Seminar

Dr. Fuglevand has a long-standing interest in understanding how the nervous system orchestrates the activities of multiple muscles in the elaboration of movement. He uses various neurophysiological approaches (recording, stimulation, inactivation) in his work and also uses computer simulation. A natural outgrowth of his research has been toward more applied investigations into methods to restore movement and sensation in paralyzed individuals.

Dr. Carlotta Ronda is a Principal Investigator at the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley, who pioneered targeted in situ microbiome editing tools to engineer microbes within their native ecosystems. Her lab integrates systems biology, synthetic biology,
multi-omics, and computational modeling to decode and reprogram host–microbiome interactions. Combining high-throughput organoid assays, precision microbiome editing, and computational approaches, her team maps microbial signaling networks and develops strategies to modulate them. Beyond microbiome engineering, her group advances CRISPR technologies and organoid–microbiome co-cultures to study host–microbe communication and enable functional modulation in microbial and eukaryotic systems.

Dr. Thatcher is an accomplished medicinal chemist and pharmacologist whose career is defined by pioneering work in drug discovery and translational research. His leadership in founding drug discovery centers and mentoring programs has significantly advanced therapeutic development, particularly in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases.

Carrie McDonough, PhD, associate professor of chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, studies how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)—persistent environmental contaminants known as “forever chemicals”— accumulate and transform in the body. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry, McDonough’s group investigates how molecular structure and chemical properties determine the impact of contaminants on aquatic food webs and human health.

Ever wonder how your brain decides when to start and stop eating? Most methods for studying appetite are too slow to catch the crucial neural circuits in action. Join Ranier Gutiérrez, PhD, professor at the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico, as he unveils their new, high-resolution technique to help uncover how the brain controls appetite and the allure of highly palatable foods.

Klemens’ work bridges the gap between molecular mechanisms and whole-body health, focusing on how channels and transporters affect cardiovascular and renal function. Her research journey has taken her from studying cardiac arrhythmias to exploring how ion transport impacts blood pressure and kidney disease.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how her discoveries are shaping our understanding of hypertension and related conditions.