&D initiatives funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, excellence projects from the Regional Government of Andalusia, and international cooperation projects analyzing social aspects of indigenous populations in Honduras. His recent publications demonstrate continued application of artificial intelligence techniques to economic problems, with his most recent work (2022) examining sovereign debt ratings in Europe. His teaching portfolio includes Databases, Fundamentals of Computer Science I, Computing Infrastructures and Databases, Applied Mathematics for Business Management, and Programming I, reflecting his expertise in both theoretical and applied computational methods for business and economics.
Antonia Garrido Frenich is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Almería, Spain, where she leads the Analytical Chemistry of Contaminants research group. With an impressive publication record of 387 articles, 33 books or chapters, and numerous research projects, she has established herself as a leading expert in analytical chemistry for food safety and environmental monitoring. Her research focuses on developing advanced analytical methods for detecting contaminants in food and environmental samples. Key areas include pesticide residue analysis, plastic additives monitoring, food authenticity verification, and natural toxin detection. She specializes in high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques coupled with chromatographic methods, and has pioneered innovative approaches using green chemistry principles for sample preparation. Professor Garrido Frenich's recent work demonstrates a strong emphasis on emerging contaminants, particularly non-phthalate plastic additives in agricultural environments, and advanced techniques for food safety assessment. Her publications appear consistently in high-impact journals across food science, analytical chemistry, and environmental science disciplines. As an active Principal Investigator, she currently leads significant research projects including 'Analytical strategies for monitoring emerging contaminants derived from plastics in agricultural soils' (2023-2026) and 'NMR-CONTROL' for implementing nuclear magnetic resonance in food analysis laboratories. She has supervised numerous doctoral students and maintains an extensive collaborative network, evidenced by her co-authorship on publications with researchers from multiple institutions. Her work bridges analytical chemistry with practical applications in food safety and environmental protection.
James Doonan serves as Assistant Professor in Forest and Landscape Ecology within the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying tree-pathogen interactions, utilizing advanced genomic and transcriptomic approaches. His primary research interests include forest pathology , pathogen genomics , and tree-microbiome relationships . Current investigations center on Ash Dieback disease in European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) caused by Hymenscyphus fraxineus , aiming to identify genomic bases of tolerance. Previous work examined bacterial pathogens in oak trees contributing to Acute Oak Decline, revealing interactions between pathogens and the native insect Agrilus biguttatus . Analysis of his recent publications shows consistent focus on forest disease mechanisms using cutting-edge genomic techniques. His work spans fungal pathogens, bacterial diseases, and nematode interactions, with strong emphasis on European tree species conservation. Collaborative research extends across multiple European institutions, reflecting international engagement in forest pathology. Dr. Doonan's research methodology integrates molecular biology, DNA/RNA sequencing, and computational approaches to address critical challenges in forest health. His work provides foundational knowledge for developing disease-resistant tree varieties and sustainable forest management strategies.
Abbey Olsen serves as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in the Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Assessment group at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen. She is affiliated with the Danish Veterinary Consortium (DK-VET) where she conducts risk assessments for veterinary contingency planning. Her academic journey includes doctoral training at Wageningen University and Research Center in the Netherlands. Her research focuses on veterinary epidemiology with specialization in zoonotic disease risk assessment, diagnostic test evaluation, and biosecurity protocols. Key areas include Toxoplasma gondii transmission dynamics, Campylobacter and Salmonella surveillance in poultry, and methodological frameworks for risk of bias assessment in veterinary clinical studies. Current projects analyze cannabidiol efficacy for canine epilepsy and computer vision applications for meat safety. Dr. Olsen contributes to EFSA's Scientific Network on Zoonoses Data Collection and co-supervises graduate students in veterinary epidemiology. Her work bridges quantitative risk modeling with practical disease control strategies, emphasizing the One Health approach to animal and human health protection. She leads research on farm-level biosecurity assessments and systematic reviews of veterinary interventions.
