Data Science and Integration
Theoretical Plant Biology and Data Science
Data-Driven Discovery – Unlocking Plant Traits with AI and Genomics
Theoretical Plant Biology and Data Science was established as a core research area in CEPLAS II and delivered major breakthroughs. Advanced tools were developed for analyzing complex plant genomes and pangenomes, alongside the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) to study genes and enzymes. Mechanistic models of photosynthesis, leaf metabolism, and the plant microbiome provided new insights into plant function. Foundational systems were also established to manage and integrate large-scale biological data.
Now, Research Area 4 builds on this strong foundation to uncover the genetic and molecular secrets behind complex plant traits - traits that vary within and between species in response to both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environments.
RA4’s mission is to bridge the gap between genes and real-world plant performance - from the genome to whole-plant traits across all levels of biological organization, from single cells to the entire plant-microbe system (the holobiont).
To do this, RA4 develops cutting-edge computational, modeling, and AI-driven tools that connect genetic variation to enzyme activity, molecular networks, and complex traits - across time and space.
Coordinators
Prof. Dr. Björn Usadel
Telephone+49 2461619503
Institute of Bio and Geosciences-2 (IBG-2)
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Prof. Dr. Nadine Töpfer
Telephone+49 221 470-89648
Institute for Plant Sciences
University of Cologne
Members
Prof. Dr. Ilka Axmann
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 3,4
Dibin Baby
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 1,4
Dr. Jan Piotr Buchmann
Prof. Dr. George Coupland
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,3,4
Dr. Craig Dent
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Oliver Ebenhöh
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,2,3,4
Dr. Pau Formosa-Jordan
Prof. Dr. Wolf B. Frommer
Dr. Rubén Garrido Oter
Principal Investigator, Research Area 2,3,4
Dr. Mohsen Hajheidari
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 4
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elena Hamann
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,2,4
Dr. Thomas Hartwig
Prof. Dr. Gunnar W. Klau
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,4
Prof. Dr. Stanislav Kopriva
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,2,3,4
Prof. Dr. Maria von Korff Schmising
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,2,4
Prof. Dr. Martin Lercher
Tiago Moreira Machado
Doctoral Researcher, Research Area 4
Dr. Martin Mascher
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Anna Matuszyńska
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Juliette de Meaux
Principal Investigator, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Raphaël Mercier
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1, 4
Dr. Ellen Oldenburg
Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Area 2,4
Nathaniel Oragbon
Doctoral Researcher, Research Area 1,2,4
Prof. Dr. Markus Pauly
Prof. Dr. Laura Rose
Principal Investigator, Research Area 2,4
Flora Schlüter
Doctoral Researcher, Research Area 2,4
Prof. Dr. Korbinian Schneeberger
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,4
Prof. Dr. Paul Schulze-Lefert
Principal Investigator, Research Area 2,3,4
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Simon
Prof. Dr. Markus Stetter
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,4
Dr. Jędrzej Jakub Szymański
Prof. Dr. Nadine Töpfer
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1, 4
Prof. Dr. Miltos Tsiantis
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,3,4
Prof. Dr. Björn Usadel
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,4
Dr. Thirulogachandar Venkatasubbu
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 1,3,4
Dr. Yi Wang
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 3, 4
Prof. Dr. Andreas P.M. Weber
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,3,4
apl. Prof. Dr. Stefanie Weidtkamp-Peters
Contributing Investigator, Research Area 1,4
Dr. St. Elmo Wilken
Group leader, Research Area 2,4
Tom Winkler
Doctoral Researcher, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Alga Zuccaro
Principal Investigator, Research Area 2,3,4
Dr. Simon Maria Zumkeller
CEPLAS Researcher, Research Area 4
Prof. Dr. Matias Zurbriggen
Principal Investigator, Research Area 1,2,3,4