Kay Hamacher

(TU Darmstadt, Germany)

Molecular Biophysics and Optimization

Thursay 24 September 2009, 16.00-17.00

5161.0105 (Bernoulliborg)

Abstract:

In molecular biophysics and bioinformatics one often encounters optimization problems. Although evolution itself cannot necessarily be considered "optimizing", but rather "competitively adapting", optimization as a tool for structure prediction and refinement, for molecular docking, for parameter estimation via e.g. maximum-likelihood approaches, and for coarse-graining protocols is a cornerstone of modern computational biology. In this talk I will give an overview over areas of application, randomized algorithms for optimization, and ideas inspired by statistical mechanics and stochastic dynamics to improve on exisiting approaches such as simulated annealing.