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.
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.
Mikael Thollesson is a Senior Lecturer at Uppsala University, affiliated with the Department of Organismal Biology; Systematic Biology and Klubban’s Biological Station. His research focuses on evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, taxonomy, and molecular biology, particularly in marine and freshwater sponges (Porifera), bacterial pathogens, and computational methods in evolutionary analysis. Evolutionary Biology Marine Biology Taxonomy His recent publications highlight trends in sponge biodiversity, phylogeography, bacterial horizontal gene transfer, and mitochondrial gene evolution. Key articles include studies on Swedish demosponge faunas, Silene sect. Arenosae systematics, and computational tools like SPRIT for detecting gene transfers. No explicit awards or grants are mentioned.
Dr. Vakil Takhaveev is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology, within the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health. His research focuses on DNA damage mechanisms, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on developing novel DNA-damage-sequencing methods like click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq . He investigates anticancer drug action (e.g., trabectedin), aging clocks using DNA oxidation profiling, and stress-induced carcinogenesis. His work integrates multi-omics approaches and advanced sequencing techniques. Research Directions: Novel DNA-Damage-Sequencing Methods: Developed click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq for genomic mapping of DNA lesions and repair dynamics. Anticancer Drug Action: Explored mechanisms of trabectedin and other chemotherapeutics, linking DNA repair vulnerabilities to therapy resistance. Aging Clocks: Created DNA oxidation-based biomarkers for biological aging using genome-wide profiling in human and mouse models. Stress-Induced Pathologies: Studies metabolic and DNA damage links to early tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. Awards & Recognition: 2025 Public Award Winner in PIs of Tomorrow competition 2024 ETH Zurich Career Seed Award Best presentation awards (Swiss Chemical Society, American Chemical Society) Grants & Collaborations: Impetus grants for aging clock development Swiss Chemical Society and American Chemical Society fellowships Labs & Teams: Leads research on DNA damage and aging mechanisms at ETH Zurich, collaborating with international groups in oncology and toxicology.
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.
Dr. John A. Copland III is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He leads the Cancer Biology and Translational Research Laboratory, focusing on molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and development of targeted cancer therapies. Education: PhD in Physiology & Endocrinology (Medical College of Georgia), MS in Endocrinology (Medical College of Georgia), BS in Chemistry (Columbus College), with postdoctoral training at University of Texas Medical Branch. Research interests center on: Identifying tumor suppressor genes (e.g., RhoB, TBR3, GATA3) and oncogenes (e.g., FOXO3a, SCD1, NPTX2). Developing patient-derived xenografts and live cell models for personalized medicine. Designing SCD1 inhibitors via in silico modeling for clinical trials. Recent publications highlight his work on SCD1 inhibition in leukemia and thyroid cancer ImmunoPET imaging of thyroid tumors CRISPR-identified drug synergies in cholangiocarcinoma Patient-specific combination therapies using xenograft models
Dieter Braun is a Professor in the Faculty of Physics at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), leading the Functional NanoSystems research group. He serves as speaker of the CRC 235 Emergence of Life and coordinates the Molecular Origins component of the Origins Cluster. Dr. Braun holds an ERC Synergy Grant (starting April 2025), leads the CRC 392 Molecular Evolution (starting April 2024), and is a Fellow in the Max Planck School Matter to Life (since October 2023). His research focuses on understanding the physical mechanisms that could have led to the emergence of Darwinian evolution from prebiotic molecules on early Earth. Braun's laboratory investigates non-equilibrium settings, particularly asymmetrically heated open cracks in rocks, which create intricate wet-dry cycles, temperature gradients, and fluidic effects that could drive molecular evolution. His work bridges physics, chemistry, and biology to explore how dead molecules might combine through physical forces into autonomous mechanisms of evolution. Analysis of Braun's recent publications reveals a strong focus on thermal gradients and non-equilibrium physics in prebiotic environments. His research demonstrates how heat flows can concentrate molecules, drive polymerization, create pH gradients, and enable non-enzymatic replication of nucleic acids. The publications span high-impact journals including Nature, Nature Physics, and Nature Chemistry, showing interdisciplinary work connecting physics, chemistry, geology, and biology in the context of life's origins. Klung-Wilhelmy Weberbank Price (2011) Technology Transfer Price of the DPG (with LMU and NanoTemper) Deutscher Innovationspreis (2012) Step Award (2012) Dr. Braun has successfully mentored numerous PhD students, including Stefan Duhr and Philipp Baaske who founded the award-winning startup NanoTemper Technologies. His research is supported by multiple prestigious grants including ERC Starting, Advanced, and Synergy Grants, as well as funding from the Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life. His laboratory collaborates extensively with other researchers across disciplines and institutions, particularly with Hannes Mutschler in the new ERC Synergy project. The Braun laboratory operates within the CRC 235 Emergence of Life and the Origins Cluster at LMU Munich, with strong connections to the Max Planck Society through the Max Planck School Matter to Life. The research group maintains active collaborations with geochemists, biophysicists, and molecular biologists to create comprehensive experimental models of prebiotic environments.
