Michael Stumpf

Background

About Michael Stumpf

I am a theoretical life scientist with a background in statistical physics. I am working on a range of problems related to the theory of living systems, especially the molecular information processing systems that affect cellular behaviour. I had good fortune to work with an outstanding group of researchers and early career scientists and help them find their feet in science, or apply their scientific expertise outside of academia. How cells make decisions is the main problem I am trying to understand. Since the analysis of such systems generally relies on indirect observations I have a longstanding interest in reverse engineering and inverse problems in biology. Here I am pragmatically Bayesian, because I prefer the probabilistic perspective. This may be because of my background in statistical physics, but I am particularly attached to the conceptual clarity of Bayesian model selection. This is an enormously powerful tool in tackling biology’s most challenging inverse problems. This perspective has allowed us to build larger and more realistic models of cellular systems. I am interested in cellular behaviour across the whole tree of life and I am convinced of the need to harness living systems to solve some of humanity’s most pressing problems. Both my fundamental research and my translation activities (most recently through co-founding Cell Bauhaus together with @Megan Coomer) are driven by this recognition. Methodological diversity has traditionally been a strength of the group; we tend to look at the biological question or problem at hand and then learn or develop the necessary mathematical, computational, and statistical tools to tackle our biological questions. This methodological agility has been allowing us to make large conceptual advances across a suite of biological problems, e.g. on understanding the causes and consequences of cellular heterogeneity on cell-fate decision making processes. And it keeps group meetings interesting as there is always so much new and exciting stuff to learn. Working with a diverse group of committed and talented scientist is hugely rewarding, and I am always happy to speak with curious scientists who want to join in these endeavours. Outside of research I love spending time with my family; I really enjoy hiking, running, rowing (unfortunately, exclusively on the erg these days), and judo; and I have maintained my childhood interest in astronomy.