Research Group: Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks

Our group develops theoretical methods for systems and computational biology and combines them with experimental investigations to obtain a systems-level understanding of molecular networks in the cell and to optimize them for biotechnological applications.

A central area of research is mathematical methods and tools for modeling metabolic networks in microorganisms and their application to the genetic design of cell factories for the efficient synthesis of chemicals. To this end, we are also developing two comprehensive software packages (CellNetAnalyzer and CNApy) for the computer-aided analysis of biological networks. Other fields of research are modeling of communities, the optimization of bioprocesses including cell-free production systems, and a systemic understanding of the regulation of bacterial metabolism. Many theoretical and model-based analyses are combined with experimental studies of microorganisms, with a particular focus on E. coli as a model organism. Various genetic modifications, bioreactor cultivations and analytical techniques are used. The experiments serve to verify model predictions on the one hand and to investigate fundamental physiological aspects of metabolic processes in bacteria.

A detailed description of our research activities can be found here.

Keywords: Systems biology, Computational biology, Bioinformatics, Metabolic engineering, Systems biotechnology, Metabolic networks, Gene regulatory and signaling networks, Escherichia coli, Bioprocess Engineering