Prof. Dr. Hüseyin AKSOY is a faculty member at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Sakarya University , Turkey. With over 25 years of academic experience, he specializes in genotoxicology, molecular genetics, and environmental toxicology, focusing on the genetic impacts of industrial chemicals, pesticides, and nanomaterials. Key Positions : Professor (2019-present), Associate Professor (2012-2019), Assistant Professor (2006-2012) Editorial Roles : Editorial board member for Sakarya University Journal of Science (2016-2023), reviewer for 15+ international journals Research Interests center on DNA damage mechanisms from environmental stressors, including: Nanoparticle and nanoplastic toxicity Pesticide genotoxicity Occupational mutagen exposure Plant-based antigenotoxic compounds Electromagnetic field impacts His work combines in vitro human lymphocyte assays with plant models (e.g., Allium cepa) to assess mutagenic risks. Notably, he led 2025 studies on polystyrene nanoplastics and 2024 projects on urban water microbiome genotoxicity. Scientific Awards : Yayın Ödülü (Publication Award, 2012) Academic Leadership : Supervised 5 doctoral theses and 7 master's theses, including Selen Şen's 2018 research on carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and Ahmet Ali Berber's 2012 thesis on statin genotoxicity.
Nicole Gervais, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Rosalind Franklin Fellow in behavioural and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering. She is affiliated with the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) and the Faculty of Medical Sciences/UMCG's Cognition, Ageing and Disease (CAD) research group. Dr. Gervais leads the Memory, Sleep, and Hormones (MeSH) lab, which focuses on translational research examining how sex differences and hormonal changes affect brain health. Dr. Gervais earned her PhD in Psychology/Behavioural Neuroscience from Concordia University in Montréal, Québec. She completed postdoctoral training at institutions in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA and Toronto, Canada. Before joining the University of Groningen in September 2023, she held a Research Associate position at the Rotman Research Institute and University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. Her research program explores diversity in vulnerability to neuropsychiatric conditions and responses to therapeutics, with particular focus on how individual factors (especially sex) and environmental conditions contribute to neuropsychiatric disease and treatment effectiveness. She investigates sleep-wake patterns, social interactions, and cognition across species to understand how hormonal transitions like menopause affect brain health. Her work has significant implications for understanding why certain neurological and psychiatric conditions disproportionately affect women. Dr. Gervais's publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of sex differences, sleep physiology, and cognitive function. Her recent work examines how early ovarian removal affects hippocampal function, memory, and sleep architecture. She employs both human studies and rodent models to investigate these questions, using techniques including neuroimaging (MRI), sleep physiology measurements, behavioral assessments, hormone quantification, and pharmacological manipulations. Rosalind Franklin Fellowship Dr. Gervais serves as an editor for special issues of the journal Hormones and Behavior. Her research has received significant attention, with multiple publications covered in international media outlets. Her work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to good health and well-being. She has published over 27 research outputs including articles, preprints, editorials, and review articles, with many receiving substantial citations and media coverage. Dr. Gervais directs the Memory, Sleep, and Hormones (MeSH) lab, which takes a translational approach to studying how major hormone changes interact with genes to increase vulnerability for developing insomnia and its adverse consequences for the aging female brain. The lab uses complementary research in rodents and humans, employing touchscreen tasks with high translational value to assess cognitive function in rodents and EEG recordings to assess sleep. Their research has important implications for understanding and treating conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as insomnia and Alzheimer's disease.
John Rinzel is a Professor of Neural Science and Mathematics at New York University, affiliated with the Center for Neural Science and the Courant Institute. He holds academic positions within the College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. His research focuses on computational neuroscience, integrating biophysical mechanisms with mathematical modeling to understand neural computations at cellular and network levels. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics (1973) and M.S. in Mathematics (1968) from NYU’s Courant Institute, and a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Florida (1967). Ph.D. in Mathematics, NYU Courant Institute (1973) M.S. in Mathematics, NYU Courant Institute (1968) B.S. in Engineering, University of Florida (1967) Research Interests: Rinzel studies biophysical mechanisms underlying neural computations, including dendritic computation, neuronal excitability, auditory pathway modeling, perceptual bistability, and rhythmic timing. His work combines theoretical models with experimental collaborations, emphasizing reduced biophysical models for cellular and network-level dynamics. Recent research trends include auditory streaming, perceptual dynamics, and rhythmic beat generation in music. His models explore gamma oscillations, thalamic spindle rhythms, and sleep-related neural excitability. Publications highlight applications in sensory processing, neural network oscillations, and cognitive functions like attention and memory coordination. No scientific awards explicitly listed. Rinzel leads a research group focusing on computational neuroscience, collaborating on projects involving auditory neuroscience, mathematical biology, and theoretical neurophysiology. His lab is part of NYU’s Center for Neural Science, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to brain function.
