'The human brain can answer different questions than a machine'

He now leads a research team at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, investigating how multicellular systems organise themselves to, for example, form complex organs from single cells.

Our colleagues from RTL.lu recently sat down with Haas for a conversation about his past achievements and future aspirations.

A former 'mathlete'

While many individuals are content with passing their final exams in secondary school, Haas harboured higher aspirations. His pursuit of excellence paid off as he achieved a perfect score, with an average of 60 out of 60 possible points upon graduation, a rare feat within Luxembourg's educational system.

"Luckily, all our grades are rounded up, meaning an average of 59.1 points would theoretically be enough. And I think my score was also more in that area," Haas recalled.

Haas acknowledged that he was particularly ambitious at the time, but that he also benefited from regular training as a mathlete. Additionally, he did not prepare for his final maths exam: "I should say that I only had to write one, however."

Maths Olympics triggered a lifelong passion for numbers and formulas

While studying maths might have been the obvious choice for Haas at the beginning of his career in higher education, he quickly realised during his time at Cambridge University that this alone did not provide the intellectual stimulation he craved. As a result, he decided to follow his second passion, biology, and trained to become a biophysicist.

In his current role at the Max Planck Institute, Haas aspires to make a meaningful impact on the world. He explained, "In a certain way, we theoreticians simply have mathematical fun while simultaneously working on something that can have real-life applications in biophysics, biology, and hopefully even in the field of medicine someday."

But what exactly does a biophysicist do?

Haas responded to this question by illustrating how certain genetic diseases are primarily rooted in mechanical deficiencies. These deficiencies arise from the absence of specific genetic signals, preventing the formation of cell tissue due to the lack of necessary mechanical forces.

Addressing these challenges, Haas emphasised the potential to combat genetic diseases by exploring both genetic and mechanical solutions. The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play. This is achieved through the creation of mathematical models, allowing biologists to test these theories in practical experiments.

Artificial intelligence speeds up research

The influence of artificial intelligence (AI) resonates across various domains, revolutionising our daily lives. In this context, Haas views AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for human expertise: "When I see a video, I can't tell what equation is hidden underneath. The computer can answer that relatively easily. The computer can't say: oh, I want to have a mechanism that contains these elements and then I want to get to that same equation."

One noteworthy AI development, cited by Haas, is Google's AlphaFound, which can describe the three-dimensional structure of proteins. This accomplishment marks a significant stride in a research area that has previously made limited progress over the course of two to three decades. Haas underscored the invaluable support that digital advancements like AlphaFold offer to scientific research.

Crime novels and cycling for balance

In his spare time, Haas likes to read crime novels: "Partly because they're simply good or because they help you fall asleep."

His second passion is cycling, an activity he deems indispensable while living in Dresden. The biophysicist has one bicycle dedicated to his daily commute, while the other, a gravel bike, is reserved for longer rides:

"A gravel bike has slightly wider tyres. The problem in Luxembourg is that when you ride on the cycle paths, it's a perfectly smooth surface until it abruptly stops at some point. In Germany, it's different. The network is excellent. All the cycle paths are connected. But the surface quality often varies."

Improving maths education

Over the years, Haas has learnt that complex problems are rarely fully resolved; instead, they often lead to incremental progress and further exploration, laying the groundwork for further research.

Haas stresses the need for improved mathematics education in schools, advocating for a more engaging approach to pique the curiosity of young learners, particularly girls: "Mathematics is simply the language that is best suited for articulating the laws that govern our world."