Scott Vrieze explores the origins of addiction and mental health through large-scale genetic and family studies. Leading a global consortium of millions, he identifies risk genes to improve clinical predictions and treatments. By studying twins and adoptive families over decades, he distinguishes genetic inheritance from human experiences to clarify the causes and consequences of mental illness. His research offers a critical foundation for new prevention and intervention strategies to address complex behavioral health challenges.

When a NASA spacecraft returns to Earth or lands on another planet, it enters the atmosphere with velocities higher than seven kilometers per second. The spacecraft is subjected to extreme conditions with temperatures above 5000 degrees that wind tunnels on Earth simply cannot recreate. Professor Schwartzentruber’s research is developing predictive computer models, used to design spacecraft heat shield materials, through multidisciplinary collaboration with experts in theoretical and experimental chemistry.

Jen Poynter is an international leader in molecular cancer epidemiology. Dr. Poynter has established the largest global study of pediatric germ cell tumors, which she has used to identify critical risk factors and understand lifelong treatment side effects. As a leader of the 10,000 Families Study, she is investigating how environmental exposures like radon and PFAS impact cancer risk in Minnesota. Her work will help reduce the cancer burden in Minnesota and globally.

Tropical forests are among the world’s most important reservoirs of biodiversity and carbon storage. The Powers Lab uses integrative and interdisciplinary methods to understand reciprocal feedbacks between tropical forests and climate, and how these processes are mediated by soil variability, land-use change, and biodiversity. This international research program is helping to better represent how human activities affect tropical forests and to design more effective approaches to preserving and restoring tropical forests.

Nanoscale materials are at the heart of any device of current technology, and with every passing year, their dimensions are shrinking further. Andre Mkhoyan’s research is focused on understanding the formation of these nanomaterials, their properties, and functionalities from the perspective of individual atoms to help design new materials. To accomplish this, he uses advanced electron microscopes to image the atoms and study their roles in these nanomaterials.

Douglas Mashek’s research encompasses the general field of metabolism, how our bodies process nutrients to regulate the balance between health and disease. An area of emphasis is on how excess calories are stored (fat) and signal to govern the function of cells and tissues. He utilizes approaches ranging from molecular and cellular to interventional studies in humans to investigate the metabolic underpinnings of aging-related diseases.

Joseph Koopmeiners develops and applies innovative statistical methods to address pressing challenges in public health and biomedical research. A key theme of his research has been the direct connection between his methodological innovations and their application to a variety of fields. His scholarship creates impact well beyond his field and has led to important advances in tobacco regulatory science, prostate cancer imaging, cancer, and learning health systems, in addition to advancing the field of biostatistics.

Aaron Kelly’s research focuses on evaluating the safety and efficacy of obesity medications in children and adolescents.  Through his leadership directing landmark clinical trials, he has played a pivotal role in bringing new therapies to the clinical setting and generating new knowledge that has informed clinical practice guidelines to improve the care of children and adolescents living with obesity.