Michael Hiller

Michael Hiller is a Professor leading the Michael Hiller Lab, which focuses on the genomic basis of phenotypic differences between species. His research spans comparative genomics, evolutionary biology, and bioinformatics, with applications in biomedicine. Key projects include the Genomic underpinnings of exceptional traits in bats, Genomics of dietary adaptations, and development of computational tools for genome alignment and annotation. The lab has contributed to high-impact studies in Nature, Science, and Science Advances.

• 2023: ERC Synergy Grant for BatProtect to study bat longevity and disease resistance.
• 2022: Novel method DENTIST for genome assembly gaps published.

Research interests center on discovering genomic determinants of macroevolutionary traits through interdisciplinary approaches combining genome sequencing, computational methods, and comparative analysis. Recent work includes gene loss studies in cetaceans, vampire bats, and hummingbirds to uncover molecular adaptations.

Recent publications highlight evolutionary insights from bats (viral tolerance), hummingbirds (metabolic adaptations), and cetaceans (aquatic transitions). Key tools developed include TOGA for gene annotation and DENTIST for assembly gap correction.

• Scientific Awards: ERC Synergy Grant (2023).
• Students: Ariel Eraso, Michele Albertini, Alejandro Gonzales, Yury Malovichko, Bernhard Bein, Ekaterina Osipova, Bogdan Kirilenko, Leon Hilgers.