Leland J. Cseke is an associate research professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, where he works in conjunction with the Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory to determine the molecular mechanisms of keystone species in forest ecosystem responses to environmental changes. In addition, Dr. Cseke is working with the United States Department of Agriculture to develop cost-effective molecular methods for plant species identification and has helped to develop the national guidelines for plant molecular identification. Other projects include the metabolic engineering of Jatropha curcas plants for the improvement of biodiesel with emphasis on transcriptional regulators that help to control oil biosynthesis.
Ara Kirakosyan
is an associate professor of biology at Yerevan State University, Armenia, and is currently a research scientist at the University of Michigan. Dr. Kirakosyan's primary research areas include the impact of phytopharmaceuticals on prevention of heart failure, challenges and pitfalls in antioxidant research, and mechanisms of synergistic action of bioactive medicinal compounds at target sites. His research on phytochemicals and antioxidants in foodstuffs has direct implications for the health industry, specifically in the area of cardiovascular disease. He is also interested in plant biotechnology research to produce enhanced levels of medicinally important, value-added secondary metabolitesPeter B. Kaufman
is currently professor emeritus of biology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and research scientistwith the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine (UMIM) program. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is also past president of the Michigan Botanical Club and past chairman of the Michigan Natural Areas Council. He served as s