Paulien Hogeweg elected as EMBO Member

Paulien Hogeweg, emeritus professor at Utrecht University and a pioneer in computational biology, has been elected as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). This highly regarded recognition highlights her groundbreaking work on the fundamental principles of biological systems and evolutionary processes.

“I was completely surprised by this nomination,” says Paulien Hogeweg. She considers the nomination a great honour, especially because her work has often gone against the grain. “I’ve always been something of an outsider in biology. My research is theoretical and computational, while EMBO traditionally focuses more on molecular biology.”

A different approach to biology

Throughout her career, Hogeweg has taken a unique, theoretical and computational approach to biology, which traditionally focuses more on molecular research. But her perspective has become increasingly influential. For decades, she has explored fundamental questions about how living systems organise themselves and evolve. “I study how organisms process information, how patterns emerge, and how these processes change over time,” says Hogeweg.

The birth of bioinformatics

Back in the 1970s, Hogeweg and her colleague Ben Hesper coined the term bioinformatics. At the time, their focus was on using models and theory to understand biological processes and how living systems handle information. The term has since evolved: today’s bioinformatics is more centred around data analysis.

Hogeweg's work laid the foundation for an entirely new way of understanding life and evolution.

Although bioinformatics is now a thriving and essential field within biology, that wasn’t always the case. When Hogeweg first coined the term, the field was barely recognised within the biological sciences. Yet her work laid the foundation for an entirely new way of understanding life and evolution.

Current research

Hogeweg’s current research uses large-scale computer models to study the bigger picture of evolution. Her focus is not individual species or genes, but the general principles that drive the development of life. From the earliest self-replicating molecules to the complex organisms we see today, her work aims to uncover the underlying rules of biological evolution.

One striking insight from her models is that evolution doesn’t always mean gaining more genes. In fact, complex organisms often emerge after a loss of genes. Initially, gene numbers may increase rapidly, but as complexity rises, some genes are shed. This may seem contradictory, but is a recurring evolutionary pattern.

How did complex life emerge?

Today, Hogeweg is investigating one of the biggest questions in biology: how did complex cells (like those in plants and animals) evolve from simpler ones like bacteria and archaea? She uses computational models to explore how these cells started working together, how they divided tasks, and how mechanisms evolved to support this cooperation and reproduction. Her work also sheds light on how genomes grow or shrink during such major evolutionary transitions, like the emergence of eukaryotic cells.

At EMBO, I want to advocate for more space and appreciation for fundamental science, even when it doesn’t follow the mainstream

Hogeweg sees her EMBO membership as a strong signal that theoretical, curiosity-driven research matters. “At EMBO, I want to advocate for more space and appreciation for fundamental science, even when it doesn’t follow the mainstream.”

Inspiring students

Although officially retired, Hogeweg remains active in both research and teaching. She still leads the Computational Biology course in the Biologie (in Dutch) and Bioinformatics & Biocomplexity bachelor’s and master’s programmes. “It’s a challenging course,” she admits, “but one that students often remember fondly.”

Other EMBO Members at Utrecht Unviversity

With this election, Paulien Hogeweg joins an international network of leading scientists in molecular biology. Other Utrecht University researchers who have previously been elected to EMBO include Corné Pieterse (2025), Lukas Kapitein (2024), Albert Heck (2014), Ineke Braakman (2014), Piet Gros (2013), Anna Akhmanova (2010), Gerrit van Meer (2003), and Robert Kaptein (1991).