TBI – Theoretical Biochemistry Group Institute for Theoretical Chemistry · University of Vienna

The Theoretical Biochemistry (TBI) group, led by Ivo Hofacker, brings together molecular science and computational methods. We develop models and algorithms to understand how molecular systems are organized, how they move between different structures and undergo chemical transformations, and how this knowledge can be used to explore and design new molecular behaviour.

A central focus of our research is computational RNA biology. We study RNA structure, folding and interactions, develop methods for predicting structural ensembles, and investigate how functional RNA molecules can be designed. Alongside this, we work on algorithmic chemistry and chemical reaction networks, using computational representations of molecules and reactions to explore chemical spaces, reaction networks and the pathways that connect them.

TBI’s research is shaped by the complementary programmes of Ivo Hofacker and Christoph Flamm. Hofacker’s work focuses on computational RNA biology, while Flamm works primarily on algorithmic chemistry and chemical reaction networks. Together, these programmes define the group’s two main research directions.

ViennaRNA Package

The ViennaRNA Package is the Theoretical Biochemistry Group’s leading software suite for RNA secondary-structure analysis; its modern architecture was introduced with ViennaRNA Package 2.0. Discover more tools on our Software page, or access ViennaRNA directly below.