Professor Paul W. Hodges is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow (Level 3) and Professor at The University of Queensland's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. He serves as Director of the Centre for Innovation in Pain and Health Research (CIPHeR). NHMRC Leadership Fellow (Level 3) Director, CIPHeR International Collaborator (Universities of Adelaide, South Australia) Research Focus : Integrating molecular biology, brain physiology, and human function to understand pain mechanisms and movement control. His work spans: Pain Mechanism Discrimination Neuromuscular Adaptation Pelvic Floor & Continence Low Back Pain Rehabilitation Musculoskeletal Imaging Article Trends : Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Ultrasound Imaging for Pelvic Floor Assessment Pain Phenotyping & Biomarker Development Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms in Chronic Pain Exercise Physiology for Spine Health Sex-Based Pain Differences Scientific Awards : 5× ISSLS Prize Winner (Basic/Co-Clinical Science) 2010 Susanne Klein-Vogelbach Award 2009 Delsys Prize 2011 NHMRC Achievement Award Leadership : Chairs international task forces for IASP and ISEK. Leads NHMRC Synergy Grant with Australian/US collaborators.
Anu-Katriina Pesonen is a Full Professor of Experimental Mind and Brain Research at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Medicine and currently serves as Vice Dean (Research Affairs). She leads the Sleep & Mind Research Group, focusing on interdisciplinary studies combining psychology, medicine, and neuroscience to explore sleep mechanisms related to stress, memory, and emotional regulation. Her work emphasizes experimental interventions and EEG analytics to develop therapeutic tools for sleep improvement. Academically, she holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Helsinki (2004) and Docent titles in Educational/Developmental Psychology (2006, University of Helsinki) and Personality Psychology (2008, University of Tampere). She became a full professor in 2015 and transitioned to her current role in 2020. Her leadership includes roles in the National Graduate School of Psychology and the University of Helsinki's Board. Research interests span sleep dynamics, developmental psychology, and mental health. Notable projects include investigations into REM sleep's role in emotional processing, circadian rhythms, and the impact of early-life stress on cognition. She has supervised multiple doctoral theses and contributed to over 245 publications, including studies on sleep fragmentation, BDNF genotype effects on memory, and circadian preference associations with mental health. Her awards include the 2006 Berzelius Symposium Award for young investigators. She actively engages in grant-funded research, including projects on REM sleep interventions and sleep EEG analysis. Her Sleep & Mind team collaborates internationally, addressing sleep's role in resilience and mental health through experimental and computational approaches.
Christian Lange is a Research Fellow at the Mathematical Institute of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich). He holds a PhD and specializes in differential geometry, geometric topology, and orbifold theory. His current teaching includes a lecture on Riemannian Geometry (Summer 2025), focusing on advanced topics in geometric analysis. His research emphasizes orbifold structures, geodesic flows, and curvature properties. Notable contributions include studies on closed geodesics on orbifolds, systolic inequalities, and the interplay between billiard dynamics and Alexandrov geometry. Lange collaborates internationally, addressing problems in Riemannian geometry, symplectic topology, and geometric group actions. Publications highlight work on orbifold curvature bounds, Besse metrics, and deformations of Finsler structures. His 2023 paper in Journal of the European Mathematical Society proved a diameter gap theorem for sphere quotients. He also explores connections between Lorentzian metrics and Lipschitz regularity in geometric analysis. Supported by institutions like the Simons Foundation, Lange’s work bridges pure geometry with applications in topology and mathematical physics. His research group focuses on geometry and topology, contributing to foundational questions in differential and metric geometry.
