Fueled by curiosity and a passion to decode life, Stein Aerts became a pioneer in AI and computational biology at VIB-KU Leuven. There, he combines genetics, data analysis, and artificial intelligence to try and get to the root of understanding biological systems. Among many other things, his research led to the development of the Cell Atlas of the fruit fly, a powerful tool mapping which genes are active in which cells. But for Stein, research isn’t just about finding answers, but about asking the right questions.  

Our conversation leads us through the jungles of Ecuador and Columbia, perspectives on embracing failures, and what it means to leave a legacy in science.  

Tell us in the comments what leaving a legacy in science means to you!

Ready to take your research further? Join VIB – Where top science meets global talent. Check out our open positions at jobs.vib.be.

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Called to Science is a podcast by VIB. Produced by De Praeters.