Many complex systems can be modelled as networks of interacting elements. Certain small connectivity patterns, called network motifs, occur much more frequently in complex networks than one would expect on the basis of pure chance (Milo et al. , Science, 2002). These motifs which are also referred to as basic building blocks of complex networks are believed to contribute to the function of biological networks by performing modular tasks such as information processing . My research focuses on information theoretic techniques for identifying network motifs and random graph models that incorporate the motif structure of complex networks (Wegner, Phys. Rev. X, 2014). Currently, I am also working on the classification and comparison of networks based on their motif structure.