Professor of Marine Microbiology
The overarching aim of my research is to identify fundamental biological processes that govern the adaptation and evolution of marine microalgae (Phytoplankton) and their microbiomes (e.g. bacteria) in the oceans. I want to know how things work from small to large scale. To meet this aim, I integrate approaches from cell biology, reverse genetics, molecular evolution, physiology, multi-omics and ecology.
I focus on marine algae and their microbiomes because they contribute ca. 50% of annual global carbon fixation and therefore play key roles in maintaining the habitability of our Earth. Thus, to reveal their adaptation and (co)evolution with associated microbes (e.g. bacteria and viruses) in the context of biotic and abiotic interactions in different marine systems will help us to improve predictions on how algal microbiomes respond to global climate change.