Overview

The Girke lab investigates fundamental questions at the interface of genome biology and chemical genomics. Central questions include: Which features of genomes, proteomes, and metabolomes are functionally relevant and amenable to perturbation by small molecules? Which properties of small molecules and their targets determine compound–target interactions? And how can these insights be translated into precise perturbation strategies for biological processes in agriculture and human health?

To address these questions, the lab develops computational methods for the analysis of large-scale omics and small-molecule bioactivity data. This includes both discovery-driven research and the development of algorithms and software for diverse Big Data technologies, including next-generation sequencing, genome-wide profiling approaches, and chemical genomics. Reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of this work, the group frequently collaborates with experimental scientists on data-intensive projects addressing complex biological problems. Another major focus is the development of integrated data analysis infrastructure for the open-source software ecosystems R and Bioconductor. The following sections provide brief summaries of selected research projects.