Pascal Frossard is a Full Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering in the School of Engineering (STI) at EPFL, with a courtesy appointment in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences. He founded and directs the LTS4 laboratory since 2003, co-leads the EPFL AI Center and Swiss Data Science Center, and serves as Associate Dean for Research at STI. Research Focus: Machine Learning, Graph Signal Processing, AI Applications in Healthcare, Computer Vision Academic Leadership: IEEE Fellow, ELLIS Fellow, Conference Chair roles Key Projects: Digital Pathology for Oncology, Cardiac Digital Twins, Robust Machine Learning Research Interests: His work bridges signal processing, machine learning, and applied mathematics, emphasizing biomedical applications. Recent research includes adversarial robustness in classifiers, network representation learning, and 360-degree video analysis. Scientific Awards: IEEE Fellow ELLIS Fellow Leadership in IEEE technical committees Advising & Grants: Supervised 20+ PhD students and postdocs. Secured major grants from PHRT, Hasler Foundation, FNS-Sinergia, Armasuisse, Google, and Cisco.
Ole Winther is Professor in High dimensional biological data analysis/Machine learning at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen and Professor in Data science and complexity at DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark. He serves as CRO and co-founder of raffle.ai, CTO and co-founder of FindZebra, Head of ELLIS Unit Copenhagen, and co-PI of the Machine Learning for Life Science Center. His research spans Bioinformatics , Machine Learning , and AI for Science , focusing on applying deep learning to biological sequence analysis, latent variable models, and medical NLP. Winther's work develops predictive and generative models for bioinformatics, with significant contributions to protein localization tools (SignalP, DeepLoc, DeepTMHMM), single-cell genomics, and novel deep learning architectures like variational autoencoders and diffusion models. Analysis of Winther's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong trend toward integrating protein language models with traditional bioinformatics approaches and applying diffusion models to scientific problems. His work bridges theoretical machine learning advancements with practical applications in biology and medicine, particularly in protein sequence analysis, medical search engines, and scientific simulation acceleration. Winther currently supervises a diverse research group including Panagiotis Antoniadis, Rachael M. DeVries, Jun Wang, Beatrix M. G. Nielsen, Felix G. Teufel, Irene R. Rodriguez, Anders Christensen, and Christopher Heje Grønbech. His former students have established successful careers at institutions including Google, Apple, and various startups, with notable alumni like Casper Sønderby (Google Brain) and Søren Sønderby (Apple). He leads significant research initiatives including the ELLIS Unit Copenhagen and the Machine Learning for Life Science Center, while maintaining active industry partnerships through his co-founded companies raffle.ai (enterprise search using NLP) and FindZebra (search engine for rare diseases). His teaching includes Deep Learning courses at both DTU (02456) and University of Copenhagen (NDAK24002U).
Howard A. Stone is the Donald R. Dixon '69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor and Neil A. Omenn '68 University Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. He leads the Complex Fluids Group, conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, physics, chemistry, and biology. Dr. Stone received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis (1982) and Ph.D. from Caltech (1988). After a postdoctoral year at Cambridge University, he joined Harvard University's faculty in 1989, where he became the Vicky Joseph Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics before moving to Princeton in 2009. His research focuses on fluid dynamics phenomena across multiple scales, with particular emphasis on microfluidics, complex fluids, and biomechanics . His group investigates multiphase flows, colloidal systems, bio-inspired fluid phenomena, and physicochemical hydrodynamics. Recent work spans from fundamental studies of thin film drainage and droplet dynamics to applications in biological systems including blood flow, bacterial transport, and biomolecular condensates. The Complex Fluids Group employs experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches, often collaborating with industry partners on applications from medical devices to industrial processes. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a continued expansion into biological applications of fluid dynamics, with increasing focus on cellular mechanics, biomolecular condensates, and pathological hemodynamics, while maintaining strong contributions to fundamental fluid mechanics in complex systems. His work consistently bridges theoretical insights with practical applications across multiple disciplines. Major honors include: Election to the National Academy of Engineering (2009) Election to the National Academy of Sciences (2014) APS Fluid Dynamics Prize (2016) G.K. Batchelor Prize in Fluid Dynamics (2008) NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award Professor Stone has advised numerous PhD students through their Final Public Oral examinations, with recent graduates working on topics spanning microfluidics, bacterial transport, and complex fluid phenomena. His research has been supported by diverse funding sources including NSF, NIH, and industry partnerships. The Complex Fluids Group maintains state-of-the-art experimental facilities in the Engineering Quadrangle, featuring specialized equipment for microfluidics, rheology, and interfacial phenomena investigations. The group actively collaborates with researchers across Princeton and globally, maintaining strong connections to both academic and industrial partners working on fluid-related challenges.
