Professor Chris Phillips is a Professor of Experimental Solid State Physics at Imperial College London's Department of Physics, part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He leads the Optoelectronics section and holds affiliations with the Experimental Solid State Physics Group, Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology, and The Light Community. With over 280 publications and 26 PhD graduates, his research focuses on quantum optical effects in nanostructures, including semiconductor 'artificial atoms', quantum metamaterials for superlens applications, and mid-IR medical imaging for cancer diagnosis. He has pioneered Digistain technology, a quantitative method for cancer grading, and is exploring quantum ratchet solar cells for ultra-high efficiency energy conversion. His career spans 40+ years with roles including Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (2009–present), international panel memberships, and BBC collaborations. He has secured over £10M in grants, predominantly from EPSRC. Awards include recognition for innovative undergraduate teaching. His research portfolio combines cutting-edge physics with clinical applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Scientific contributions span quantum metamaterials for sub-diffraction imaging, thresholdless THz lasers, and nanoscale chemical imaging of cellular structures. Public engagement includes science festivals in India/Kazakhstan and media appearances. Current projects include clinical trials of Digistain and quantum ratchet solar cell prototyping.
Manfred Lindau is a Professor at Cornell University, active since 1997, with a focus on biophysics, physiology, and cell biology. His research addresses the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter and hormone release via exocytosis, particularly the SNARE complex and fusion pore dynamics. Education: B.S. in Physics (1977, University of Hamburg), Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (1983, Technical University of Berlin) Leadership: President of Biophysical Society Exocytosis & Endocytosis Subgroup (2010), Appointed Member of Asian Institute of NanoBioScience and Technology (2004) Research centers on exocytosis , membrane fusion , and SNARE proteins , integrating biophysical, computational, and molecular techniques. Publications reveal a 30-year trajectory spanning mast cell degranulation, eosinophil dynamics, and advanced methodologies like CMOS-based drug screening and electrochemical detector arrays . Awards: Sir Bernard Katz Award (2018), Humboldt Research Award (2003), Tau Beta Pi Teaching Award (2018) Collaborations: Biophysical Society, Society for Neuroscience, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Lindau's work bridges experimental and computational approaches, advancing understanding of cellular secretion mechanisms and their therapeutic implications.
Priya Moorjani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research integrates computational and statistical methods to study human genetics and evolutionary biology, focusing on genetic variation's evolutionary origins and applications to human history and disease. She leads the Moorjani Lab, which investigates mutation rate evolution across primates, admixture events in human populations, and leveraging evolutionary insights for disease gene discovery. Her work combines method development with large-scale genomic data analysis. Key research themes include reconstructing human evolutionary history using ancient and modern genetic data, understanding the impact of founder events and admixture on disease risk, and measuring mutation rates in primates. The lab has made significant contributions to studies of South Asian population history, Neanderthal/Denisovan introgression, and the genomic basis of human adaptation. Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2023) and Novo Nordisk Foundation grants (2022–2024). She advises students such as Jesseon Chang (Master’s recipient) and collaborates on projects funded by major grants. The lab is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in science, aligning with initiatives like Black Lives Matter.
Claudia Kuenzer is a Senior Researcher and Head of the 'Land Surface Dynamics' Research Group at the German Earth Observation Center (EOC) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). She serves as the Overall Scientific Project Coordinator for initiatives such as WISDOM, DELIGHT, and DRAGON-3. Her expertise spans multispectral, thermal, and radar remote sensing, with a focus on environmental monitoring, land surface dynamics, and capacity-building in geosciences and resource management. She has held leadership roles in projects addressing coal fires, forest fires, and integrated watershed management in Asia. Dr. Kuenzer holds a PhD in Earth Sciences and has conducted research at institutions including the University of Trier (Germany), Western Washington University (USA), and Beijing Normal University (China). Her work integrates remote sensing with GIS to address global challenges like climate change impacts, disaster response, and sustainable resource management. She has coordinated large-scale international collaborations, notably in Southeast Asia and Europe. Key areas of focus include satellite-based monitoring of vegetation, surface water dynamics, and coastal changes. She has pioneered methodologies for analyzing long-term environmental trends using multi-decadal satellite datasets. Her contributions extend to policy-oriented applications, such as vulnerability assessments and knowledge systems for adaptive management in regions like the Mekong Delta. Her research outputs include over 150 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on remote sensing applications in forestry, hydrology, and climate science. She leads DLR’s efforts in developing innovative tools for Earth observation data analysis, including deep learning approaches for glacier monitoring and supraglacial lake dynamics. Her team also explores offshore wind energy infrastructure tracking and permafrost erosion monitoring in Arctic regions.