Cilius Esmann Fonvig serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. His clinical affiliation extends to Region Sjælland (email domain regionsjaelland.dk), reflecting Denmark's integrated university-hospital academic model. Based at Holbæk Hospital (Smedelundsgade 60) with Copenhagen campus connections (Blegdamsvej 3), he maintains active research in pediatric metabolic disorders. His research centers on childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risk, with specific expertise in genetic and proteomic determinants of metabolic health. Key focus areas include: Genetic risk scoring for insulin resistance in pediatric populations Plasma proteome and lipidome profiling in obesity Gut microbiome interactions with metabolic disease Non-pharmacological obesity intervention outcomes Age-dependent biomarker discovery Recent publications in Cell , Nature Medicine , and Nature Genetics demonstrate high-impact contributions to understanding obesity-related metabolic pathways in children. Analysis of his 44 research outputs (2025) reveals strong collaboration networks with leading Danish researchers including Torben Hansen, Jens-Christian Holm, and Signe Stellingwerff. His work frequently appears in high-visibility journals with significant media coverage (13 news outlets for key studies) and substantial academic engagement (128+ Mendeley readers per major paper). The research consistently addresses clinically actionable biomarkers and intervention strategies for childhood metabolic disorders. Fonvig participates in major consortia including GALAXY and MicrobLiver, indicating leadership in large-scale collaborative projects. His work demonstrates translational impact through policy citations (e.g., Childhood Obesity journal paper) and clinical application of findings in Danish obesity management programs.
Francesco Caridi is a Researcher (RTD-B) in Physics for Life Sciences, the Environment and Cultural Heritage at the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences of the University of Messina. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Messina (2007) and has been with the university since 2007, progressing from research fellow to his current position since 2023. His research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with a strong focus on physics applications to cultural heritage, environmental science, and medical contexts . Key research areas include laser-matter interaction, plasma diagnostics, environmental radioactivity assessment, gamma spectrometry, and radiation protection. His work frequently employs advanced spectroscopic techniques to analyze archaeological materials and assess environmental radiation risks. His recent publications reveal a consistent pattern of applied physics research focused on cultural heritage preservation and environmental monitoring . The majority of his work involves analyzing archaeological sites and artifacts using spectroscopic methods, assessing radioactivity in building materials and natural environments, and developing analytical techniques for environmental monitoring. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between physics, archaeology, environmental science, and public health. Premio ANASSILAOS Giovani (2010) Premio Giovane Ricercatore (2008) First Prize for the best oral presentation (2006) Caridi maintains active engagement with educational institutions through numerous outreach activities, including laboratory demonstrations for students and public forums on environmental quality and health risks. His teaching portfolio includes courses on applied physics for cultural heritage, environmental radiation protection, and experimental physics applications in biology and medicine. He has authored 172 publications with 1,822 citations and an h-index of 32 (Scopus, May 2025).
Dr Amanda Cox is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at Griffith University, where she also serves as a Research Leader in the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics. She holds dual leadership roles as an academic lead for both Griffith University's Central Facility for Genomics and the Gut Health Clinic through the Allied Health Clinics. Her research career spans over a decade at Griffith University, progressing from Research Fellow to her current Senior Lecturer position. Her educational background includes: BBiomedSci (Hons) from University of Newcastle, Australia PhD from University of Newcastle, Australia Grad Cert Tertiary Teaching from University of Newcastle, Australia Dr Cox's research focuses on applied mucosal immunology, with particular emphasis on how the gut microbiome contributes to immune and inflammatory activity in various health and disease states, especially metabolic diseases. Her work uniquely integrates multiple technologies including multiparametric risk scoring, direct-counting gene expression analyses, and in situ spatial proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to assess immune pathways in disease pathogenesis and individual responses to interventions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trend toward spatial biology techniques applied to immunological questions, particularly examining inflammatory responses in conditions like eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. Her work increasingly integrates machine learning with molecular profiling while maintaining strong connections to clinical applications, especially in metabolic disease and exercise physiology contexts. Dr Cox actively supervises multiple graduate students across immunology and related fields, with current projects examining tissue characterisation in eosinophilic oesophagitis and anti-cancer immunity. Her grant portfolio demonstrates substantial funding from pharmaceutical partners including Sanofi, Regeneron, and Glaxo Smith Kline, as well as university and government sources, supporting research in spatial mapping of type 2 inflammation, gut microbiome interactions, and effects of compounds like fucoidan and cannabidiol. She leads research teams within the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics and collaborates extensively with clinical specialists across multiple disciplines, industry partners in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, and academic researchers. Her work with the Central Facility for Genomics supports advanced molecular analysis across the university community.
