Dr Sabina Leonelli

Extension: 5137

Telephone: 01392 269137

Research Fellow

*New co-edited book Scientific Understanding: Philosophical Perspectives, Pittsburgh University Press. The book examines the essential role of understanding in the scientific process, through three key topics: understanding and explanation, understanding and models, and understanding in scientific practice ***

My research spans the fields of history and philosophy of biology, science and technology studies and general philosophy of science (in particular of scientific practices such as data sharing, abstraction, modelling and concept-formation).

My current work focuses on the relations between regulatory and classificatory practices within contemporary biomedical science, with particular attention to the role played by bioinformatics in data sharing and scientific governance. My research is divided into three strands (follow the hyperlinks for more information):

1. The Regulatory Role of Bioinformatics: I compare and analyse the processes through which bioinformatic standards are decided upon, institutionalised and used to govern human as well as non-human genomic research. I focus particularly on soft governance and bottom-up regulations created by scientists themselves.

2. Philosophical Issues in Bioinformatics: I explore the epistemological and ontological assumptions underlying the choice of taxonomies in bioinformatics (particularly bio-ontologies), and I investigate the epistemology of so-called 'data-driven' modes of research.

3. The History and Epistemology of Model Organism Research: I focus on the use of model organisms in 20th century plant biology. This case, together with my work on bioinformatics, enables me to reflect more broadly on the historical roots and new characteristics of 21st century biology, and particularly on the relation between the knowledge that is produced and the recent changes in the infrastructure and institutionalisation of research. I am writing a monograph on the history of research on Arabidopsis thaliana, tentatively titled The Virtual Plant.

For further information about my work, see my personal webpage www.sabinaleonelli.org and my Egenis page http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/egenis/people/academicstaff/forename,3875,en.html .