Visiting Faculty

Dr. Andrew Ogram is a Professor in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department at the University of Florida. His research focuses on microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and antibiotic resistance in soils. He has held multiple leadership roles, including as a UF/IFAS Research Dean’s Fellow and a member of international soil science collaborations. He has received several honors, including the UF/IFAS International Educator Award. His teaching responsibilities include courses on soil microbial ecology and public health.

Visiting period to KIIT: Jan 2025

Engaged School:
School Biotechnology

Jeffrey Withey is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology at Wayne State University. His research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, particularly Vibrio cholerae, using zebrafish as a natural host model. He has been a Fulbright Scholar and serves as an editor for multiple microbiology journals. His work examines cholera transmission, virulence gene regulation, and host- pathogen interactions.

Visiting period to KIIT: Jan 2025

Engaged School:
School Biotechnology

Dr. Aoife Gahlawat, PhD, is a project leader at DKFZ and NCT Heidelberg. Her work focuses on translational oncology, liquid biopsy research, and the development of advanced technologies like CyTOF. With a strong background in academia and industry, she has successfully led projects, supervised teams, and established research infrastructure. Aoife’s contributions to cancer diagnostics are reflected in her extensive publications and international collaborations.

Affiliated Institution: German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) & National Centre for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg

Engaged School:
PhD (Dr. rer. nat), DKFZ/University of Heidelberg (2009–2013)

• Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and of the Stem Cell Research Unit
  Maastricht (SCRUM).
• Renowned for research on vascular calcification, vitamin K metabolism, and smooth
  muscle cell phenotypic switching.
• Principal Investigator in numerous EU and industry-funded trials (e.g., INTRICARE,
  TICARDIO, CaReSyAn).
• Over 15 years of expertise in vitamin K–dependent protein biosynthesis and
  cardiovascular diagnostics.
• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and key advisor to global
  Vitamin K and thrombosis initiatives.

Affiliation: Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Engaged School: School of Biotechnology
Dates of Engagement: March 2025