Tamara Broderick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, specializing in machine learning and statistics. Her research focuses on developing methods for uncertainty quantification in data analysis, Bayesian nonparametrics, and scalable inference algorithms. She leads a research group advising PhD students and postdocs in statistical machine learning. Her work spans Bayesian modeling, variational inference, spatial statistics, and applications in epidemiology and environmental science. Recent projects involve uncertainty-aware forecasting, robustness analysis of statistical methods, and efficient algorithms for high-dimensional inference. Broderick teaches Bayesian Modeling and Inference and contributes to MIT's statistics and data science initiatives.
James Van Etten is the William Allington Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and Nebraska Center for Virology. His research focuses on chloroviruses—large dsDNA viruses infecting Chlorella-like algae—with emphasis on DNA replication, restriction systems, and membrane transport proteins. Key research themes include: Viral DNA modification systems Host-virus interactions Structural virology Evolution of organellar genomes Recent work analyzed: SMRT sequencing of viral methylation patterns Chlorovirus cryopreservation methods Potassium channel biophysics Host chemical signaling mechanisms Lab webpage: vanettenlab.unl.edu
Mary K. Firestone is Professor of the Graduate School in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley. Her research revolutionized understanding of soil microbial processes, particularly oak regeneration techniques and microbial mediation of carbon/nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Firestone's work examines microbial responses to environmental change, including drought, rewetting, and warming scenarios. Her lab develops innovative methods like quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) to trace microbial activity in complex soil environments. Research spans grassland, rangeland, and agricultural ecosystems. Honors include election to the National Academy of Sciences (2017), Soil Ecology Society Career Achievement Award (2017), and American Geophysical Union Fellowship (2016). She holds the Betty and Isaac Barshad Chair in Soil Sciences. Current PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in the Firestone Lab investigate viral-bacterial interactions in soil, mycorrhizal carbon transfer, and drought impacts on soil carbon persistence. Field studies at California's Hopland Research Center examine grassland responses to climate variability.
Finlay Maguire is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Faculty of Computer Science and the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology at Dalhousie University. He leads the Maguire Lab, which develops data-driven methods to address health and social crises through genomic epidemiology and interdisciplinary health data science. He is also affiliated with the Shared Hospital Laboratory, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and multiple national and international public health consortia including PHA4GE, CanCOGeN, and IRIDA. PhD: University College London / Natural History Museum (2016) MA: University of Oxford (2011) Donald Hill Family Fellowship, Dalhousie University (2021) Dr. Maguire's research focuses on two main areas: genomic epidemiology of infectious diseases and interdisciplinary health data science collaborations . His work in genomic epidemiology includes developing bioinformatics and machine learning tools to study antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and SARS-CoV-2 dynamics, often in collaboration with public health agencies. His broader health data science work addresses issues such as online radicalization, healthcare access for refugees, and autism-related language use, combining computational methods with social science. His recent publications (2023–2025) reflect a strong trend in pathogen genomics , AMR , zoonotic spillover , and computational social science . He has published on novel coronaviruses in bats, SARS-CoV-2 animal models, invasive Group A Streptococcus, and sociological analyses of incel communities. Much of this work involves tool development (e.g., ArgNorm, Pathoplexus) and data standardization (e.g., PHA4GE metadata standards). Finalist, 2024 Discovery Awards (Emerging Professional) 2023 President’s Research Excellence Award for an Emerging Investigator, Dalhousie Finalist, 2023 Discovery Awards (Emerging Professional) Funding from CIHR, NSERC, Genome Canada, SSHRC, BMGF Dr. Maguire actively mentors graduate students and postdocs, including PhD candidates in Computer Science and MSc students in Community Health & Epidemiology. He has secured major training grants such as the CIHR Health Research Training Platform and the Canadian One Health Training Program for Emerging Zoonoses. He also contributes to capacity-building initiatives like MicroResearch in Ghana and Kenya. The Maguire Lab is embedded in a rich network of collaborations, including the CARD database, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The lab emphasizes open science, reproducible research, and interdisciplinary training, as seen in the development of open-source tools and participation in international consortia.