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.
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.
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 .
Olga Dontsova is a Full Professor at Moscow State University (MSU) in the Faculty of Chemistry. She serves as Head of the Division of RNA Structure and Function at the Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology and Head of the Chair of Chemistry of Natural Compounds. Her research spans molecular biology, bioorganic chemistry, and RNA-based mechanisms. Research Focus: She investigates structure-functional relationships in ribonucleoprotein complexes, with emphasis on translation machinery, transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) interactions with ribosomes, RNA methyltransferases, and telomerase's role in cancer. Her team pioneered a chemical-biochemical-genetic approach to map mRNA topography in ribosomes, elucidate trans-translation dynamics, and characterize novel RNA-modifying enzymes. Scientific Contributions: Developed a molecular dynamic model for trans-translation Discovered unique yeast telomerase with unconventional properties Investigated functional roles of modified RNA residues in translation Honors: Member of Academia Europaea (2014) Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Sciences (2006) European Academy Award for Young Scientists (1994) Grants & Leadership: Her work has been funded by HHMI, HFSP, CRDF, INTAS, RFFI, and Russian Ministry of Science and Education. She chairs the Biology Panel of the Russian Scientific Foundation and serves on editorial boards for Biochimie, Russian Journal of Molecular Biology, and Acta Naturae. Teaching: As a supervisor of 21 Ph.D. students and numerous diploma projects, she teaches advanced courses at MSU while maintaining an active research program.
Peter Brodersen is a Professor at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen , specializing in Bioinformatics and RNA Biology . His research focuses on RNA modification (m6A), YTHDF proteins, and small RNA pathways in plants. Recent research trends from his group include: (1) molecular mechanisms of ARGONAUTE-small RNA interactions, (2) m6A-YTHDF regulatory systems in plant development, and (3) RNAi-independent roles of DICER-LIKE proteins in antiviral defense. Collaborations span Denmark and international institutions. Publications highlight cross-disciplinary work bridging computational biology and experimental plant genetics. Key subfields include RNA structure, epigenetic regulation, and antiviral immunity.
Shasha Chong is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and a Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar. She earned her B.S. from the University of Science & Technology of China (2008) and Ph.D. from Harvard University (2014). Her research bridges chemistry, physics, and biology to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular processes, focusing on intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in transcription proteins. Research Focus: IDRs in transcriptional regulation, cancer biology, liquid-liquid phase separation, and single-molecule imaging techniques. Grants & Awards: CCE Innovation Award (2024), ALSF Innovation Grant, Mallinckrodt Research Grant, Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust Grant. Collaborations: Caltech-City of Hope Biomedical Research Initiative Grant (2025). Teaching: Co-instructor for courses like Biochemistry Laboratory (Ch 11) and Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (BMB/Bi/Ch 174). Labs & Teams: Leads the Chong Laboratory at Caltech, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches combining single-molecule imaging, genome editing, and bioinformatics.
David R. Koes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the School of Medicine. He holds roles such as Associate Director of the Joint CMU-Pitt Computational Biology PhD Program (CPCB) and is involved in multiple graduate programs including Intelligent Systems and Computational Biomedicine. His research focuses on developing computational algorithms and systems for drug discovery, emphasizing open-source software and machine learning applications in biomedical data. Koes teaches courses like MSCBIO2025 (Bioinformatics Programming in Python) and MSCBIO2065 (Scalable Machine Learning for Big Data Biology). He has secured NIH funding (R35GM140753) and collaborated on projects with institutions like NVIDIA and Google Cloud. His lab develops tools such as GNINA, Pharmit, and 3Dmol.js, and actively contributes to open drug discovery initiatives. Education: PhD in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Research Interests: Leveraging computation and AI for drug design, molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and open science. Specific areas include developing scalable machine learning pipelines, virtual screening systems, and tools for 3D molecular analysis. Grants and Funding: Current NIH R35 grant and prior support from NSF, Relay Therapeutics, and others. His work emphasizes translating computational methods into practical drug discovery solutions. Lab and Teams: Directs a lab focused on computational drug discovery, collaborating with multiple academic and industry partners. Supervises graduate students and postdocs in projects spanning AI-driven drug design, molecular modeling, and software development.
