Microbial Systems

The Emmy-Noether Junior Research Group Microbial Systems focuses on the investigation of microbial processes in aquatic and technical systems ranging from biological wastewater treatment to surface water ecosystems. Microorganisms are tiny, yet crucial organism that cycle our planets resources and keep our biosphere balanced, and thus provide vital ecosystem services. We are interested in the microbiomes of engineered and natural water treatment. Therefore, our overall aim is to develop tools that specifically measure and qualitatively assess microbes and their functions in water systems. We perform hypothesis driven and descriptive research that allows to link microbes to ecosystem services.

Our research hereby focus on the interaction and diversity of organisms within microbial biofilms with a focus on fungi and their function. Fungi produce very efficient exoenzymes that can transform difficult-to-degrade organic substances. Of particular interest are the largely unexplored aquatic fungi and their diverse functions in the environment. Further research is concerned with the characterization of the taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial communities with specific functions, e.g. with regard to microbial degradation or antibiotic resistance genes in the water cycle. Here, we focus on diverse biomarkers. Most recently, we have examined the potential of biomarkers in wastewater by quantifying biomarkers from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This can be used to monitor the pandemic in the population and report it back to public health officials.