Dr. Steven Salzberg serves as Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University, where he also directs the Center for Computational Biology and is a member of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine. His research group specializes in developing cutting-edge computational methods for DNA analysis using the latest sequencing technologies, making significant contributions to gene finding, genome assembly, comparative genomics, and evolutionary genomics. Beyond his groundbreaking research in DNA and RNA sequencing with next-generation technology, Dr. Salzberg is also known for his public engagement through his Forbes science blog, where he addresses critical issues ranging from pseudoscience and alternative medicine to gene patents and higher education, making complex scientific concepts accessible to the public.

Dr. Mihaela Pertea serves as an Assistant Professor in the Center for Computational Biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, bringing expertise earned through her Computer Science PhD from the university's Whiting School of Engineering. Her groundbreaking research in gene finding and genome sequence analysis has produced essential open-source software systems used in annotating crucial species including Plasmodium falciparum, Arabidopsis thaliana, and several others. Her significant impact on the field is reflected in her publications garnering over 16,000 citations, placing her among the top 1% most cited researchers in her field. Beyond research, Dr. Pertea has developed specialized programming courses tailored for graduate students with strong biological backgrounds but limited computer science experience, bridging the gap between biology and computational analysis.