Sebastian Proost, PhD

Bioinformatics | Data Science

sebastian.proost@gmail.com

Languages

Skills

Python12 years

Data Science9 years

Flask6 years

HTML & CSS12 years

Linux12 years

JavaScript5 years

R6 years

View skills and languages

Bio

Currently working as a Senior PostDoc at the VIB-KULeuven Center for Microbiology (Leuven, Belgium) studying the human gut microbiome and how it connects with the host's health.

After getting a Masters degree in Biotechnology (UGent, Belgium) obtaining a PhD in Bioinformatics (VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology) made it possible to unify an interest in life sciences with computer engineering. Over the course of several PostDocs (e.g. at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology) I have ventured more and more towards software development, setting up web platforms to explore large datasets while leveraging data science and machine learning methods to pick them apart further.

Full bio available under experience & education.

Research

The common theme throughout my research is leveraging large datasets to tackle biological questions. This goes hand in hand with using modern (web) technology to create intuitive tools which allows domain experts to explore these data. Over the years I've been involved in the development of various platforms to study genome evolution, gene function, and microbial ecosystems. These have been used in a number of projects e.g. the Apple genome project, the Flemish Gut Flora Project, ... A full list of tools is avialable under software.

More details what I've been working on recently? Check out the media and publications pages!

Less serious topics I work on, outside of work (for fun or to hone my programmings skills), can be found on my blog 4DCu.be.

Highlights (full list)

1 patent, 42 publications, 8430 citations. H-index : 30

Means and methods to diagnose gut flora dysbiosis and inflammation. Patent: WO2022073973A1 (2022)

J. Raes, S. Proost, G. Falony, S. Vieira-Silva, N. J. Timpson, D. A. Hughes

Google Patents FPO

Beyond the Norm: epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome and mental health among sexual and gender-diverse young adults in a large representative cohort. Gastroenterology (2024)

E. Bootsma*, L. Jansen*, K. van Houte, R. C. Kessler, J. Tack , R. Bruffaerts, Gut-Brain Interactions – WHO – World Mental Health International College Student Initiative Working Group [W. Voorspoels, S. Proost, P. Mortier, G. Kiekens, J. Alonso, J. Raes, G. Falony, S. Vieira-Silva, L. van Oudenhove, P. Cuijpers, R. P. Auerbach]

Gastroenterology

Mood disorders in higher education in Flanders during the 2nd COVID-19 wave: Prevalence and help-seeking: Findings from the Flemish College Surveys (FLeCS). Journal of Psychiatric Research (2023)

E. Bootsma*, L. Jansen*, G. Kiekens, W. Voorpoels, P. Mortier, S. Proost, I. van de Poel, K. Jacobs, K. Demyttenaere, J. Alonso, R. C. Kessler, P. Cuijpers, R. P. Auerbach and R. Bruffaerts

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Long-term life history predicts current gut microbiome in a population-based cohort study. Nature Aging (2022)

J. Si, J. F. Vázquez-Castellanos, A. C. Gregory, L. Decommer, L. Rymenans, S. Proost, J. Centelles Lodeiro, M. Weger, M. Notdurfter, C. Leitner, P. Santer, G. Rungger, J. Willeit, P. Willeit, R. Pechlaner, F. Grabherr, S. Kiechl, H. Tilg and J. Raes

Nature Aging

Statin therapy is associated with lower prevalence of gut microbiota dysbiosis. Nature (2020)

S. Vieira-Silva, G. Falony, E. Belda, T. Nielsen, J. Aron-Wisnewsky, R. Chakaroun, S. K. Forslund, K. Assmann, M. Valles-Colomer, T. T. D. Nguyen, S. Proost, ... , K. Clément and J. Raes

pubmed

CoNekT: an open-source framework for comparative genomic and transcriptomic network analyses. Nucleic Acids Research (2018)

S. Proost, M. Mutwil

pubmed github