Professor Urs Jenal is a Full Professor at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland, where he has led research on bacterial signal transduction since 2008. His laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of bacterial persistence and antibiotic resistance, with particular focus on pathogens causing chronic infections in humans. Previously, he served as Associate Professor (2002-2008) and Assistant Professor (1996-2002) at the same institution, and completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. Education 2000: Habilitation and VENIA DOCENDI in Microbiology, University of Basel 1987-1991: PhD in Molecular Microbiology, ETH Zurich (supervisor: Prof. T. Leisinger) 1982-1986: Studies of Experimental Biology, ETH Zurich 1977-1981: Gymnasium with Matura Type C, Chur Research Focus Prof. Jenal's research centers on understanding how bacterial pathogens persist in the human body despite antibiotic treatments. His laboratory investigates cyclic nucleotides, particularly c-di-GMP, as signaling molecules that control bacterial biofilm formation, virulence, and antibiotic tolerance. His team studies pathogenic Escherichia coli causing recurrent urinary tract infections and Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing long-term lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Recent work has revealed how "sleeping" bacteria survive antibiotic treatments and how pathogens breach respiratory epithelia through goblet cell invasion. Scientific Recognition 2014: Elected member of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) 2013: ERC Advanced Investigator Award 2012: Elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) 2011: Elected member of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) Mentorship and Collaborations Prof. Jenal has mentored numerous PhD students and postdocs, many receiving awards for their research. His laboratory is part of the NCCR AntiResist initiative focused on developing novel approaches against antibiotic resistance. He collaborates extensively with clinical researchers and has developed innovative models, including human mini-lungs, to investigate pathogen-host interactions. His recent publications demonstrate how understanding bacterial persistence mechanisms can lead to new therapeutic strategies against chronic infections.
Astrid Wagner is a Senior Scientist and Deputy Director at the Institute of Philosophy (IFS) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from Technische Universität Berlin, recognized by the National University of Distance Education (UNED), and previously served as professor for 20 years at TU Berlin. Her research focuses on philosophy of culture, science epistemology, and digital society challenges. Key interests include philosophy of language, perception phenomenology, pragmatism, and ethical implications of digital transformation. Recent work examines uncertainty dynamics, trust frameworks, post-truth phenomena, infodemics, conspiracy theories, cognitive vulnerability, and digital citizenship. Wagner leads major research initiatives including the INconRES project on ethical-epistemological keys to digital social dynamics (2021-2025), the ORTEGA-CM interdisciplinary innovation consortium on José Ortega y Gasset's legacy (2024-2026), and previously directed the RESPONTRUST project combating COVID-19 disinformation (2021-2023). She co-leads the DESTERRA project analyzing disinformation's societal foundations (2022-2025) and participates in UCM's Rationality, Knowledge and Action research group. She serves on Spain's Committee of Experts for National Security against disinformation, advises the Congressional Science Office, and holds editorial positions at the Journal of Ortega Studies. Wagner contributes to GENET Association's Gender Studies Network and juries for the Princess of Asturias Award and Javier Muguerza Philosophy Prize.
Karoline Faust is an Associate Professor at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology (Rega Institute) and the Faculty of Medicine . She contributes to the iSi Health and Leuven One Health institutes, and serves on senior academic councils. Her research spans microbial systems biology, focusing on community dynamics and network analysis. Education: PhD in bioinformatics (2010, KU Leuven) Affiliations: KU Leuven, ISME Journal editorial board, Belgian Society for Microbiology Her research investigates microbial community dynamics , systems biology approaches to microbiomes, and bioinformatics tool development . She specializes in modeling human gut microbiota , synthetic microbial communities , and environmental microbiomes (e.g., microplastic impacts on Daphnia microbiomes). Her work integrates metabolic modeling , network analysis , and experimental systems to understand microbial interactions. Recent publications highlight her contributions to microbial network inference , 16S rRNA sequencing protocols , microfluidics , and ecological modeling of microbiomes. She develops tools like manta , miaSim , and CoNet to analyze community structures. Teaching: Karoline co-teaches courses in microbiology, bioinformatics, and network analysis at KU Leuven, and has contributed to international workshops on microbial network inference. Scientific Engagement: She serves as Senior Editor at ISME Journal and Secretary of the Belgian Society for Microbiology .