Holly Lovegrove is a Lecturer in Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Manchester's Division of Cardiovascular Sciences. Her research focuses on how cells execute division in complex in vivo environments, particularly during tissue development in zebrafish and Drosophila. She holds fellowships from the Wellcome Trust, including the Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship and ISSF independent fellowship. Her work contributes to UN SDGs related to health and innovation. Education: Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh Masters in Forensic Science PhD at the Gurdon Institute (University of Cambridge) studying Drosophila epithelial tissue development Research Interests: Lovegrove explores cell division mechanics using live imaging in developmental models. Key themes include: Cell division dynamics in blood vessel formation Role of cell polarity during morphogenesis Mitotic spindle positioning in endothelial cells Publications: Recent work reveals insights into interphase morphology influencing mitosis outcomes and mRNA trafficking's role in mitochondrial distribution. Her 2024 methodological contribution enables in vivo angiogenesis imaging innovations. Awards: Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship Wellcome Trust ISSF Independent Fellowship Advising & Labs: Leads her independent research group at the University of Manchester, collaborating with institutions globally. Active in mentoring PhD students pursuing developmental cell biology.
Anthony A. Hyman FRS MAE is a British molecular cell biologist, director and scientific member at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, Germany, and honorary professor at the Faculty of Biology, TU Dresden . Since 1999 he has co-directed MPI-CBG, serving as Managing Director from 2010–2013. He is celebrated for elucidating how microtubule cytoskeleton networks control cell division, spindle positioning and cell polarity, and for discovering that membrane-less cellular compartments arise via liquid–liquid phase separation—a paradigm honoured by the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Education : BSc, University College London PhD, University of Cambridge (1987) – thesis on establishment of division axes in C. elegans early embryonic divisions Research Interests : Hyman’s laboratory integrates quantitative imaging, biophysics and biochemistry to decipher cytoplasmic organization. Core themes include: • Microtubule dynamics and spindle assembly : discovery of key stabilizing (XMAP215) and destabilizing (XKCM1) factors. • Phase separation & biomolecular condensates : revealing how intrinsically disordered proteins and RNA demix to form liquid droplets, with implications for ALS and age-related diseases. • Cell division parts lists : pioneering genome-wide RNAi screens in C. elegans and human cells (EU MITOCHECK & MitoSys consortia). Scientific Awards & Honours : EMBO Member (2000) and Gold Medal (2003) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, Germany’s highest research award (2011) Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS, 2007) Member, Academia Europaea (2014) Schleiden Medal, Leopoldina (2017) NOMIS Distinguished Scientist Award (2020) Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences (2021) HFSP Nakasone Award (2021) Körber European Science Prize (2022) Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2023) Member, National Academy of Sciences (2020) Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2021) Leadership & Service : Beyond directing MPI-CBG, Hyman served on the Strategic Advisory Board of the Wellcome Trust and co-founded Dewpoint Therapeutics to translate condensate biology into medical applications. His group continues to lead international consortia investigating the physical basis of cellular compartmentalization. Laboratory & Teams : The Hyman Lab at MPI-CBG comprises physicists, chemists and biologists who exploit advanced live-cell imaging, in vitro reconstitution and genome engineering to dissect how phase separation governs cytoplasmic architecture. Ongoing projects target the molecular grammar of condensate formation and therapeutic modulation in neurodegeneration.
Christopher W. Brownlee, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at Stony Brook University School of Medicine . His interdisciplinary research leverages the Xenopus laevis model system to investigate fundamental cellular processes including mitotic spindle positioning , ciliogenesis , cell polarity , and organelle size scaling . These mechanisms are critical for development and implicated in cancer pathology and human diseases . Doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine , University of Arizona College of Medicine Postdoctoral Research, University of California – Berkeley (American Cancer Society Fellowship) Affiliated Faculty: Molecular and Cellular Biology , Genetics , and Biophysics and Physiology at Stony Brook His lab employs microfluidics and optogenetics to dissect how cells regulate size and shape through phosphorylation-dephosphorylation pathways and importin α dynamics . Current projects include: Palmitoylation of importin α in spindle orientation TPX2 motif analysis for spindle architecture Ciliogenesis regulation during nephrogenesis Base excision repair in Xenopus eggs Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer Recent trends highlight his work on organelle scaling and cell polarity mechanisms , with applications in oncology and developmental disorders . Notable awards include the MCB Postdoctoral Award (2018) , NSF Graduate Research Fellowship , and American Cancer Society Fellowship . Graduate students and postdocs in his lab have secured grants such as the NIH/NIGMS MIRA R35 and ASCB Travel Grants . The lab collaborates with Stony Brook’s Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics departments, utilizing human cell culture and Xenopus models . Research intersects with cancer , developmental biology , and signal transduction disciplines, providing diagnostic insights via organelle deregulation in tumorigenesis.
