Michael Thomas Wolfinger

I am a theoretical chemist in structural and computational RNA biology. My research comprises algorithmic bioinformatics and computational genomics.

My passion about theoretical aspects of virology has led me to specialize in virus bioinformatics, particularly RNA viruses. On a broader scale, I am interested in

  • RNA structure prediction in 2D and 3D
  • RNA structure probing
  • RNA-protein interactions
  • Co-transcriptional RNA folding dynamics
  • In silico design of riboswitches for synthetic biology applications
  • Microbial genotype-phenotype associations

My research interests extend to the realm of RNA folding kinetics and the dynamics of RNA folding pathways. Here, I am studying discrete energy landscapes, equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of complex disordered systems, and efficient sampling strategies.

Michael T. Wolfinger
I presently hold the position of a visiting professor at the University of Freiburg Bioinformatics Group. In adition, I maintain affiliations with the Research Group Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) and the Theoretical Biochemistry Group (TBI) at the Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna. These academic groups are renowned for their contributions to the development of the ViennaRNA Package, a widely used resource in the field of RNA bioinformatics.

Beyond my academic endeavors, I have established RNA Forecast, a venture with a mission to emphasize the significance of RNA structure within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.