News
APC and UCC's School of Medicine welcomes Dr. Sebastian Schmidt as a new Principal Investigator
APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), a world-leading SFI Research Centre based at University College Cork (UCC), is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Sebastian Schmidt, an outstanding computational biologist with a global reputation for pioneering advancements in microbiome data analysis, as a new Principal Investigator.
Previously based in the prestigious European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Dr. Schmidt brings to APC an exceptional background in computational biology, focusing on the development of cutting-edge tools to analyse complex microbiome data. His innovative work has already made significant impacts on the field, including contributions to two seminal papers recently published in the leading international scientific journals Cell and Nature. As part of the UCC Futures Food, Microbiome & Health recruitment drive, Dr. Schmidt will also serve as a lecturer in microbiome and health affiliated with the UCC School of Medicine.
With nearly a decade of experience in microbiome research, Dr. Schmidt has explored fundamental questions of microbial ecology and evolution, while also engaging in applied work, such as discovering predictive microbiome signatures of diseases. His expertise in integrating large datasets to address new challenges in microbiome science has led to the development of several influential computational tools and resources.
Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Schmidt stated, “APC and UCC have one of the longest and most distinguished histories in modern microbiome research. I am thrilled to join such a highly stimulating environment, surrounded by world-leading researchers in the field. I look forward to building a team here and working on fascinating research questions relevant to the global challenges of our time.”
A Future of Cutting-Edge Research
Dr. Schmidt’s appointment signals high ambition on the part of the APC as it continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in microbiome research. His focus on developing cutting-edge computational tools and resources that push the boundaries of microbiome science will undoubtedly play a crucial role in advancing the APC’s research and strategic goals.
Welcoming Dr. Schmidt, APC Director Prof. Paul Ross, noted that “Dr. Schmidt’s expertise in computational biology, particularly in large-scale data analysis and tool development will hugely contribute to our capacity for microbiome research. We are excited to see the innovations and breakthroughs that will emerge from his work here at APC.”
Dr. Schmidt will initially focus his research at APC on the intricate interactions between diet and the gut microbiome. He aims to develop computational models that predict how dietary changes impact the microbiome at an individual level, with the ultimate goal of creating dietary interventions that can modulate the gut microbiome to improve health and wellbeing.