James Antony is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University and a B.A. in Biochemistry & Music from Lawrence University. Prior to his current role, he was an Assistant Project Scientist at the University of California, Davis and a C.V. Starr Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University. His research explores how memories persist over time, focusing on mechanisms like sleep-mediated consolidation, reactivation during wakefulness, and the influence of factors like surprise and semantic relatedness. He employs methodologies such as behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, and computational modeling. Antony has received notable awards including the 2019 Cermak/Corkin Post-Doc Award and recognition as a 2022 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. His work spans topics including targeted memory reactivation, spatial gist extraction, and the neural signatures of surprise during naturalistic viewing. Recent studies highlight the role of sleep spindles in memory processing and the application of closed-loop stimulation techniques. His research has been published in journals like Neuron , Current Biology , and Science . Antony advises students on projects involving memory reactivation and learning strategies, reflecting his commitment to integrating undergraduate research into cognitive neuroscience inquiries.
Dr. Ahmed Balboula is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing mammalian oocyte meiosis and early embryonic development. He holds a Ph.D. from Mansoura University (Egypt) and NARO (Japan), and a DVM from Mansoura University. Prior to his current position, he conducted postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and a Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Research Interests: The Balboula lab investigates how oocyte meiotic fidelity impacts human health, agriculture, and basic biology. Key areas include spindle dynamics, DNA damage repair, autophagy regulation, and the role of cathepsins in developmental competence. Techniques employed include advanced imaging, transgenic mouse models, and genetic approaches. Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes oocyte quality, environmental toxin effects (e.g., titanium dioxide nanoparticles), and molecular pathways regulating meiotic processes. Studies bridge basic science with clinical applications, such as improving IVF outcomes and understanding uterine pathologies like leiomyoma. Scientific Award: 2023 SSR Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Award Advising/Grants: Currently accepting graduate students. Research funded by grants exploring oocyte maturation, embryo development, and reproductive health. Labs/Teams: Leads the Balboula Lab at the University of Missouri, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects involving reproductive biology and developmental genomics.
Masaki Shirayama is an Assistant Professor at the UMass Chan Medical School , affiliated with the RNA Therapeutics Institute under the T.H. Chan School of Medicine . His research focuses on Cell Biology , Molecular Biology , and Developmental Biology , with a specialization in C. elegans genetics and RNA regulatory mechanisms. Education : PhD in Biology from the University of Tokyo , Japan. Shirayama's work explores the roles of Argonaute proteins , piRNAs , and epigenetic signals in germline gene expression and RNA interference . He investigates asymmetric cell division , chromosome segregation , and Wnt signaling pathways using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. His publications (15 most recent) highlight themes in RNA regulation , epigenetic inheritance , germline genome surveillance , and developmental gene networks . Key subfields include piRNA function , Argonaute pathways , cytokinesis , cell polarity , and RNA-binding protein interactions . Shirayama collaborates with researchers such as Craig Mello , Darryl Conte , and Zhiping Weng within the RNA Therapeutics Institute. His work spans genetics , embryology , and molecular mechanisms of gene regulation.
