Meet Martin Kircher - Ancient DNA and Genomics Expert at the Berlin Summer School in NGS Data Analysis
Posted on February 04, 2026
We are very pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Martin Kircher will be joining us as an invited speaker at the upcoming Berlin Summer School in NGS Data Analysis this July.
Martin is a leader in the fields of computational genomics and bioinformatics. Since 2017, he heads the Computational Genome Biology research group at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and in 2022 he was appointed Professor of Regulatory Genomics at the University of Lübeck and the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein.
His research focuses on computer-based methods to identify functionally relevant genomic sequences and sequence variants, and on developing sensitive analyses for sequencing data, including exome, whole genome, and cell-free DNA sequencing. His team also develops widely used variant effect scoring tools such as CADD, CADD-SV and ReMM, and integrates experimental data from high-throughput assays such as reporter screens and CRISPR perturbations into predictive models of regulatory sequence function.
Martin’s work reflects a deep commitment to advancing how we analyse both coding and non-coding genomic variation, applying machine learning, data mining and functional genomics to understand genetic effects in disease and evolution. His expertise bridges methodological innovation and practical bioinformatics challenges — a connection that aligns closely with the spirit of hands-on learning we aim to foster at the Summer School.
At the Summer School, Martin will share insights from his research and discuss practical challenges in analysing complex sequencing datasets. His talk will provide participants with a view of how cutting-edge genomic analysis tools are developed and applied in real research contexts, especially in the challenging domain of variant effect prediction and functional genome interpretation.
The Berlin Summer School in NGS Data Analysis is designed to give attendees a comprehensive, hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing workflows — from initial quality control and mapping to advanced topics such as variant interpretation, single-cell analysis, and reproducible pipeline development.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming Martin to Berlin and hearing his perspective on computational genomics.
For more details and to apply, please visit the Summer School page:
ecseq.com/summer-school
Registration is now open — we encourage you to apply early as spaces are limited.
