Dr. W. David Nes is an eminent sterol biochemist who has made seminal contributions to the areas of chemical analysis, biosynthesis, and mechanistic enzymology. His fundamental research has led to the isolation and synthesis of over 300 sterols and triterpenoids, to a greater understanding of sterol diversity and function across kingdoms, and new knowledge for catalytic competence and three-dimensional structures of sterol biosynthesis enzymes. He developed significant collaborations in the US and abroad to advance steroidal inhibitors for the treatment of fungal and protozoan diseases. Dr. W. David Nes is currently a Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. He received his BA from Gettysburg College (1975), MS from Drexel University (1977), and PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park (1979). He completed post-doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley and at the ARS-USDA regional laboratory in Albany CA during years 1979 to 1982. Dr. Nes also served as Program Director of Metabolic Biochemistry at the National Science Foundation from 2003 to 2005. Professor Nes has received several awards for research excellence while at the USDA and at Texas Tech University, including the Barnie E. Rushing Jr. Award for Research Excellence. During his career, he mentored over 80 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows/visiting scientists.

Dr. Minu Chaudhuri is a Professor at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA. She received her Ph.D. from Calcutta University and completed post-doctoral studies at Chicago Medical School. Her research expertise is in molecular parasitology, specifically on mitochondrial functions, cell biology, and biochemistry. She is also interested in sterol metabolism in parasitic protozoa that produce ergosterol instead of cholesterol, as in its mammalian host.

David J. Leaver earned his BSc (Hons) and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from La Trobe University in 2008 and 2012, respectively. David completed his Honours research project in the medicinal chemistry laboratories at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and he was awarded the David Kelly Medal for being the best Honours student within the School of Molecular Sciences. David worked briefly in the chemical industry at Advanced Molecular Technologies before becoming a postdoctoral research fellow in medicinal chemistry (2012–2013) under the supervision of Professor Jonathan Baell at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He then moved to the United States of America as a postdoctoral research fellow in chemical biology (2013–2014) under the supervision of Professor W. David Nes at Texas Tech University. David previously worked at Sul Ross State University (2014-2021) and he joined Charles Sturt University in 2021 as a Lecturer in Biochemistry. David is a member of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the International Chemical Biology Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Chemical Society. His research focuses on the development of novel therapeutics that target specific proteins with the goal of improving the quality of life for people that suffer from life threatening diseases.