Kenji Sugioka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia , where he leads an interdisciplinary lab investigating the developmental patterning of cell division. Combining live-imaging, genetics, and tissue engineering, his group uses the 959-cell nematode C. elegans to uncover fundamental rules that orchestrate embryonic morphogenesis. Education & Training BSc – University of Tokyo MSc – University of Tokyo PhD – Kobe University / RIKEN Post-doctoral fellow – University of Oregon (Human Frontier Science Program) Research Focus The Sugioka laboratory studies how environmental cues and cell-cell communication precisely pattern the orientation and timing of cell divisions to sculpt tissues and organs. Specific interests include: Causal relationships between extrinsic/intrinsic cues and division patterns. Molecular mechanisms underlying symmetry-breaking of cytokinesis. Contribution of cell-surface flows to division patterning. Publication Trends Over the past decade Dr. Sugioka has published extensively on cell polarity, cytokinesis mechanics, and Wnt-mediated asymmetric divisions in C. elegans . His work spans high-impact journals ( Nature Communications, Developmental Cell, Cell, PNAS ) and integrates quantitative imaging with genetic dissection, revealing how cortical myosin flows, spindle forces, and cadherin dynamics shape early embryos. Scientific Awards & Funding Human Frontier Science Program post-doctoral fellowship Advising & Mentorship Dr. Sugioka currently mentors two graduate students in his UBC lab: V. Juciute L. Zhou Contact & Lab Email: kenji.sugioka@ubc.ca Office: 604-822-4628 Lab website: https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~sugioka
Professor Jonathon Pines is the Chris Marshall Chair of Cell Biology at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), University of London, and serves as Head of the Division of Cancer Biology. Since moving to ICR in 2015, he has led a research programme focused on understanding how cells divide and how the machinery controlling mitosis is regulated in space and time. Education & Career: PhD under Sir Tim Hunt—first to clone cyclin B, a key regulator of mitosis. Postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute in Tony Hunter’s lab—cloned first human cyclins A and B1 and initiated studies on cell-cycle protein interactions. Established independent laboratory at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, pioneering live-cell imaging of fluorescent protein dynamics to study cell-cycle regulation. Research Focus: His group investigates the spatial and temporal control of mitosis, with particular emphasis on the spindle assembly checkpoint, APC/C ubiquitin ligase, cyclin degradation, and the maintenance of genomic stability. Recent work explores how spatial positioning of APC/C and cyclin B1 on mitotic chromosomes ensures timely proteolysis and accurate chromosome segregation. Scientific Recognition: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (2016) for outstanding contributions to cell-cycle research. Funding & Collaborations: His research has been supported by major grants and extensive national and international collaborations, reflected in co-authored studies across proteomics, structural biology, and live-cell imaging. Laboratory & Team: The Pines laboratory, located in Chelsea, London, integrates advanced microscopy, biochemical reconstitution, and quantitative proteomics to dissect the molecular choreography of mitosis and its implications for cancer biology.
Jeffrey K. Moore is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He also serves as the Director of the Graduate Program in Cell Biology, Stem Cells and Development. His research focuses on understanding how microtubule networks organize cells and regulate crucial cellular processes, with implications for human diseases including cancer and neuropathies. Dr. Moore received his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 2006. His academic journey has led him to specialize in cellular organization mechanisms, particularly how the microtubule cytoskeleton controls organelle positioning during cell division and migration. His work bridges fundamental cell biology with potential clinical applications. Dr. Moore's research interests center on the molecular mechanisms that regulate microtubule dynamics and function. His laboratory investigates how molecular motors interact with microtubule tracks, how mitosis is coordinated with cell polarity during asymmetric cell divisions, and how cells develop resistance to microtubule-targeting cancer drugs. His work combines powerful yeast genetics with quantitative microscopy and protein biochemistry to uncover fundamental principles of cellular organization. The laboratory's research has significant implications for understanding human diseases where microtubule dysfunction plays a critical role. Dr. Moore's publications reveal how specialized microtubules serve different cellular functions through tubulin isotypes and post-translational modifications. His work on the 'tubulin code' has advanced understanding of how microtubule networks can be differentially regulated in various cellular contexts. Recent publications examine α-tubulin regulation, tubulin isotype specialization, and the role of microtubule-based forces in genome stability. As Director of the Graduate Program in Cell Biology, Stem Cells and Development, Dr. Moore mentors numerous graduate students in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. His research program is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies focused on understanding fundamental cellular processes with implications for human health. The Moore Lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus utilizes the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a primary model system. The lab brings together researchers with expertise in genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and quantitative imaging to tackle questions about cellular organization. Their collaborative approach has led to important insights into how cells manipulate their internal architecture for proper function, with findings relevant to understanding disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic approaches.
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