PharmDr. Zdeněk Spáčil, Ph.D. serves as an Assistant Professor at the Research Center for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX) within the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His research integrates analytical chemistry with environmental health sciences, focusing on biomarker discovery and advanced mass spectrometry techniques. Dr. Spáčil leads multiple research projects funded by national and international agencies including the Czech Science Foundation, Ministry of Health, and Masaryk University. Dr. Spáčil's research interests center on environmental chemistry, metabolomics, and proteomics with specific applications to neurodegenerative diseases and environmental risk assessment. His work bridges analytical method development with clinical applications, particularly in Alzheimer's disease biomarker discovery and newborn screening for lysosomal storage disorders. He has made significant contributions to developing mass spectrometry-based diagnostic methods that have improved screening accuracy for rare genetic disorders. Analysis of Dr. Spáčil's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory in advancing mass spectrometry applications for clinical diagnostics and environmental analysis. His early work focused on amino acid analysis and cyanobacterial toxins, evolving toward sophisticated proteomics and metabolomics approaches for disease biomarker discovery. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in Alzheimer's disease research, gut microbiome interactions, and lysosomal enzyme analysis, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach connecting environmental exposures with health outcomes. Dr. Spáčil maintains active membership in several professional societies including: Czech Society for Mass Spectrometry (CSMS) Pacific Northwest Mass Spectrometry Group (PacMass) American Society for Mass Spectrometry Czech Pharmacy Students' Association (honorary member) His research portfolio includes multiple significant grants, particularly the project 'Clinically relevant biochemical, immunological and cellular biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and aging' (2019-2023) funded by the Ministry of Health, and 'Transformative stem cell-based model of Alzheimer's disease' (2018-2020) funded by Masaryk University. He has also contributed to the large-scale 'KETOCOEN Plus' project (2015-2023) addressing environmental contaminants. Dr. Spáčil collaborates extensively with Prof. Jana Klánová and other researchers at RECETOX, focusing on environmental chemistry and risk assessment. At RECETOX, Dr. Spáčil leads research activities in the Metabolomics and Proteomics Research Group, where his team develops advanced analytical methods for biomarker discovery. His laboratory specializes in mass spectrometry applications for clinical samples and environmental matrices, with particular expertise in targeted proteomics and metabolomics approaches. Current research directions include investigating membrane lipids in Alzheimer's pathogenesis and developing non-animal models for reproductive toxicity assessment.
Maarten Johannes Nauta serves as a Visiting Teacher in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, focusing on Animal Welfare and Disease Control. Affiliated with Statens Serum Institut (SSI), his work bridges veterinary science and public health through risk assessment of zoonotic diseases and food safety challenges. His research spans One Health risk assessment, zoonotic disease incursion modeling, parasite control in fishery products, and Salmonella dynamics in poultry. He develops tools like L'ORA for dynamic risk evaluation and contributes to EFSA guidelines, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to animal-human health interfaces. Key methodologies include epidemiological modeling and quantitative microbial risk assessment. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong trends in One Health tool development, EFSA guideline re-evaluation for seafood parasites, and border control efficacy for poultry imports. These works advance regulatory science in veterinary epidemiology, with applications in public health preparedness and food safety policy across European and international contexts. Dr. Nauta actively collaborates with the EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards and global research networks, as evidenced by multinational co-authorship on high-impact publications. His work is conducted within the Animal Welfare and Disease Control group at the University of Copenhagen, leveraging institutional partnerships for translational impact in disease control.
Allison Lopatkin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester's Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with additional affiliation in Microbiology and Immunology. She leads the Lopatkin Lab, which focuses on systems and synthetic biology approaches to understand antibiotic resistance, horizontal gene transfer, and microbial community dynamics. Her research integrates microbiology, biochemistry, computational biology, and biomolecular engineering to address critical challenges in microbial evolution and resistance mechanisms. Dr. Lopatkin's research interests center on how bacterial metabolism contributes to antibiotic resistance development, with particular focus on the role of metabolic mutations in resistance evolution. Her lab employs systems biology, computational modeling, and biomolecular engineering approaches to understand, predict, and control genetic communication in bacterial communities. Key research areas include antibiotic resistance mechanisms, horizontal gene transfer kinetics, microbial community engineering, and environmental applications of microbial systems. Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong focus on the intersection of metabolism and antibiotic resistance, with increasing emphasis on computational and single-cell approaches in recent years. Her work demonstrates how metabolic pathways contribute to resistance development beyond traditional target-binding mechanisms, with implications for diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. The research spans fundamental mechanisms to clinical applications, particularly in understanding resistance in vancomycin-treated patients. Pew Biomedical Scholar (2024) Dr. Lopatkin actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in her lab, with recent news highlighting students Habib and Zirui passing their qualifying exams. Her lab receives funding through the Pew Biomedical Scholars program and likely other NIH and NSF grants focused on antibiotic resistance research. The lab has developed sophisticated microfluidic platforms and quantitative approaches to study bacterial population dynamics under antibiotic pressure. The Lopatkin Lab maintains strong connections with clinical and environmental microbiology through its research on real-world antibiotic resistance scenarios. The lab is actively involved in outreach activities, including participation in the Rochester Museum & Science Center events, demonstrating commitment to public engagement with science.