Michele Klingbeil is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she leads the Klingbeil DNA Replication Laboratory. She received her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toledo in 1996 and previously worked at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine before moving to UMass in July 2007. Her educational background includes: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Toledo, 1996 Dr. Klingbeil's research focuses on the unique biology of trypanosomatid parasites, particularly Trypanosoma brucei , the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. Her laboratory investigates two main areas: (1) replication of the unusual mitochondrial DNA network called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), and (2) nuclear DNA replication initiation. Her work on kDNA is particularly significant as this structure is essential for parasite survival but has no counterpart in mammalian hosts, making it an attractive drug target. She employs a combination of reverse genetics (RNAi), cell biology, and biochemistry to understand the replication and repair mechanisms of kDNA, with a special focus on a family of four DNA polymerases related to bacterial Pol I. Dr. Klingbeil's recent publications reveal her laboratory's deep investigation into mitochondrial DNA polymerases in trypanosomatids, with discoveries showing multiple polymerases having specialized functions in kDNA replication and repair. Her research has established that several of these polymerases are essential for parasite viability, opening new avenues for drug development. She has also made significant contributions to understanding the simplified Origin Recognition Complex in trypanosomatids compared to other eukaryotes. Dr. Klingbeil has received the Thomas G. Lessie Distinguished Lectureship Award for her impact on teaching at the graduate level. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Joeph P. Healey Endowment, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, including current PhD candidates Dave Bruhn, Jeniffer Concepción, and Juemin Luo, as well as visiting scholar Eva Vidal Rico. Her former students have gone on to positions at institutions including Dana Farber/Broad Institute, Regis College, and Flagship Ventures. The laboratory regularly participates in scientific conferences including the Molecular Parasitology Meeting at Woods Hole and the Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology conference. Dr. Klingbeil teaches several courses including Parasitology (MICRO 590S), Parasitology Lab (MICRO 590L), Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis (MICRO 797P), Advanced Cell Biology (MCB 641), and Writing in Microbiology (MICRO 360). Her laboratory organizes regular social events including pumpkin carving parties and outings to Six Flags New England and Mt. Sugarloaf.
Zhe Ji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McCormick School of Engineering and the Department of Pharmacology at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. His research integrates computational and experimental genomics to study gene transcription and RNA translation in cell fate commitment and oncogenic processes, aiming to develop precision medicine strategies. **Education**: Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Ph.D. in Computational Genomics, Rutgers University B.S. in Biotechnology, Nanjing University, China **Research Focus**: Keywords include Data Science, Computational Biology, Functional Genomics, RNA, Cancer, Inflammation, and Machine Learning. The lab explores regulatory mechanisms underlying disease, with a focus on translational control, cancer metastasis, and inflammatory networks. **Grants & Advising**: No specific grants or student advisees listed. The lab emphasizes collaborative projects and computational-experimental approaches. **Lab Affiliations**: Zhe Ji’s lab is part of Northwestern’s interdisciplinary environment, bridging engineering and medicine to advance genomic technologies and therapeutic strategies.
Professor David Grainger is a faculty member at the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, specializing in Molecular Microbiology. He leads the Grainger Lab, focusing on bacterial chromosome biology, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance. His research integrates high-throughput techniques and single-molecule analysis to study gene regulation and bacterial pathogenesis. Education: PhD (2004), PGCE (2000), BSc (1999) in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham. Affiliations: Part of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI), collaborating with experts in genomics, proteomics, and structural biology. Research Interests: Deciphering chromosome biology of pathogenic bacteria, including transcriptional regulation, toxin production control, and antibiotic resistance pathways. Utilizes cutting-edge methods like Hi-C for 3D chromatin analysis and single-molecule microscopy. Recent Articles: Focused on transposon capture mechanisms, bacterial promoter diversity, and quorum sensing signaling. Highlights include studies on Salmonella regulons and Vibrio cholerae biofilm suppression. Awards: Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship (2008), Runner-up in 'Science Snaps' competition for scientific communication. Grants: Career Development Fellowship-funded establishment of his research group at the University of Warwick (2008). Labs/Teams: Grainger Lab at the University of Birmingham, part of the IMI network. Engages in public science outreach via Twitter and lab website.
Harri Lähdesmäki is an Associate Professor (tenured) at the Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, where he leads the Computational Systems Biology research group. His work focuses on probabilistic machine learning and deep generative models with applications in biomedicine and molecular biology. Key Research Interests: Probabilistic machine learning, deep generative models, computational biology, bioinformatics, longitudinal data modeling Contact: harri.lahdesmaki@aalto.fi | Konemiehentie 2, 02150 Espoo, Finland His recent publications highlight advancements in: Gaussian process priors for scalable deep generative models Single-cell analysis of immune repertoires in leukemia and diabetes Probabilistic deconvolution methods for RNA-seq data Epigenetic analysis using hidden Markov and mixed models Transformer-based survival prediction and missing data handling Harri’s work integrates mechanistic modeling with Bayesian inference, particularly applied to immunology, cancer biology, and early disease prediction.
