EPFL School of Life Sciences joins the Center for Intelligent Systems
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The School of Life Sciences (SV) has joined the Center for Intelligent Systems (CIS) to combine artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and robotics with expertise in the life sciences, and create intelligent systems in life sciences. Being an equal partner alongside EPFL’s other schools will further strengthen the development of interdisciplinary projects across the campus and push the boundaries of research.
Several areas of life sciences including biological image processing, genomics and computational biology are progressing rapidly by integrating novel methods from artificial intelligence. Better integration of these disciplines at EPFL through CIS promises to advance cutting-edge research on bio-inspired intelligent systems.
We are extremely enthusiastic about this partnership with the Center for Intelligent Systems. It is clear to us that the life sciences are going through a rapid evolution that involves new computational approaches to data generation and analysis that profoundly change discovery and application. We are also convinced that life science will uncover new problems and challenges that will drive innovation in computational systems. This is a very exciting area for all concerned.
Professors Patrick Barth, Anne-Florence Bitbol, and Pavan Ramdya joined the CIS Scientific Committee to foster transformative exchanges and collaborations between the SV and CIS communities.
Patrick Barth leads the laboratory of Protein and Cell Engineering (LPCE) at the Institute of Bioengineering. His group aims at understanding and expanding the function of protein-based nanosystems for synthetic biology and therapeutic applications by combining computational biology, machine learning, and protein- and cell-engineering.
Anne-Florence Bitbol heads laboratory of Computational Biology and Theoretical Biophysics (Bitbol lab) at the Institute of Bioengineering. Her group is interested in understanding biological systems and biological data using methods from physics, mathematics, and computer science. The group is currently focusing on the way optimization and historical contingency shape biological systems, from proteins to microbial populations.
Pavan Ramdya directs the Neuroengineering laboratory (Ramdya lab) jointly in the Brain Mind and Bioengineering Institutes. By reverse-engineering flies (Drosophila melanogaster), his group aims to better understand the mind, and design more intelligent robots. Ramdya’s group also combines microscopy, machine learning, genetics, and computational models to address systems-level questions.
The Center of Intelligent Systems
The EPFL Center for Intelligent Systems (CIS) acts as a research promotion platform for bringing together experts in machine learning, data science, computer vision, cyber-physical systems, and robotics. It is a joint initiative of the schools of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Computer and Communication Sciences (IC), Basic Sciences (SB), Life Sciences (SV), and Engineering (STI). The mission of the CIS is to connect and support all EPFL researchers working in fields related to intelligent systems. These fields are developing technologies that, when brought together, can be used to construct intelligent systems capable of making complex, nuanced decisions in challenging, dynamic environments.
Since its inception in 2020, CIS has already launched several activities, including an EPFL-wide CIS Get to Know Your Neighbors seminar series, the CIS Colloquia featuring renown speakers, and four streams of integrated research at EPFL: AI4Medicine, Intelligent Assistive Robotics, Decentralized edge AI Infrastructure, and Digital Twin. Further CIS supports the FET-PROACTIVE DIGIPREDICT initiative led by EPFL.