Omer Karin's research group, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London

We develop mathematical models to understand biological mechanisms.

Living systems work very differently from human-made machines. A cell's most important decisions, such as when to divide or what type of cell to become, emerge from noisy interactions between many kinds of molecules. How does biological function arise from these interactions? We believe answering this question requires new mathematical theory, which we build on ideas from statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics, computation and beyond. We analyse experimental data and collaborate closely with experimentalists to develop and test our models.

Publications

Publications are also listed on my Google Scholar page. The coloured letters mark research themes.

• MSystems Medicine
• BBiological Navigation
• IImmunology
• DStem Cells and Development
• EEvolution
• NNeurobiology
• HEndocrinology
• GEpigenetics
• SAgeing
• LLearning in Biological Systems
• AAttractor Networks
• TInteracting Tipping Points

2026

1. Compositional proofreading through critical self-tuningO KarinPhysical Review Letters (accepted)
2. Self-organized hyperuniformity in a minimal model of population dynamicsT Agranov, N Wiegenfeld, O Karin, BD SimonsPhysical Review Letters
3. Growth rate-dependent mutations and phenotypic switching facilitate rapid adaptationA Grishechkin, O Karinnpj Systems Biology and Applications
4. Learning principle for the adaptive shaping of epigenetic memory repertoiresO KarinPRX Life
5. Cell cycle criticality as a mechanism for robust cell population controlBD Simons, O KarinMolecular Systems Biology

2025

1. Unifying regulatory motifs in endocrine circuitsM Raz, DS Glass, T Milo, Y Korem Kohanim, O Karin, A Tendler, A Mayo, U AlonNature Communications
2. Mathematical framework for hierarchical cell identity control by collective enhancer dynamicsA Grishechkin, A Mukherjee, O KarinPRX Life
3. Bridging physics and aging biology: insights from the first Physics in Aging Biology workshopM Unfried, M Scheibye-Knudsen, U Alon, …, O Karin, …, A ZhavoronkovAging Biology

2024

1. EnhancerNet: a predictive model of cell identity dynamics through enhancer selectionO KarinDevelopment
2. Tuning of plasma cell lifespan by competition explains the longevity and heterogeneity of antibody persistenceBD Simons, O KarinImmunity

2023

1. Major depressive disorder and bistability in an HPA-CNS toggle switchB Ron Mizrachi, A Tendler, O Karin, T Milo, D Haran, A Mayo, U AlonPLOS Computational Biology
2. Perspectives on adaptive dynamical systemsJ Sawicki, R Berner, SAM Loos, …, O Karin, …, J KurthsChaos
3. Damage dynamics and the role of chance in the timing of E. coli cell deathY Yang, O Karin, A Mayo, X Song, P Chen, AL Santos, AB Lindner, U AlonNature Communications
4. Rules for body fat interventions based on an operating point mechanismA Bar, O Karin, A Mayo, D Ben-Zvi, U AloniScience
5. Epigenetic inheritance of gene silencing is maintained by a self-tuning mechanism based on resource competitionO Karin, EA Miska, BD SimonsCell Systems

2022

1. Dynamics of thyroid diseases and thyroid-axis gland massesY Korem Kohanim, T Milo, M Raz, O Karin, A Bar, A Mayo, N Mendelson Cohen, Y Toledano, U AlonMolecular Systems Biology
2. The dopamine circuit as a reward-taxis navigation systemO Karin, U AlonPLOS Computational Biology
3. Controls for phylogeny and robust analysis in Pareto task inferenceM Adler, A Tendler, J Hausser, Y Korem, P Szekely, N Bossel, Y Hart, O Karin, A Mayo, U AlonMolecular Biology and Evolution

2021

1. Temporal fluctuations in chemotaxis gain implement a simulated-tempering strategy for efficient navigation in complex environmentsO Karin, U AloniScience
2. An opponent process for alcohol addiction based on changes in endocrine gland massO Karin, M Raz, U AloniScience
3. Senescent cells and the incidence of age-related diseasesI Katzir, M Adler, O Karin, N Mendelsohn-Cohen, A Mayo, U AlonAging Cell
4. Hormone seasonality in medical records suggests circannual endocrine circuitsA Tendler, A Bar, N Mendelsohn-Cohen, O Karin, …, U AlonProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
5. Senescent cell accumulation mechanisms inferred from parabiosisO Karin, U AlonGeroScience

2020

1. A new model for the HPA axis explains dysregulation of stress hormones on the timescale of weeksO Karin, M Raz, A Tendler, A Bar, Y Korem Kohanim, T Milo, U AlonMolecular Systems Biology
2. Adaptive cyclic exit strategies from lockdown to suppress COVID-19 and allow economic activityO Karin, YM Bar-On, T Milo, …, U AlonmedRxiv (preprint)

2019

1. Senescent cell turnover slows with age providing an explanation for the Gompertz lawO Karin, A Agrawal, Z Porat, V Krizhanovsky, U AlonNature Communications

2017

1. Dynamic proteomics of herpes simplex virus infectionN Drayman, O Karin, A Mayo, T Danon, L Shapira, D Rafael, A Zimmer, A Bren, O Kobiler, U AlonmBio
2. Biphasic response as a mechanism against mutant takeover in tissue homeostasis circuitsO Karin, U AlonMolecular Systems Biology

2016

1. Dynamical compensation in physiological circuitsO Karin, A Swisa, B Glaser, Y Dor, U AlonMolecular Systems Biology

Group

Alumni

• 
  Anton Grishechkin · PhD Student

Join the group

Postdoctoral researchers

Chapman Fellowship in Applied Mathematics

A 3-year independent postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Mathematics, starting September 2027. Closes 29 October 2026. About the Chapman Fellowships.

I am also happy to support applications for external fellowships, such as the EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships (open year-round; next cutoff 22 January 2027), Marie Skłodowska-Curie and HFSP. Please get in touch to discuss potential projects.

PhD students

Competitive funding is available for PhD positions starting in 2027. If you're thinking about joining my group, it's a good idea to reach out early. Please contact me with your CV and a short summary of your interests to chat about possible projects.

Applications to the Mathematics PhD programme open in October. Applicants who apply by 2 November 2026 are considered in the first round of the President's PhD Scholarships.

Undergraduate and Masters students

I welcome applications from Imperial students for M3R, M4R, MSc, and UROP research projects. If you are interested, please get in touch to discuss potential opportunities.

Contact

My group is based in the Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, UK.