Jennifer L. Clarke is a Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Director of the Quantitative Life Science Initiative. She holds leadership roles in enabling big data integration across the University of Nebraska system through collaborative research programs. Her affiliations include the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dr. Clarke's research focuses on statistical methodology for high-dimensional data, computational biology, bioinformatics, and bacterial genomics. Her work bridges statistical innovation with applications in oncology, microbiome analysis, and agricultural phenomics. Key areas include predictive modeling, machine learning, and genomic/metagenomic data integration. Her recent publications span cancer biomarker discovery, plant phenotyping methodologies, and microbial community analysis, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Articles emphasize translational applications like therapeutic target identification and precision agriculture. Dr. Clarke leads initiatives fostering collaboration between statisticians and domain scientists, including the Quantitative Life Science Initiative and contributions to the Agricultural Genome-to-Phenome Initiative (AG2PI). Her work advances data-driven solutions for healthcare and food security challenges. Notable projects include developing statistical tools for microbiome studies, analyzing root architecture via 3D imaging, and investigating cranberry-derived compounds' cancer-inhibitory mechanisms. Her methodological contributions include hybrid clustering techniques and predictive model validation frameworks.
Xiang Ji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Tulane University, affiliated with the School of Science & Engineering. His research focuses on statistical phylogenetics, computational biology, and bioinformatics, particularly in viral evolution and genomic epidemiology. He collaborates with Dr. Wu-Min Deng on cancer biology research from a bioinformatics perspective. Education: Ph.D., 2017: Bioinformatics and Statistics (Co-Major), North Carolina State University M.S., 2013: Material Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University B.S., 2011: Economics (Double Major) and Physics, Peking University Research Interests: Dr. Ji develops statistical models and computational tools for phylogenetic analysis, including scalable algorithms for large-scale genomic data. His work spans viral evolution, zoonotic disease surveillance, and parallel computing libraries for Bayesian inference. He emphasizes practical implementations such as Torchtree and TreeFlow . Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize viral evolution dynamics (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, avian influenza), genomic surveillance strategies, and computational methods for phylogenetic inference. His work often bridges statistical theory with real-world applications in public health and epidemiology. Advising & Grants: While specific grant details are not listed, his active research program indicates involvement in funding initiatives related to computational biology and viral evolution. He teaches advanced courses in data analysis, linear models, and probability theory. Labs & Teams: Collaborates with Tulane’s Cancer Biology group and maintains partnerships with institutions globally, focusing on genomic epidemiology and phylogenetic software development.
Aaron Chatterji is the Mark Burgess & Lisa Benson-Burgess Distinguished Professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Chief Economist at OpenAI. His work bridges academia, public policy, and business, focusing on AI's societal impacts, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. He has held senior roles in the Biden Administration, including White House CHIPS coordinator and Acting Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, overseeing U.S. competitiveness and supply chain resilience. Previously, he served as Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce and worked at the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama. Chatterji also holds a secondary appointment at Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy and is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Education: Ph.D. in Business Administration, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley B.A. in Economics, Cornell University Research Interests: Chatterji examines the intersection of business and public policy, with expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation policy, AI ethics, and economic development. His work addresses critical issues like global supply chains, technology competition, and the role of corporate activism in societal challenges. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and two influential books: Can Business Save the Earth? and The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth . Teaching & Advising: A屡屡 award-winning educator, Chatterji created a popular course on business and politics at Duke. He advises top firms across industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology, and leads OpenAI's research team exploring AI's economic implications. Honors: Kauffman Prize Medal for Entrepreneurship Research Aspen Institute Rising Star Award Strategic Management Society Emerging Scholar Award Public Engagement: Chatterji has written for Harvard Business Review , Wall Street Journal , and Brookings Institution. He previously ran for North Carolina State Treasurer and served on state policy commissions under Governor Roy Cooper.
Richard McKay is a part-time Research Fellow in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and serves as Director of Studies for History and Philosophy of Science at Magdalene College. He has held prestigious fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and the ESRC, and he divides his professional life between academic research and private practice as an International Coach Federation-certified career, academic and life coach. Research Interests: Twentieth-century history of medicine and public health History of sexuality and sexually transmitted infections History of HIV/AIDS Use of visual sources in medical history His current Wellcome-supported project, ‘Before HIV: Homosex and Venereal Disease, c.1939–1984’ , explores how healthcare workers and gay men in Canada, the United States and England came to understand the role of men who have sex with men in STI transmission during the mid-twentieth century. Publications & Scholarly Impact: Across monographs, peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, McKay interrogates the social construction of the “Patient Zero” myth, the pre-history of HIV, and the visual cultures surrounding AIDS-related illnesses such as Kaposi’s sarcoma. His 2017 monograph Patient Zero and the Making of the AIDS Epidemic has become a key reference in HIV historiography. Awards & Fellowships: Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship (current) ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, King’s College London Teaching & Advising: As Director of Studies at Magdalene College, McKay guides undergraduate students in History and Philosophy of Science. He has also contributed pedagogical modules to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s online exhibition Surviving and Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture . Professional Activities: Aside from his academic appointments, McKay maintains an active coaching practice accredited by the International Coach Federation, supporting academic and professional clients worldwide.
