Systems and methods for querying a semantic data set are described. The semantic data set is defined by an ontology that represents a graphical relationship among data included in the semantic data set. One method includes receiving one or more keywords associated with a search operation from a user, and identifying a node associated with each of the one or more keywords. The method includes, for each identified node, tracing a path from the identified node to a root represented in the graphical relationship of the ontology, the path including one or more vertices, and identifying a lowest common ancestor of each of the vertices included in the paths for each identified node. The method includes constructing a subgraph connecting each identified node to the lowest common ancestor, and traversing the subgraph to generate a query in the query language executable against the semantic data set.