Jon Olav Vik

Jon Olav Vik is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), affiliated with the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology within the Faculty of Science and Technology. He leads the DigiSal project—"Towards the Digital Salmon: From a reactive to a pre-emptive research strategy in aquaculture"—funded under the Research Council of Norway’s Digital Life initiative. He is also a lead modeller in the GenoSysFat project, which aims to enhance omega-3 content in farmed salmon through integrated genomics and systems biology approaches.

His research spans systems biology, computational physiology, genotype-phenotype modeling, and ecological dynamics. He works at the intersection of biology, mathematics, and computer programming, developing models to understand how genetics, nutrition, and environment interact in fish and ecological systems. His pedagogical focus includes biostatistics and programming in R, and he teaches courses such as STIN100, STIN300, and STAT100.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on systems-level understanding in biology, particularly in salmon aquaculture, metabolic regulation, and genotype-phenotype relationships. These works appear in high-impact journals like Nature, Science, PLOS Computational Biology, and Journal of The Royal Society Interface, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach across computational biology, genomics, ecology, and biostatistics. Key themes include metabolic modeling, microbiome stability, lipidome remodeling, and sensitivity analysis in dynamic models.

Jon Olav Vik has contributed to major collaborative efforts including the Infrastructure for Systems Biology Europe (ISBE), where he helped develop frameworks for "modelling as a service." He has also authored book chapters and technical deliverables on systems biology and modeling practices.

He actively supervises students and invites master’s thesis candidates with interests in quantitative biology. While no specific awards are listed, his leadership in national and international research projects underscores his scientific impact. His work supports both fundamental science and sustainable aquaculture innovation.