ZKI-PH 2: Phylogenomics

Head:

Denise Kühnert

Deputy:

Jens-Uwe Ulrich

The research agenda of ZKI-PH 2 “Phylogenomics” focuses on the interface between phylogenetics and epidemiology. It will expand on and employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches for the analysis of infectious disease transmission dynamics during and after pathogen outbreaks and develop AI-based models of phylogeny and transmission of public health-relevant pathogens. By integrating historical pathogens, the evolutionary processes driving modern and ancient pathogens will be deciphered.

Tasks

• Strategic management of the expansion of AI research in the analysis of pathogen transmission dynamics during and after infectious disease outbreaks
• AI-based modelling of phylogeny and transmission dynamics of public health-relevant pathogens
• AI -supported integration of data from experimental high-throughput methods for molecular biological or epidemiological applications
• Investigation of evolutionary processes of pathogens by integrating hundreds and thousands of years old pathogens into phylogenomic studies