Professor of Bioinformatics · University of Tartu
Jaak Vilo
Health Data Analytics, Bioinformatics, and Algorithms.
Professor of Bioinformatics, Head of the Institute of Computer Science (2026–2028), and Head of the Chair of Data Science at the University of Tartu. Research spans algorithms, bioinformatics, and health informatics.
Current Focus
- Algorithms and bioinformatics
- Data science research and teaching
- Applied data analysis for health
Tartu, Estonia · University of Tartu
Photo: Henry Narits / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized).
About
Jaak Vilo is an Estonian computer scientist and bioinformatician, and Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Tartu since 2007. He heads the Institute of Computer Science for the 2026–2028 term, having previously led it in 2011–2022, and heads the Chair of Data Science. He earned his PhD in computer science at the University of Helsinki in 2002 and worked at EMBL‑EBI in 1999–2002. His research connects algorithms and data analysis with the life sciences, with current work in the Health Informatics Research Group.
He is a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (elected 2012), Academia Europaea (2026), and EMBO (2026). He serves as Vice President and a member of the Board of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, and chairs its Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Brain.
Resources
Groups
Affiliations
Social
Media
Publications
Tools
- g:Profiler
- MEM (Multi Experiment Matrix)
- ClustVis
- Expression Profiler
- EPCLUST
- SPEXS
- EP:PPI
- EP:GO
- GPCR signatures
Items without links are historical tools and resources.
Company Involvements
- Teleport — co-founder (1990s)
- Meediamaa — co-founder (1990s)
- Keelevara — co-founder; historical involvement
- Quretec — co-founder; Management Board, 2006–2015
- STACC — co-founder and Head of Research
Current and historical involvements. Early Internet ventures are listed without current company websites.
Events
- ESSCaSS annual summer school — 2026 edition (18–21 August 2026; past event)
- ATI Data Science seminars (5–6 times a year)
- Delta Career Day (ATI Career Day) — 17 February 2027
- UniTartuCS Day (ATI Day) — 1 October 2026
Research, Infrastructure & Past Projects
Health Informatics Research Group
Research on health data analytics, clinical data integration, and informatics methods.
DetailsData Science Chair
Research and teaching in data mining, machine learning, algorithms, bioinformatics, and computational neuroscience.
DetailsBIIT Research Group (Archive)
Former bioinformatics, algorithmics, and data mining group. Its work continues in successor research groups and ELIXIR Estonia.
ArchiveELIXIR Estonia
National node for ELIXIR, coordinating bioinformatics resources and services in Estonia.
DetailsUT HPC Center
High-performance computing services supporting research at the University of Tartu.
DetailsEstonian Biobank IT (Past Work)
Contributed to the Estonian Biobank’s early IT infrastructure and data analysis capacity after returning to Estonia in 2002.
DetailsTeaching
Teaching and supervision in computer science and bioinformatics, with a focus on clear reasoning and practical skills.
Current Courses
Recent Semesters
- Digitaalne maailmapilt (DIGIT, 2025/26 spring)
- Algorithmics (2025/26 fall)
- Data Science MSc Seminar (2025/26 fall)
- Digitaalne maailmapilt (DIGIT, 2024/25 spring)
Earlier teaching also includes Data Mining and Text Algorithms.
Recognition & Service
Memberships
- EMBO Member — elected 2026
- Academia Europaea Member — elected 2026
- Estonian Academy of Sciences Member — elected 2012, Informatics
Estonian Academy of Sciences
- Vice President and Member of the Board — Vice President since 2025
- Chair, Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Brain
- Member, Committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Member, Committee on Science and Higher Education
Honours & Distinctions
- University of Tartu Grand Medal — 2023
- ACM Senior Member — 2020
- University of Tartu Medal — 2016
- ITL “Aasta tegija 2013” (Person of the Year 2013) — awarded 2014
- Order of the White Star, Third Class — 2013
Contact
Email: vilo [at] ut [dot] ee
Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
Narva mnt 18 (Delta), 51009 Tartu, Estonia