University of Copenhagen, Section for Bioinformatics, Denmark

Description of organization

Today, we conduct basic research in bioinformatics primarily using probabilistic models and comparative methods for computational analysis of non-codingRNA, gene regulation and protein structure. But we also conduct basic research in molecular biology looking a gene transcription and associated regulatory mechanisms. Consequently we span a wide spectrum of experimental biology and bioinformatics methods, as well a computational bioinformatics methods.

Since 2006, the Section of Bioinformatics has been the part of the Deparment of Biology (formerly Department of Molecular Biology) in which it constitutes one of the largest sections. The section is also closely affiliated with BRIC, which co-hosts a significant part of the section staff.

The section was founded in 2002 as 'The Bioinformatics Centre' as an independent centre under the Facuty of Science. At that time the Centre kick-started bioinformatics research and -education at the University of Copenhagen. In september of 2002 the first students started in the two-year master's program, which accepts approximately 20 students pr year.

Education

Today we offer a two-year interdisciplinary master's program in bioinformatics. Each year we have accepted around 20 students in the program, and roughly half of these are Danish. All courses are taught in English language. More information can be found through the links in the left menu.

Research

The Centre has subgroups working in non-coding RNA, gene regulation and protein structure prediction. We specialize in probabilistic models and machine learning. We collaborate with many experimental groups in the Department, at BRIC and at other institutions around the world.

Profile of staff members

Professor Anders Krogh is a bioinformatician at the University of Copenhagen, where he leads the university's bioinformatics center. He is well known for his pioneering work on the use of hidden Markov models in bioinformatics (together with David Haussler), and is co-author of a widely used textbook in bioinformatics. In addition, he also co-authored one of the early textbooks on neural networks. His current research interests include promotor analysis, non-coding RNA, gene prediction and protein structure prediction.

Webpage

Section for Bioinformatics, University of Copenhagen