Giuseppe Sansone is a full professor of experimental physics at the University of Freiburg, leading the Attosecond and Strong Field Physics group. He holds an Internal Senior Fellow position (Sep 2024–Apr 2025) and previously held postdoctoral fellowships at RIKEN (Japan) and the Max-Planck-Institute (Germany). His work focuses on attosecond metrology at free-electron lasers and ultrafast molecular dynamics using coincidence spectroscopy. Key contributions include the development of the Extreme Light Infrastructure Attosecond Light Pulse Source (ELI-ALPS) in Hungary. His research spans attosecond pulse characterization, quantum control in extreme UV domains, and coherent control mechanisms in molecular systems. Education: PhD in Physics (2004, Politecnico Milano), career progression from assistant to associate professor at Politecnico Milano before joining Freiburg in 2016. Research interests include: attosecond temporal structure analysis, nonlinear XUV applications, wave-packet manipulation in Rydberg states, and femtosecond polarization shaping. His experimental setups leverage seeded free-electron lasers and advanced spectroscopic techniques. Publications highlight advancements in photoelectron interferometry, resonance dynamics, and ultrafast nuclear motion studies. His work bridges atomic/molecular physics with cutting-edge laser technologies. Awards: JSPS Short-Term Postdoc Fellowship (2007), Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2009-2010). Lab leadership: Director of the Attosecond and Strong Field Physics group at Freiburg, contributing to ELI-ALPS infrastructure development. His team focuses on time-resolved XUV-IR coincidence spectroscopy and novel attosecond timing tools.
Arjen de Groot is a Researcher in Animal Ecology at Wageningen University & Research. His work focuses on biodiversity, microbiome analysis, and remote sensing applications in forest ecosystems. He leads projects on biomonitoring, sustainable land use transitions, and pollinator conservation. Notably, he investigates fungal communities in beech forests and eDNA biodiversity using satellite technology. His research integrates environmental genomics with ecology to address conservation challenges. Education: No specific education details provided. Projects: 13 active projects, including biomonitoring systems and agroecosystem diversification. Research Interests: Biodiversity patterns, pollinator ecology, microbial communities, and the application of remote sensing and eDNA for ecological monitoring. His work bridges ecological theory with technological innovation, such as using satellite data to predict soil microbiota diversity. Articles Trends: Recent work emphasizes eDNA validation, forest microbiome dynamics, and spatial genetic analysis. Key themes include environmental monitoring, conservation tool development, and interdisciplinary applications of genomics. Grants & Advising: Project leader for initiatives like 'Integrated biomonitoring for land use transitions' and 'Designing biodiverse agroecosystems.' Advises on PhD projects on insect biodiversity in solar parks. Labs/Teams: Involved in the Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative and collaborates on projects like EBEO2.0 Living Labs and the Azobé timber genetics study.
Dr. Ana Ndumu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of social identity, information behavior, and marginalized communities, particularly African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx immigrants in the U.S. She examines how libraries and information systems can advance social inclusion, with a special emphasis on HBCUs’ contributions to Library and Information Science (LIS) education. Education: PhD in Information, Florida State University School of Information Research Interests: Immigrant information justice and access Africology, Afrocentricity, and Pan-Africanism in LIS Information ethics and social inclusion HBCU-LIS education pipelines Library roles in immigrant acculturation Dr. Ndumu is affiliated with the Immigration and International Information Research Alliance (i3r@UMD) and leads projects like Libraries, Integration, and New Americans and Counted In: National Forum on Libraries and the 2020 Census . She is currently not accepting new PhD students.
Professor Tim Dafforn is a Professor of Biotechnology at the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, serving as Knowledge Exchange Lead and contributing to national science policy. His expertise spans biophysical spectroscopy and synthetic biology, with a focus on developing novel biomolecular technologies like SMALPs and RTF-EXPAR diagnostics. He holds roles including Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Chair of the Institute of Engineering Technology's Innovation Panel, and membership in UK Engineering Biology Leadership Council and Ministry of Defence committees. Education: BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (Cardiff University) and PhD in Protein Engineering (Bristol University). Research emphasizes nanotechnology-enhanced biomolecule exploitation, including membrane protein purification and diagnostics commercialization. He has founded two companies and contributed to policy frameworks for science exploitation and entrepreneurship education. Teaching focuses on applied courses enhancing student ability to translate science into practical applications. Key labs include the Birmingham Biophysical Characterisation Facility. His research streams involve bacterial cell division mechanics, nanoencapsulation methods, and detection systems, yielding seven patents. Personal interests include motorsports and long-distance car rallying.
