Research Centre of Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences
With Cognitive Computing, we offer new solutions for the life sciences that are based on the fundamental understanding of man and machine as a learning system.
About us
The Centre for Cognitive Computing for Life Sciences deals with the development and use of computational methods and models for the field of life sciences, whose properties are inspired by the learning and adaptive abilities as well as self-organisation principles of natural systems. The solutions developed support demanding human activities and decision-making processes or can be used for process automation. The following general aspects are central to our research and development: learning ability/adaptability of the systems, context-bound solutions (application context in the life sciences), systemic consideration of the application and the context.
The centre is divided into different research groups, each of which focuses on certain methods or application domains.
Bio-Inspired Methods and Neuromorphic Computing
The research group is methodologically specialised in the development and use of adaptive algorithms and nature-inspired methods (evolutionary algorithms, Physics methods). Furthermore, the specialisation also includes the use of neuromorphic technologies and the development of hybrid approaches that combine models of complex systems with data-driven solutions. The areas of application include all areas of the life sciences with a focus on the health domain as well as laboratories and production.
Autonomous Systems and Reinforcement Learning

The research group is methodologically specialized in reinforcement learning, unsupervised and semi-supervised learning as well as human-in-the-loop machine learning. The methodology therefore also covers topics such as online learning and agent-based systems.
Applications span all areas of the life sciences. A specific focus is on the development of machine learning solutions for applications in biotechnology.
Predictive Analytics

The research group's focus is on applied research in statistical modeling and machine learning for pattern discovery, as well as data mining, pattern recognition, and forecasting in life sciences. We have a proven track record in the areas of med-tech, personalized health and sports analytics.
The group's expertise lies in the fusion of heterogenous information sources and ensemble methods, in particular for time series and image/video analytics. In the context of Industry 4.0, the group conducts research in the area of predictive and prescriptive maintenance.
Digital Environment and Sustainability
The research group focuses on the modeling of natural systems and their interaction with humans. This also includes sustainability topics in a more general context such as in view of social and economical questions. We have a data science, machine learning and modeling approach to our problems. A special methodological focus is on modeling with discrete systems such as cellular automata and on deep learning methods.
Teaching Activites
The centre includes teaching engagements at BSc and MSc level as well as in continuing education. At BSc level, basic subjects in mathematical and physical modelling, statistics and information processing are offered in all study programmes of the department. Furthermore, teaching includes specific subjects in the field of data science with a focus on "machine learning, neural networks, signal and image analysis" in the institute's own BSc ADLS and MSc ACLS programmes and in continuing education. Thirdly, specific subjects are offered, especially in the "Digital Environment" specialisation of the ADLS.
Team Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences
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Deputy Director of Institute, Deputy Head ...
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Programme Director, MSc specialisation in Applied ...
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Head, Predictive Analytics Group (FS)
Projects
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Neuronal Growth Modelling (BioDynaMo Initial Project)
The aim of the project is to create a simulation module in the BioDynaMo framework for three-dimensional modeling of the structural development of a part of the human cortex. The implementation is based on an existing model. This project serves an initial contribution to the BioDynaMo consortium. ...
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A cloud-based IoT approach for food safety and quality prediction
Safety and quality prediction are topical issues in food industry. We are developing a novel IoT approach in the framework of a collaboration with Genossenschaft Migros Zürich (GMZ), ZHAW (represented by the institutes IAS and ILGI) and Axino Solutions AG. The main goal of the project is to provide a robust, ...
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What does the Swiss population eat?
MenuCH data will be analysed in order to assess cultural differences between language regions of Switzerland with respect to consumption, dietary patterns, and associated lifestyle factors. Differences in consumption of meat and meat products; milk and dairy; and beverages, will be compared to nutritional ...
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Infectiology++ - Germ Tracking
In this project, we develop a system for the detection and analysis of germ transmission chains in the University Hospital Zurich. The system is based on an expert system solution in combination with machine learning (reinforcement learning).
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Predicting investor behaviour in European bond markets through machine learning
ICMA Quarterly Report (11.7.2019), p.23: Predicting investor behaviour in European bond markets through machine learning The quant team of ESM is developing, in cooperation with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, a machine-learning based application to predict investor demand for syndicated bond issuances. ...
Publications
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Berger, Verena; Müller, Claudia; Egeler, Gian-Andrea; Muir, Karen; Bradford, Sebastian; Delucchi, Matteo; Stucki, Matthias; et al.,
2021.
Energie- und klimabewusste Ernährung in städtischen Verpflegungsbetrieben.
Energieforschung Stadt Zürich.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23006
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Frick, Thomas; Glüge, Stefan; Rahimi, Abbas; Benini, Luca; Brunschwiler, Thomas,
2021.
Explainable deep learning for medical time series data [paper].
In:
Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare.
International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare (MobiHealth), Online, 18 December 2020.
Cham:
Springer.
pp. 244-256.
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering ; 362.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70569-5_15
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Uwate, Yoko; Nishio, Yoshifumi; Ott, Thomas,
2021.
Synchronization of chaotic circuits with stochastically-coupled network topology.
International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos.
31(01), pp. 2150015.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127421500152
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Uwate, Yoko; Schüle, Martin; Ott, Thomas; Noshio, Yoshifumi,
2020.
Echo state network with chaos noise for time series prediction [paper].
In:
Proceedings of the 2020 International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its Applications.
International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its Applications (NOLTA), Okinawa, Japan, 16–19 November 2020.
pp. 274.
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2020.
The collaborative learning cellular automata density classification problem [paper].
In:
Proceedings of the 2020 International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its Applications.
International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its Applications (NOLTA), Okinawa, Japan, 16–19 November 2020.
pp. 268.