Academy members Jaak Vilo (bioinformatics) and Martin Zobel (ecology) have been elected Members of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in recognition of their outstanding research achievements.
EMBO is one of Europe's leading scientific organizations dedicated to promoting excellence in the life sciences. It supports researchers through funding, training courses and conferences; publishes peer-reviewed scientific journals; contributes to science policy; fosters the exchange of scientific knowledge; and helps shape a research environment that enables world-class science. EMBO supports talented scientists at every stage of their careers. Its membership comprises more than 2,200 leading researchers from Europe and around the world, including more than 90 Nobel laureates.
"Life on Earth is fundamentally molecular, but in many ways it can also be understood as a system of information processing. Unravelling the principles of this extraordinarily diverse and constantly adapting system presents fascinating challenges for scientists across many disciplines. It is a great honour for me that, through new algorithms and computational methods, we have been able to contribute, even in a small way, to a better understanding of this complexity by analysing the functions of DNA, genes, proteins, and their interaction networks," said Jaak Vilo, Vice President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and Professor of Bioinformatics at the Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu.
"Being elected to EMBO is a particularly great honour for me because I do not have a background in molecular biology but am an ecologist by training. At the same time, the application of molecular methods has significantly advanced the field of ecology," said Martin Zobel, Academy Member and Professor Emeritus of Plant Ecology at the University of Tartu.
Until now, four scientists from Estonia have been elected to EMBO membership. "It is therefore especially gratifying that this year two more of our outstanding scientists have received this distinguished recognition. EMBO members nominate new candidates, and election to the organization is a lifelong honour awarded for exceptional contributions to the life sciences," said Mart Saarma, President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. According to him, an important part of EMBO's mission is to support the development of the life sciences in countries where research capacity has historically been more limited, including Estonia. "Jaak Vilo and Martin Zobel now have an excellent opportunity, through the EMBO network, to contribute further to the development of Estonian science and to enhance its international visibility. I wish them every success in this important role," he added.
Jaak Vilo's research focuses on computer science, algorithms, data analysis, and the development of open research infrastructures and services. The software he has developed has enabled discoveries in biology, including studies of gene regulation, receptor function, and disease mechanisms, while also supporting the work of researchers worldwide.
Martin Zobel has helped establish Estonian ecology among the world's leading research communities. His species pool concept has had a major international impact on ecological theory, while his research on interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi has opened new perspectives on understanding plant communities. He has also pioneered the introduction of DNA-based molecular approaches into ecological research.
Other Estonian EMBO members include Mart Saarma, President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and Professor at the University of Helsinki; biochemist Mart Loog; and Peep Palumaa and Tõnis Timmusk, Professors at Tallinn University of Technology.
In total, EMBO elected 71 new Members this summer, including 60 from Europe and 11 Associate Members from outside Europe. Read more in the EMBO press release.
Jaak Vilo and Martin Zobel Elected to EMBO Membership
From left: Jaak Vilo and Martin Zobel (photos by Andres Tennus / University of Tartu).