Experts by Expertise: Genetics, Genetic Engineering and Evolution

For help reaching an expert on deadline, please contact UB's media relations team at 716-645-6969 or ub-news@buffalo.edu.

Note to members of the news media:

The correct name of the university is “University at Buffalo,” not “University of Buffalo.”

  • Head shot of Victor Albert, University at Buffalo plant evolution expert.
    4/7/23

    Victor Albert

    Empire Innovation Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: plant evolutionary biology; evolution of carnivorous plants; genomes of Amborella, avocado, birch, coffee and gardenia; comparative genomics; junk DNA

    Phone: 716-645-4983

    Email: vaalbert@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Stelios Andreadis, University at Buffalo regenerative medicine and tissue engineering expert.
    8/22/19

    Stelios Andreadis

    SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

    Expertise: regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, stem cells, vascular grafts

    Phone: 716-645-1202

    Email: sandread@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen, University at Buffalo chemical biology expert.
    4/7/23

    Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen

    Dr. Marjorie E. Winkler Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

    Expertise: chemical biology, lipids; cellular aging and senescence; cell death (apoptosis and necroptosis); omics approaches to research

    Phone: 716-645-4130

    Email: ekinatil@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Ian Bradley, University at Buffalo wastewater treatment and algal bloom expert.
    8/19/21

    Ian Bradley

    Assistant Professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering 

    Expertise: wastewater treatment, algae, algal blooms in the Great Lakes and elsewhere

    Phone: 716-645-4004

    Email: ianbradl@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Omer Gokcumen, University at Buffalo evolutionary genomics and ancient humans expert.
    11/2/23

    Omer Gokcumen

    Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: human and primate evolution, ancient humans (including Neanderthals and Denisovans), anthropological genomics

    Phone: 716-645-4937

    Email: omergokc@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Marc Halfon.
    12/5/16

    Marc Halfon

    Professor of Biochemistry

    Expertise: genetics; gene expression; gene drive; genome editing; mosquito genome; cell growth, differentiation and development

    Phone: 716-829-3126

    Email: mshalfon@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Nicholas B. Holowka, University at Buffalo human evolution, foot and walking expert.
    10/6/20

    Nicholas B. Holowka

    Assistant Professor of Anthropology

    Expertise: human movement, biomechanics of walking/running, human feet, footwear, primate locomotion, human evolution

    Phone: 716-645-0444

    Email: nbholowk@buffalo.edu

  • Shamim M. Islam.
    8/3/22

    Shamim M. Islam

    Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics

    Expertise: pediatric infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, global antimicrobial resistance, local and international infectious disease control, tropical medicine, medical and public health education

    Email: shamimis@buffalo.edu

    Contact: Shamim M. Islam can be reached through Ellen Goldbaum in University Communications at 716-645-4605 or goldbaum@buffalo.edu, or Douglas Sitler in University Communications at 716-645-9069 or drsitler@buffalo.edu.

  • Head shot of Trevor Krabbenhoft, University at Buffalo faculty expert on fish ecology, aquatic ecosystems and invasive species.
    8/19/21

    Trevor Krabbenhoft

    Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: fish ecology (especially in rivers and lakes), genomics, evolutionary biology, invasive species, climate change, Great Lakes

    Phone: 716-645-4934

    Email: tkrabben@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Charlotte Lindqvist.
    11/2/23

    Charlotte Lindqvist

    Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: evolutionary biology, evolution of polar bears, hybridization of polar bears and brown bears, genomics

    Phone: 716-645-4986

    Email: cl243@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Vincent Lynch, University at Buffalo evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) expert.
    8/17/21

    Vincent Lynch

    Associate Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: evolutionary developmental biology; genetics; genomics; mammoths; evolution of mammalian pregnancy and cancer

    Phone: 716-645-4899

    Email: vjlynch@buffalo.edu

  • Heather Ochs-Balcom.
    8/8/22

    Heather Ochs-Balcom

    Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health

    Expertise: cancer, genetic influences on disease risk, women’s health

    Phone: 716-829-5338

    Email: hmochs2@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Anthony Pattin.
    4/12/24

    Anthony Pattin

    Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Outcomes and Practice Advancement
    Expertise: community pharmacy practice, pharmacy law, pharmacy-based immunization services, medication therapy management, medication adherence

    Phone: 716-645-2823

    Email: apattin@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Blaine Pfeifer, University at Buffalo bioengineering expert.
    7/17/19

    Blaine Pfeifer

    Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

    Expertise: metabolic engineering; biosynthesis of antibiotics and other compounds; vaccine design and delivery

    Phone: 716-645-1198

    Email: blainepf@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Stephanie A. Poindexter, University at Buffalo primate evolution and behavior expert.
    8/17/21

    Stephanie A. Poindexter

    Assistant Professor of Anthropology

    Expertise: biological anthropology, primate evolution, primate conservation

    Phone: 716-645-0427

    Email: sapoinde@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Stefan Ruhl, University at Buffalo saliva and oral biology expert.
    11/10/23

    Stefan Ruhl

    Professor of Oral Biology

    Expertise: saliva, oral bacteria, glycobiology of bacterial adhesion, oral microbiome, oral health

    Phone: 716-829-6073

    Email: shruhl@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Laura Rusche, University at Buffalo genetics and yeast biology expert.
    11/2/23

    Laura Rusche

    Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: yeast, genomics, genetics, gene expression, chromosomes, DNA, RNA, chromatin, sirtuins

    Phone: 716-645-5198

    Email: lrusche@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Jack M. Sullivan, University at Buffalo retinal and macular degenerations expert.
    5/22/20

    Jack M. Sullivan

    Professor of Ophthalmology

    Expertise: retina, retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, ophthalmology, gene therapy

    Phone: 716-862-6533

    Email: js354@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Jennifer Surtees, University at Buffalo genomics and genetics expert.
    11/8/23

    Jennifer A. Surtees

    Professor of Biochemistry

    Expertise: genomes, genetic diversity, DNA, science communication, COVID-19 genomic surveillance and genetic variants

    Phone: 716-829-6083

    Email: jsurtees@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Ann-Marie Torregrossa, University at Buffalo taste science and food choice expert.
    2/9/22

    Ann-Marie Torregrossa

    Associate Professor of Psychology

    Expertise: taste science, feeding, food choice, bitterness

    Phone: 716-645-0354

    Email: amtorreg@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel, University at Buffalo human and primate evolution expert.
    8/17/21

    Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel

    Associate Professor of Anthropology

    Expertise: human and primate evolution; human skeleton; morphological evolution; biological anthropology

    Phone: 716-645-0430

    Email: noreenvo@buffalo.edu

  • Head shot of Zhen Wang, University at Buffalo medicinal plant and synthetic biology expert.
    8/17/21

    Zhen Wang

    Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

    Expertise: plant natural products, medicinal plants, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering

    Phone: 716-645-4969

    Email: zhenw@buffalo.edu

  • Portrait of Yinyin Ye, University at Buffalo environmental microbiology and wastewater disease surveillance expert.
    8/16/21

    Yinyin Ye

    Assistant Professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

    Expertise: surveillance and disinfection of pathogens in wastewater and the environment; wastewater-based disease monitoring; environmental microbiology; proteomics

    Phone: 716-645-4002

    Email: yinyinye@buffalo.edu