Aida Maraj

Aida Maraj is a mathematician holding a W2 professorship at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI CBG) in Dresden, where she leads the Algebraic Statistics for Biology research group. She is also a Young Investigator in the Department of Mathematics at TU Dresden and maintains an affiliation with the Department of Mathematics at the University of Tirana. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Kentucky (2015-2020), followed by postdoctoral positions at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, University of Michigan, and Harvard University.

Dr. Maraj's research focuses on applied and asymptotic algebra and geometry with applications in statistics and biology. Her work employs tools from algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, combinatorics, formal language theory, and symbolic computation to address complex biological questions. She has developed expertise in discovering algebraic and geometric properties of hierarchical models and Gaussian models, particularly in high-dimensional settings where classical statistical methods fail.

Her recent publications demonstrate growing interdisciplinary impact, bridging mathematical theory with biological applications in areas like cnidarian morphogenesis, tissue remodeling, and biomechanical determinants of shape diversity. She actively organizes major academic events including the Dive into Research in Dresden program for summer 2026 and has co-organized the CIMPA summer school Mathematical Methods in Data Analysis at the University of Tirana in 2022.

Among her scientific recognitions are the NSF Grant DMS2306672 as Principal Investigator and a Simons Travel Grant. She previously received the IBL Desapio fellowship during her time at the University of Michigan.

• Currently mentoring 5 postdocs (Soham Basu, Danai Deligeorgaki, Oskar Henriksson, Carlotta Langer, Maximilian Wiesmann)
• Supervising 2 PhD students (Yue Jiao, Se Eun Choi)
• Hosting multiple interns annually including Joan Pascual Ribes, tahda queer, and Joseph Leach
• Organizing the 2026 Combinatorics in Algebraic Statistics and Game Theory summer research program

Dr. Maraj maintains strong connections with Albanian academic institutions and has been instrumental in creating opportunities for Albanian students through international collaborations. Her work exemplifies the growing importance of algebraic methods in modern biological research and data analysis.