Jian Ma is the Ray and Stephanie Lane Professor of Computational Biology in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He leads a research group at the forefront of computational biology, focusing on developing advanced AI/ML methods to explore the structural and functional complexity of the human genome and cellular organization. His work tackles key computational challenges with broad implications for human health and disease. His current research areas include nuclear architecture, single-cell epigenomics, and spatial omics within complex tissues. He recently founded the Center for AI-Driven Biomedical Research (AI4BIO) at CMU, which aims to advance AI/ML development in decoding the molecular language governing cellular behavior.
His research has been supported by the NIH, NSF, CZI, Google, and the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. He serves as the Contact PI of a Center grant in the NIH 4D Nucleome Program and Co-Chair of its Steering Committee. He has contributed significantly to the scientific community through various leadership roles, including serving as the Program Chair of RECOMB 2024. He currently serves on the External Advisory Board for the NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Program (ADSP) AI/ML Consortium and the RECOMB Steering Committee.
His contributions have earned him several honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and election as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
