Research Interests

I am an environmental microbiologist. My research focuses on the characterization of microbiomes in natural and anthropogenic environments using a combination of microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and chemical techniques. I am particularly interested in investigating the diversity, function, and interactions of microbial communities, their role in the biogeochemical cycles, and their adaptation to different anthropogenic contaminants.

At the IGB, I study the effects of organic pollutants on the biodiversity in Berlin's urban ponds, with special emphasis on microbial community dynamics and evolution.

Microbial ecology:

• DNA and RNA extraction and purification; PCR and qPCR amplification
• Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics
• Microscopy (optical and confocal)
• Isolation and characterization of environmental microorganisms

Analytical methods:

• Multivariate statistics for ecological studies; Microbial co-occurrence networks; Genomic and metagenomics analysis (assembly, binning, annotation, phylogenetics)

Biogeochemistry:

• ICP-AES and ICP-MS; Elemental CHN analysis; Mineralogical analyses by XRD.

Additional experience:

• Microbial electrochemistry (Microbial Fuel Cells and Microbial Electrolysis Cells)