Carlos Pérez Carmona is a Professor of Functional Ecology at the University of Tartu, Estonia, within the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences. He holds a PhD in Ecology from the Autonomous University of Madrid (2012) and has held postdoctoral and research roles at institutions including the University of South Bohemia and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. His research focuses on merging habitat-specific species pools and dark diversity concepts with functional diversity approaches, emphasizing intraspecific trait variability and its ecological implications. Affiliations: University of Tartu, DarkDivNet steering committee member, TraitDivNet founder, and editorial roles in Ecological Monographs and Functional Ecology . Education: BSc/MSc in Forestry Engineering (Technical University of Madrid), MSc/PhD in Ecology (Autonomous University of Madrid). His research interests span functional and macroecology, dark diversity, plant trait variability, and biodiversity conservation. He has led major projects like Forecasting Global Change Impacts on Ecosystems (EU-funded) and coordinates international networks. Awards include the 2024 Estonian National Science Award and a 2013 doctorate prize. Recent work emphasizes global patterns of biodiversity, functional diversity metrics, and the impact of anthropogenic threats on species. His articles explore topics such as non-native species impacts, spectral diversity in ecosystems, and mammalian life history strategies. Awards: Estonian National Science Award (2024) University of Tartu Research Award (2021) Extraordinary Doctorate Prize (2013) Advising & Grants: Supervised six PhD students and led over €3M in research funding, including EU and national grants. Labs/Teams: Coordinates DarkDivNet and TraitDivNet initiatives, advancing trait-based ecological frameworks globally.
Professor Greg Jordan is a faculty member at the University of Tasmania's School of Natural Sciences, specializing in Biological Sciences. He holds a PhD and BSc(Hons) from the University of Tasmania. His research focuses on plant responses to environmental change over timescales from years to millions of years, integrating fossil evidence, plant physiology, and phylogenetics. He has supervised 30 PhD and 35 honours students. Key research areas include palaeoecology, plant systematics, and climate change impacts on vegetation. Notable projects include studies on leaf anatomy, conifer evolution, and forest management practices. He has secured over $16 million in grant funding for projects like drought resilience and forest biodiversity conservation. Awards include the 2005 Bullard Fellowship at Harvard. Teaching responsibilities include courses on plant ecology, evolution, and field botany. Administrative roles include former Head of Biological Sciences (2018–2021). Research highlights include groundbreaking work on Tasmanian palaeoendemic flora and the use of LiDAR for forest structure analysis. Collaborations span institutions like the University of Adelaide and University of Otago. Current projects explore leaf cuticle-environment links and conifer hydraulic vulnerability.
Chaehyeon Chelsea Nam is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) at Florida State University, leading the Tropical Cyclone & Radar Research Lab. Her research focuses on understanding tropical cyclone dynamics, including genesis, intensification, and microphysical processes, through radar data analysis and high-resolution mesoscale modeling (WRF, CM1). Joined FSU in Spring 2024 Principal Investigator of her research group Active in field campaigns (ORCESTRA/PICCOLO, PRECIP 2022) Research Interests span multi-scale interactions in tropical cyclones, compound hazards, and climate change impacts. She emphasizes radar-based observations (airborne, shipborne, land-based) and parametric rainfall modeling for future projections. Recent Publications highlight sea spray effects on intensification, rainband climatology in monsoon regions, and parametric rainfall models. Her work integrates field observations with numerical simulations to study shear/dry environment impacts on genesis. Scientific Awards Best Student Oral Presentation, 14th International Conference on Mesoscale Convective Systems (ICMCS-XIV), 2021 Students include Master's candidates Connor Stoll and Abraham Tekoe, plus honor's thesis students Anna Walker and Kristen Cooper. Her lab collaborates with institutions in South Korea and the U.S., contributing to regional cyclone risk assessments.