Lucas Paoli is a Researcher and Course Instructor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He leads the Paoli Lab (Microbiome Immunity and Ecology) within the Global Health Institute (GHI) under the School of Life Sciences (SV). His roles include scientific collaboration and teaching responsibilities in life sciences engineering. Paoli holds a PhD in Microbiome Research from ETH Zürich (2018-2023), an M.Phil. in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge (2017-2018), and an M.Sc. in Ecology and Evolution from École normale supérieure (2015-2017). Research Focus: His work bridges microbial immunity and ecology, investigating how microbes defend against viral infections across ecosystems like oceans and human microbiomes. Techniques include global-scale metagenomics and functional genomics to study immune strategies and ecological interactions. Key themes involve microbial community dynamics, viral defense mechanisms, and the impact of environmental factors on microbial immunity. Lab & Education: The Paoli Lab explores microbiome-immunity interactions with a focus on ecological contexts. Paoli supervises PhD students in Life Sciences Engineering. His research outputs span microbial ecology, metagenomic tool development, and marine microbiome studies. Contact: lucas.paoli@epfl.ch, AAB 1 39, +41 21 693 16 99.
Kenneth Hoehn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Data Science at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College. As a computational immunologist with expertise in evolutionary biology, he develops computational evolutionary approaches to trace cellular lineages, particularly B cells, in contexts such as infection, vaccination, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. His research focuses on understanding adaptive immunity in conditions like COVID-19 Food allergies Myasthenia gravis through collaborations with experimental teams. Key projects include: Phylogenetic modeling of B cell responses Evolutionary signatures in immune repertoires Tracking B cell dissemination in autoimmune diseases Epigenetic regulation of memory B cells Recent publications highlight trends in single-cell immunology , phylogenetic inference , and computational tools for analyzing B cell dynamics. His lab at Dartmouth integrates evolutionary genetics with high-resolution immune profiling.
Professor Julia Gog is a leading academic at the University of Cambridge, holding the position of Professor of Mathematical Biology within the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP). She also serves as the David N. Moore Fellow and Director of Studies in Mathematics at Queens' College, Cambridge. Research Interests: Mathematics of infectious diseases Viral bioinformatics Influenza modelling Infectious disease dynamics Pathogen evolution Salmonella Affiliations: Cambridge Infectious Diseases (Principal Investigator) Queens' College, Cambridge (David N. Moore Fellow and Director of Studies) Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP)
Ahmed Elbanna is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the Grainger College of Engineering and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from Caltech (2011) and has been on UIUC faculty since 2013. His research focuses on mechanics of complex systems, including earthquake dynamics, metamaterials, and biomaterials. He has received prestigious awards such as the NSF CAREER Award (2018) and the Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Fellowship (2020). Education: Ph.D. Civil Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2011) M.S. Applied Mechanics, California Institute of Technology (2006) M.S. Structural Engineering, Cairo University (2005) B.S. Civil Engineering, Cairo University (2003) Research Interests: Elbanna’s work spans theoretical and applied mechanics, with emphasis on fracture, wave propagation, and critical phenomena in geophysical and biological systems. Key areas include: Earthquake mechanics and granular matter dynamics Mechanical metamaterials for wave control Networked biological materials (e.g., bone, hydrogels) Modeling epidemic dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic Awards & Recognition: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2018) Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Fellow (2020) Journal of Applied Mechanics Award (2019) UIUC Teaching Excellence Awards (2018–2024) Service & Leadership: Member of the UIUC Faculty Senate (2020–present) Co-Chair, Computational Mechanics Committee (ASCE EMI, 2024–present) Leader, Computational Science Group at Southern California Earthquake Center (2019–present) Labs & Groups: Leads the Mechanics of Complex Systems Lab at UIUC, focusing on interdisciplinary research in geophysics, materials science, and computational modeling.