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.
Daeyeon Lee is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and holds the Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professorship. He leads the Soft Materials Research and Technology (SMART) Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary research in soft materials, microfluidics, and biomedical applications. His work spans gas-encapsulating microcapsules, nanozyme-shelled microrobots, and AI-empowered droplet synthesis. Research Interests : Soft materials, polymer-nanoparticle interactions, microfluidics, targeted drug delivery, and AI-driven manufacturing. Grants : NSF Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA BioFoundry (NSF AIRFoundry), Wellcome Leap contract for lipid nanoparticle research. Scientific Awards : Penn CBE Distinguished Teaching Award, 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award in Nanoscience, Nemirovsky Engineering and Medicine Opportunity (NEMO) Prize. The SMART Lab has produced notable publications in ACS Nano , Advanced Healthcare Materials , and Science Advances , with recent work on biofilm treatment, water harvesting, and RNA-lipid nanoparticle manufacturing. The lab relocated to the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) in 2024 and collaborates with institutions like the Technical University of Munich and Carnegie Mellon University.
Brent Page is an Associate Professor (tenured) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and maintains a research group at the Karolinska Institute , Department of Oncology and Pathology. His dual affiliation underpins a trans-Atlantic program that integrates cutting-edge chemical biology with medicinal chemistry for anti-cancer drug discovery. Education & Training PhD in Chemistry – University of Toronto (2013) HBSc in Chemistry (Honours) – University of British Columbia (2008) CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow – Karolinska Institute, Sweden (2008–2016) Assistant Professor (non-independent) – Karolinska Institute, Department of Oncology-Pathology (2017–2021) Research Focus Dr. Page’s laboratory operates at the interface of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology , aiming to identify and optimize small-molecule inhibitors for proteins previously considered “undruggable.” Core targets include STAT3, CLIC3, NUDT5/15 and SRPK3 . The group employs cellular thermal shift assays , isothermal ligand-induced resolubilization (ILIRA) , and CeTEAM technologies to quantify target engagement and refine structure–activity relationships in physiologically relevant models of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, leukemia and atopic diseases . Funding & Collaborations His program is supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and other national and international agencies. Dr. Page actively participates in UBC’s Accelerated Translational Opioid Research Cluster and welcomes interdisciplinary collaborations and undergraduate research involvement. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committed to fostering an inclusive environment, Dr. Page mandates EDI training for all lab members and actively encourages participation from equity-deserving groups.
Dr. Megan Bergkessel is a Research Professor in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Dundee's School of Life Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa regulate activities during growth arrest, particularly in resource-limited environments. This work addresses antibiotic tolerance mechanisms critical to chronic infections. Principal Investigator leading studies on non-growing bacterial physiology Recipient of a £900k UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (2020) Expertise in antimicrobial resistance and microbial stress responses Current research explores regulatory pathways enabling protein synthesis in non-growing states, with implications for developing novel infection treatments. Supervises PhD projects investigating two-component signaling systems and environmental sensing in P. aeruginosa. Recognized for teaching excellence in Biological and Biomedical Sciences programs. PhD opportunities: Adaptive antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and environmental sensing roles Media commentary available via Corporate Communications
Hang Lu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. He specializes in science, health, environmental, and risk communication (ComSHER), with a focus on media psychology. His research explores audience responses to media messages about sensitive topics and strategies to enhance message effectiveness. Lu holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Cornell University (2018), along with advanced degrees from Cornell, Marquette University, and Central South University in China. He directs the Media and Risk (MaR) Lab and previously served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. His research spans four main areas: 1) emotion dynamics in media responses, 2) predictors of information behaviors, 3) media effects on stigmatization, and 4) AI applications in sensitive domains. He has published in journals like Journal of Communication , Risk Analysis , and Public Understanding of Science , earning multiple top paper awards. As Vice Chair of the Environmental Communication Division at the International Communication Association, Lu contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue. His work addresses critical societal issues such as climate change communication, vaccination hesitancy, and emerging technology ethics.
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)