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Dr. Andreas Martin Lisewski
Senior Lecturer of Science
School of Science
Campus Ring 6 / 28759 Bremen / Germany
Phone number
+49 421 200 3558
Email Address
alisewski@constructor.university
Research Interests
In the broadest sense, our research uses modern computational methods to decode the biological information that is encoded in genomes. The genomic information we are especially interested is protein structural and functional information relevant in infectious disease agents, ranging from parasitic eukaryotes, bacteria, to viruses. Following this research, genotype-phenotype maps in molecular biology are analyzed from a modern information engineering perspective that incorporates the transmission of genomic information from a sender (genotype), via a encoder-channel-decoder device (expression map), to a receiver (phenotype). This key aspect of biodigital convergence is a far-reaching conjunction of digital communication theory and molecular biology at their most fundamental levels.
Our scientific work also focuses on synthetic biology, ranging from understanding basic concepts, to computational methods to tell synthetic from natural genomes, and to developing specific bioengineering applications, such as the design and control of thermostability and bioactivity in proteins of therapeutic interest.
Synthetic biology is the disruptive technology of the 2020s. It is historically unprecedented for a single technology to have such an impact on not only medicine, food, livestock, defense sector, but also on the entire human society and the global biosphere. From it an additional focus of our research are the technological risks and societal impacts that emerge from recent breakthroughs in synthetic biology and from the ongoing process of biodigital convergence.
Teaching (current and past)
- Data Tools for the Life Sciences (MQLS-CO-02-A/B, Fall Semester)
- Synthetic Biology - Concepts, Opportunities and Risks (CA-MCCB-804, Specialization course, Spring Semester)
- Global Health - Historical Context and Future Challenges (JTBQ-004, J/C Track Big Questions, Fall Semester)
- Causation and Correlation - Perspective I (CTNS-03, Constructor Track New Skills, Spring Semester)
- Global Existential Risks (JTBQ-005, J/C Track Big Questions , Fall Semester)
- Ethics in Science and Technology (JTBQ-003, J/C Track Big Questions, Spring Semester 2024 for Alexander Lerchl)
- Ethics and the Information Revolution (MDSSBO-107-A, Spring Semester 2025 with Marina Christodoulou)
Selected press coverage
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2026 (1 July): Neue Studie: Kein Beleg für Labor-Ursprung des Coronavirus, link (DEU)
Le Monde, 2025 (1 January): COVID-19: Five years on, search for origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains fruitless, link (ENG)
Le Monde, 2022 (28 December): Origin of SARS-CoV-2: The search continues, link (ENG)
Weser Kurier, 2021 (16 February): Fortschritt braucht mehr als Technik, link (DEU)
SPIEGEL, 2020 (7 October): Was Covid-19 und die Grippe verbindet – und was sie unterscheidet, link (DEU)
Weser Kurier, 2019 (7 June): Menschheit am Scheideweg, link (DEU)
Editor (academic journals)
International Journal of Molecular Sciences (CiteScore 8.1), Guest Editor (2025 - 26)
Microbial Cell (CiteScore 7.6), Academic Editor (2014 - )
Honors and Awards
Sigma Xi, Full Member, 2025 -
DAAD, Rückgewinnung deutscher Wissenschaftler/innen im Ausland (USA), 2015 - 2016
Bayerische Staatsregierung, USA Rückkehrerstipendium, 2013
W.M. Keck Foundation, Gulf Coast Consortia Postdoctoral Research Stipend, 2008-2010
DAAD, USA Forschungsstipendium, University of California Santa Cruz, 1999 - 2000
Selected Publications
Recent Publications on Scopus
CV