IE University’s Research Datalab recently hosted a seminar featuring computational biologist Carlos Óscar Sorzano.

Sorzano, a staff researcher at Spain’s National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC) and co‑founder of Kinestat Pharma, is known for using imaging, statistics and bioinformatics to study the structure of proteins. He holds degrees in electrical engineering, computer science and mathematics, as well as doctorates in telecommunications and pharmacy. His prolific research trajectory places him among the top 2% most-cited scientists in Spain.

In his talk, titled “Patterns of Life: Exploring Biology at the Crossroads of Imaging, Bioinformatics, and Statistics”, Sorzano presented his main line of research: uncovering the biological patterns that form complex life systems. He showcased how cutting-edge tools, from cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) to advanced statistical models, are used to tackle major challenges in structural biology and biomedical discovery.

His presentation offered a guided journey through the cryoEM computational pipeline, from raw image acquisition to atomic-level modeling, addressing key issues such as noise reduction, bias and variance, and quality assessment. He also highlighted ongoing challenges in the field, including automation, the optimization of experimental design, and the need for faster, more reliable computational methods. Beyond structural biology, Professor Sorzano’s work also contributes to drug discovery, the reduction of animal use in research, and broader access to medical technologies.

The lecture drew a room of faculty who quizzed him on topics ranging from experimental design to entrepreneurial applications. Their questions turned the session into an open dialogue, underscoring the value of bringing cutting-edge research into the academic community for critical exchange.