Sebastian Ahnert

Dr. Sebastian Ahnert is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, and a Senior Research Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute. He leads the Structural Complexity research group and is a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

• Current Positions: Associate Professor (Cambridge), Senior Research Fellow (Alan Turing Institute), Fellow (King's College)
• Research Interests: Algorithmic information theory, network analysis, genotype-phenotype maps, interdisciplinary applications in biology, humanities, and food science

His work spans the quantification of biological complexity using algorithmic descriptions, including protein quaternary structure classification, RNA sequence-structure maps, and symmetry in evolutionary systems. Network analysis applications extend to historical correspondence (Tudor Networks of Power), food science (flavor compound networks), and connectomes. Recent publications emphasize non-deterministic genotype-phenotype maps, neutral set thermodynamics, and automated phenotyping technologies.

Award highlights:

• 2024 Richard Deswarte Prize in Digital History
• Shortlisted for 2024 SHARP Book History Prize

Current students include PhD candidates in computational biology and plant science, with former advisees contributing to RNA evolution and network analysis studies. Collaborations span quantum physics, plant developmental biology, neuroscience, and digital humanities.