Professor Xin Lu is Director of Research and Full Member at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford Branch, and Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Oxford. She has held prominent academic positions since 2007 at Oxford, following professorial roles at University College London (2004-2007) and Imperial College London (2000-2004). As Director of the Oxford Centre for Early Cancer Detection and Cancer Theme co-Lead at the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Professor Lu leads significant research initiatives focused on tumor suppression and cellular plasticity. Professor Lu received her academic training in China and the UK: BSc in Biochemistry from Sichuan University, China (1982) MSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from Cancer Institute, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing (1985) PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Imperial Cancer Research Fund and University College London, London, UK (1991) Professor Lu's research program centers on understanding molecular mechanisms that control cellular plasticity and suppress tumor growth. With a long-standing interest in the tumor suppressor p53 and the ASPP family of proteins, her work has revealed how cells change characteristics in response to external signals - a process fundamental to cancer initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Her laboratory investigates selective transcription mechanisms, regulators of cellular plasticity in gastrointestinal cancers (particularly esophageal and gastric), and the influence of infections like Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr Virus on cell plasticity and cancer development. The discovery of ASPP proteins as key regulators of p53 function represents a major contribution to the field. Analysis of Professor Lu's recent publications shows a consistent focus on cellular plasticity mechanisms, p53 family regulation, and the role of ASPP proteins in cancer and developmental disorders. Her work spans molecular, cellular, and tissue-level investigations, increasingly incorporating advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and organoid models to study cancer initiation and progression. Professor Lu's significant contributions to science have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Fellow of the Royal Society (2020) CDD Award for her work on cell death (2016) Elected Fellow of Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedsci) (2013) Elected Supernumerary Fellow of Magdalen College, University of Oxford (2013) Elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) (2011) Professor Lu has served on numerous scientific advisory boards, grant committees, and editorial boards. She has been a Medical Sciences Division Board Member at the University of Oxford since 2010, serves on the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Panel since 2012, and has been a Receiving Editor for Cell Death and Differentiation since 2014. Her leadership extends to organizing major international conferences, including multiple Sino-British Frontier Workshops of Cancer Biology and Ludwig-Nature Conferences on Nuclear Reprogramming of the Cancer Genome. Professor Lu leads a research group at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford Branch, based at the Old Road Campus Research Building. Her team investigates tumor suppression mechanisms with particular focus on cellular plasticity and selective transcription. The laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding the ASPP family of proteins and their roles in cancer and developmental disorders. Professor Lu's group collaborates extensively with researchers across Oxford University and internationally, particularly with institutions in China.
Professor Juerg Matter is a faculty member at the University of Southampton, holding the position of Professor of Geoengineering & Carbon Management. His research focuses on carbon mineralization in ultramafic rocks, serpentinization processes, and subsurface biogeochemistry. He leads the Center for Interacting Geo-processes in Mineral Carbon Storage and collaborates on projects like the Oman Drilling Project , investigating CO2 storage potential in ophiolites. Key affiliations include the Geochemistry Institute, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, and the Institute for Life Sciences. His research explores low-temperature hydrogen production from peridotites, nitrogen cycling in serpentinizing systems, and CO2 sequestration in mantle rocks. He has contributed to international initiatives such as the ICDP Oman Drilling Project and Greenhouse Gas Removal via Enhanced Rock Weathering (GGREW) . His work integrates geology, geochemistry, and microbiology to address climate change challenges. Projects: Rock-Hydrogen stimulation, Nitrogen cycling in serpentinizing systems, CO2 mineralization in Oman's Samail Ophiolite Grants: Funded by ICDP, European Union, Anglo American Corp Advising: Supervises PhD students in INSPIRE and Ocean & Earth Science programs Labs/Teams: Active in the Oman Drilling Project's multi-borehole observatory and collaborates with global networks in carbon storage and geoengineering.
Dr Kelvin Teo is an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at the Save Sight Institute, part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. His expertise lies in ophthalmology, with a focus on retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). His research integrates advanced imaging technologies like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment strategies. Key research interests include understanding disease mechanisms, optimizing anti-VEGF therapies, and exploring novel imaging modalities. Collaborations with global institutions, such as the Asia-Pacific Ocular Imaging Society, highlight his work on PCV diagnostic criteria and treatment paradigms. Recent publications emphasize the impact of treatment intervals on patient outcomes, racial differences in PCV presentation, and the role of OCT in monitoring choroidal pathology. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his contributions to clinical and epidemiological studies in retinal diseases are significant. Teo collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and participates in large-scale studies like the Fight Retinal Blindness! Project, contributing to long-term outcome analyses of anti-VEGF therapies. His work bridges basic science and clinical practice, aiming to improve patient care through evidence-based approaches.
Professor Richard Nichols of Queen Mary University of London is an evolutionary genetics expert working at the intersection of computational methods and conservation biology. His research spans diverse organisms including trees, viruses, human cancer cells, and model species like Drosophila , focusing on genetic adaptation mechanisms and population dynamics. Key collaborations with Kew Gardens for tree conservation Joint projects with Institute of Zoology on wildlife viruses Partnership with Barts Cancer Institute on chemotherapy resistance International collaboration with UNSW researchers Research focuses include: Population genetics and Bayesian analysis Genomic prediction for climate resilience Evolutionary responses to invasive species Experimental evolution in controlled systems Conservation of endangered species His work combines theoretical development with practical applications, including: Development of MAVERICK software for population structure analysis Creation of Bayallele for population size estimation Innovative approaches to genomic prediction models Scientific awards include: Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS) Teaching contributions span undergraduate and postgraduate programs in evolutionary genetics, population genetics, and ecological interactions.
