About, RNA Forecast | Michael T. Wolfinger

Biography

Michael T. Wolfinger has worked in computational RNA biology for more than two decades. He is an independent Principal Investigator and maintains long-standing research collaborations with the Theoretical Biochemistry Group at the University of Vienna, a major centre of RNA bioinformatics and home of the ViennaRNA Package.

In 2023 and 2024 he served as a visiting professor at the University of Freiburg, where he worked on machine learning approaches for RNA folding kinetics and computational RNA biology. His current work combines independently led projects through RNA Forecast with collaborative research involving academic groups in Austria and internationally.

Research interests

Michael's research spans computational approaches to RNA structure, dynamics, evolution, and design, with particular interests in functional RNAs and structured viral RNAs. Current research themes include:

RNA secondary structure
RNA folding dynamics
RNA evolution
Viral RNA biology
RNA engineering
Computational methods
Reproducible software
RNA protein recognition
All research themes →

Scientific positions

Michael's research career spans more than two decades, with appointments at the University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, and the University of Freiburg. RNA Forecast is the current independent home for his research, software development, collaborations and advanced teaching.

Current

2025–present

Independent Principal Investigator

Vienna, Austria

Leading independent and collaborative research in computational RNA biology, RNA structure and design, and data-driven approaches to functional RNAs.

2023–2024

Visiting Professor (W2 Substitute Chair)

Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Germany

Led research and teaching in computational biology and bioinformatics, including machine learning approaches to RNA folding kinetics.

2019–2025

University Assistant and Principal Investigator

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, Austria

Led research in computational RNA biology, including RNA structure prediction, molecular modelling, and viral RNA biology.

2016–2018

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Served as a central bioinformatics hub within the SFB RNA-REG consortium, integrating sequencing, multi-omics, and computational analyses across collaborative RNA biology projects.

2012–2015

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Vienna, Austria

Coordinated bioinformatics within the SFB RNA-REG consortium and developed computational approaches for RNA structure–function analysis and omics data integration.

2005–2007

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Austria

Worked on RNA folding dynamics and developed computational approaches for modelling cotranscriptional folding kinetics within an EU-funded FP6 project.

This section highlights selected research appointments rather than Michael's complete career history.

Scientific service

Editorial and peer-review service

Associate Editor, Frontiers in Bioinformatics and Frontiers in Virology (since 2025)
Editorial Board member, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (since 2025) and Scientific Reports (since 2019)
Guest and Special Issue Editor / Guest Advisor for collections covering synthetic RNA biology, functional RNAs in virology, virus evolution and diversity, deep learning in RNA biology, RNA structure and function, and conserved RNAs in viral genomes
Associate Faculty Member, H1Connect (since 2020)
Regular peer reviewer for leading journals including Nature Portfolio, Nucleic Acids Research, RNA, and RNA Biology

Academic and community service

Open-source software contribution and maintenance in the ViennaRNA ecosystem
Organisation and delivery of workshops and university courses in computational RNA analysis and bioinformatics
Supervision and mentoring of students and early-career researchers
International collaborative research across Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions

Teaching & advanced training

Michael has taught computational biology, bioinformatics and RNA analysis at universities in Austria and Germany for more than twenty years, from graduate courses to invited lectures. A fuller record is kept on his personal site.

Through RNA Forecast, he also develops and delivers advanced workshops on the ViennaRNA ecosystem and computational RNA analysis for academic and industrial groups, drawing directly on methods and workflows used in his research.

Collaborations

Michael works with academic and industrial researchers on computational questions in RNA biology, software development, and reproducible scientific workflows. Many of these collaborations are conducted through RNA Forecast and are reflected in joint publications and ongoing research projects.

Leipzig University

RNA structure, mechanics and engineering

University of Groningen

RNA structure ensemble mapping and regulatory switches

Radboud University Nijmegen

Viral small RNA responses in flaviviruses

University of Freiburg

Machine learning for RNA folding kinetics

Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

RNA protein complexes in viral pathogenesis

The University of Queensland

Discovery of novel flaviviruses