Alexandre Gouy

Alexandre Gouy, PhD

Evolutionary Geneticist • Computational Biologist

I study how populations adapt to their environment: the genetic architectures that enable it, the selective pressures that shape it, and the computational methods needed to detect it. From archaic introgression in humans to rapid radiation in rodents, my work sits at the intersection of evolutionary theory, population genomics, and machine learning.

Research themes

Adaptation & Natural Selection

Polygenic selection, adaptive introgression, and the interplay between drift and selection (from archaic humans to conservation genomics of tigers).

Population Genomics & Genetic Architecture

Demographic inference, epistasis, and the polygenic basis of complex traits. Statistical methods and software (fastsimcoal2, STRAF). Why most heritability remains missing.

Computational Methods

Machine learning for genomics, simulation-based inference, and AI-assisted research workflows applied to evolutionary and biomedical questions.

Epistemology & Honest Science

Replication crisis, incentive structures in academia, and the role of methodology in producing reliable knowledge. How computational tools can enforce transparency and reproducibility.

Publications

* denotes first or corresponding author

Journal articles

2026

The interaction of biological network topology and mutation effects in complex trait evolution *

Gouy A

in press (2026) in press

2026

Beyond the Cost of Complexity: Gene-Intrinsic versus Topological Constraint in Regulatory Networks *

Gouy A

submitted (2026) submitted

2026

Dual-kingdom necrobiome succession extends postmortem interval estimation into skeletonization

Tièche EP, Indra L, Gouy A, Heckel G, Zieger M

Forensic Science International: Genetics

2025

STRAF 2: New features and improvements of the STR population data analysis software *

Gouy A, Zieger M

Forensic Science International: Genetics

2024

Genomes of Microtus rodents highlight the importance of olfactory and immune systems in their fast radiation *

Gouy A, Wang X, Kapopoulou A, Neuenschwander S, Schmid E, et al.

Genome Biology and Evolution

2023

A holistic approach for the selection of forensic DNA swabs

Comment D, Gouy A, Zingg C, Zieger M

Forensic Science International

2023

Human background DNA on stones in an urban environment

Sorg A, Gouy A, Tieche CC, Zieger M

Forensic Science International: Genetics

2022

Population genetic analysis of 12 X-chromosomal STRs in a Swiss sample

Bottinelli M, Gouy A, Utz S, Zieger M

International Journal of Legal Medicine

2021

fastsimcoal2: demographic inference under complex evolutionary scenarios

Excoffier L, Marchi N, Marques DA, Matthey-Doret R, Gouy A, Sousa VC

Bioinformatics

2021

Recent evolutionary history of tigers highlights contrasting roles of genetic drift and selection

Armstrong EE, Khan A, Taylor RW, Gouy A, Greenbaum G, Thiéry A, et al.

Molecular Biology and Evolution

2021

Expanding the Swiss autosomal marker set to 32 STRs

Zieger M, Gouy A, Utz S

International Journal of Legal Medicine

2018

Relaxed selection during a recent human expansion

Peischl S, Dupanloup I, Foucal A, Jomphe M, Bruat V, Grenier JC, Gouy A, et al.

Genetics

2017

STRAF—a convenient online tool for STR data evaluation in forensic genetics *

Gouy A, Zieger M

Forensic Science International: Genetics

2017

Detecting gene subnetworks under selection in biological pathways *

Gouy A, Daub JT, Excoffier L

Nucleic Acids Research

2017

The summary-likelihood method and its implementation in the Infusion package

Rousset F, Gouy A, Martinez-Almoyna C, Courtiol A

Molecular Ecology Resources

2016

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics' resources: focus on curated databases

SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics Members (incl. Gouy A)

Nucleic Acids Research

Book chapters

2020

Nothing Stands Still in the Streams of Life *

Gouy A, Cruz Dávalos DI

The Art of Theoretical Biology

PhD thesis

2019

Detection of polygenic selection from genomic data: new insights into adaptation, introgression and speciation

Gouy A

University of Bern, Switzerland — summa cum laude

Statistical methods for detecting selection in large-scale genomic datasets, with applications to human evolution and adaptation. Supervisor: Prof. Laurent Excoffier.

Software & methods

signet

Lead Developer

R package for detection of gene subnetworks under selection in biological pathways.

R

Tercen Operators

Lead Developer

Suite of bioinformatics operators for flow cytometry, scRNA-seq, and multi-omics analysis.

R, Docker

Co-introgression Test

Lead Developer

Statistical method for detecting coordinated adaptive introgression across gene networks in human populations.

R, Python

RNDsp

Lead Developer

Method for estimating species-specific relative node depth to detect lineage-specific selection in multi-species comparisons.

Python

CV

Experience

2020–Present

Founder & Owner

AlgoLife SARL (formerly Gouy Data Consulting), France/Switzerland

Data science and software development for life sciences companies, universities, and local governments.

Selected projects:

  • Head of Bioinformatics, Tercen (2022–2025) - Led bioinformatics and AI product development for a cloud-based multi-omics analysis platform. MCP server for automated data analysis selected for SLAS 2026 Innovation AveNEW.
  • Mitan - Geospatial forest monitoring platform combining remote sensing, ecology, and local knowledge. Deployed with NGOs and French communes. aumitan.com
  • Predictive algorithm for IVF success rates, in collaboration with a health-tech startup and a major university hospital in Paris (AP-HP).
2020–2022

Senior Expert Data Science II

Novartis Pharma AG (via Brine SA), Basel, Switzerland

Contributed to Novartis's data42 initiative, applying AI and large-scale real-world data to drug discovery and development. Developed ML models on a large pharmaceutical dataset and contributed to the Map of Life platform for disease-gene-drug network analysis.

2022

Scientific Collaborator

University of Bern, Institute of Forensic Medicine

Statistical analysis of experimental data and forensic software development (STRAF 2). Two publications in forensic genetics.

2015–2019

PhD Candidate

University of Bern, Switzerland

Developed statistical and ML algorithms (Python, R, C++) for large-scale genomic datasets. 180 hours of teaching (Genomics, Statistics, R). Thesis defended summa cum laude.

2013–2015

Research Internships

University of Montpellier & CNRS Moulis, France

Three internships focused on genomics, scientific software development (C++), and molecular biology.

2012–2013

Computer Science Tutor

University of Limoges, France

Trained students for IT certificates (350 hours) and managed SQL databases.

Education

2015–2019

PhD in Ecology and Evolution (Genomics)

University of Bern, Switzerland — summa cum laude

Thesis: "Detection of polygenic selection from genomic data: new insights into adaptation, introgression and speciation"
Supervisor: Prof. Laurent Excoffier (SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics)

2013–2015

Master's in Evolutionary Biology & Ecology

University of Montpellier, France — Highest honors

Specialization: Population genomics and mathematical modeling
Supervisors: François Rousset & Pierrick Labbé

2010–2013

Bachelor's in Population Biology

University of Limoges, France — High honors

Teaching & supervision

University teaching

  • University of Bern (2015–2019) — 180h total: Genomics and Bioinformatics (Master's), Statistics for Biologists, Introduction to R, Population Genetics Seminars
  • University of Limoges (2012–2013) — 350h: IT certification training, database management (SQL)

Student supervision

  • Engineering internship (2025) — AI automation of data analysis workflows
  • Master's thesis (2019) — University of Bern, co-supervisor
  • Master's thesis (2018) — ML methods in population genetics, University of Bern

Selected media coverage