Justin van der Hooft

Justin van der Hooft is an EPS Assistant Professor in Bioinformatics (BIF) at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on metabolomics, mass spectrometry, and computational approaches to natural product discovery. He leads efforts in gene cluster analysis, molecular networking, and AI-driven data integration. His work emphasizes open science and collaboration, as highlighted by the Lighthouse Award 2022 and contributions to tools like antiSMASH and MIBiG.

Research interests include advancing computational methods for metabolite identification, optimizing mass spectrometry workflows, and leveraging AI for natural product discovery. Key projects involve linking biosynthetic gene clusters to metabolites, developing scalable data platforms, and exploring plant and microbial specialized metabolomes.

Recent articles highlight advancements in mass spectrometry data patterns, AI integration, and community-driven curation of biosynthetic gene clusters. His contributions span over 130 publications, emphasizing metabolomics, gene cluster analysis, and computational biology.

• Advising: Co-promotor for PhD students in metabolomics, bioinformatics, and microbial ecology projects.
• Grants/Projects: Active in food safety analysis, natural product discovery, and integrative omics studies.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with global networks on antiSMASH, MIBiG, and molecular networking initiatives.