Profile
Abstract
The research group "Statistical Physics of Evolution" studies the organization and functioning of living cells using methods from statistical physics and quantitative systems biology. Our research focuses on metabolic network analysis, cellular metabolism, and growth, ranging from single-celled microbes to microbial communities and multicellular organisms. We are particularly interested in phototrophic growth and primary productivity, using cyanobacteria as model organisms. Our goal is to uncover fundamental principles of biological productivity and metabolic regulation.
The group was established in 2024, moving from Humboldt University of Berlin to the University of Leipzig.
Our research focuses on understanding the organization and dynamics of cellular metabolism and growth using methods from statistical physics and quantitative systems biology. We develop computational approaches to analyze metabolic networks, bridging constraint-based and kinetic models through parameter sampling and probabilistic descriptions.
A key interest is evolutionary optimality—how cellular adaptations balance growth with other objectives through resource allocation.
We also study phototrophic growth, particularly in cyanobacteria, which play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles. Using flux balance analysis and metabolic reconstructions, we explore metabolic diversity, regulation under dynamic environments, and optimal resource allocation.
Beyond single cells, we investigate microbial community self-organization, focusing on phototroph-heterotroph interactions and metabolic co-evolution. Additional areas include cancer metabolism, cellular signal transduction, and large-scale metabolomics data analysis, leveraging information theory to uncover metabolic dependencies.
Research fields
Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Tumour biology
Specializations
Computational descriptions of (primarily microbial) metabolism.
Stoichiometric network reconstruction and constraint-based methods (e.g., flux balance analysis).
Computational descriptions of microbial communities and ecosystems.
Photosynthesis and microbial CO2 fixation.
Data analysis and Information Theory.
Contact for media inquiries
Send email
https://x.com/CyanoGrowth
https://research.uni-leipzig.de/physics-of-evolution/