Research mission

I am co-leading the KERMIT research unit together with Bernard De Baets, where I am responsible for the computational modelling research line. KERMIT’s mission is to harness mathematics and computation to unravel life's complexities, optimize biological functions, and drive innovation in biodesign and decision-making under uncertainty. Focused on applied biological sciences—including biotechnology, environmental technology, plant breeding and food technology—, KERMIT refines existing methods and develops cutting-edge approaches across disciplines. The team is committed to creating accessible software tools that transform data streams into actionable and interpretable insights. Valuing continuous learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mental well-being, KERMIT embraces a holistic approach to solving challenges in our data-driven, interconnected world.

In our subgroup, we specifically focus on non-conventional computing for understanding biological systems, including stochastic and differential programming, evolutionary computing, and other related approaches. Though we have an interest in various application fields within the applied biological sciences, we have plant growth and synthetic biology as our key focuses.

Key visionary publications

Hyperdimensional computing: a fast, robust and interpretable paradigm for biological data M. Stock, W. Van Criekinge, D. Boeckaerts, P. Dewulf, S. Taelman, M. Van Haeverbeke and B. De Baets (2024) PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY. 20, e1012426

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1299208/full M. Stock, O. Pieters, T. De Swaef and F. wyffels (2024) FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE. 14, 1299208.

Open-endedness in synthetic biology: A route to continual innovation for biological design M. Stock and T. E. Gorochowski (2024) SCIENCE ADVANCES. 10, eadi3621.