Function and Responsibilities:

Head of GFZ Section 3.7 "Geomicrobiology"

Professor of Geomicrobiology and Geobiology, University Potsdam

Research Interests:

• Geomicrobiology in terrestrial ecosystems
• Terrestrial carbon cycle
• Geo-bio interactions
• Deep Biosphere
• Reaction and adaptation of microorganisms to changing environmental conditions
• Isolation and characterisation of extremophilic microorganisms
• Astrobiology
  

Career:

Since 2012
Head of the Section 3.7 Geomicrobiology, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
and Professor of Geomicrobiology and Geobiology, Institute of Geosciences, University Potsdam

2009 - 2012
Privatdozent (Equivalent of Associate Professor), Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University Potsdam

2002 - 2012
Leader of the working group Geomicrobiology in Periglacial Regions, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar andMarine Research, Potsdam

1998 - 2001
Postdoc, BMBF project Russian German Cooperation System Laptev Sea 2000, University Hamburg und Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar andMarine Research, Potsdam

1994-1997
PhD student, BMBF project Trace Element Cycles, University Hamburg

Education:

2007
Habilitation in Microbial Ecology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University Potsdam

1994 - 1998
PhD in Soil Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science, University Hamburg

1987 - 1993
Study of Biology (Diploma), University Hamburg
Main subjects: Microbiology, Soil Science, Genetics/Molecular Biology

Projects:

• GeoArchives: Coastal lagoons and continental lake sediments - Holocene climate-ecosystem archives (BMBF)
  
• Microbial symbionts of Arctic peatlands and their relevance for present and future carbon and nitrogen cycling (HGF- Helmholtz International Research Group)
  
• Methanosarcina soligelidi under simulated Mars conditions in space: Survival rates and
  biosignatures (BMWi/ESA)
• Microbiological stabilization of the Earth's surface across a climate gradient (DFG SPP 1803)
• Microbial-mediated soil formation under simulated environmental conditions in maritime Antarctica (DFG SPP 1158)
• From single pioneers to complex communities: Simultaneous discrimination of composition and inferring species interactions of fossil as well as modern pro and eukaryotic microbial communities (DFG SPP 1158)
• Microorganisms in Warming Arctic Environments (Marie Curie ITN)
• Limits of microbial life in the Atacama desert
  

Research Boards and Committees:

• Member of the Advisory Board "Environment" at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)
• Founding member and treasurer of the German Astrobiological Society (DAbG)
  
• Member of the Advisory Board of the German Society for Polar Research (DGP)
• Editor-in-Chief of the book series 'Life in Extreme Environments', de Gruyter Publisher, Berlin
• Editorial Board Member 'FEMS Microbiology Ecology'
• Editorial Board Member 'Permafrost and Periglacial Processes'
  

Awards:

• Founding Committee Member of the German Astrobiological Society (DAbG)
• Member of the Steering Committee for ESF Planetary Protection for Mars Special Region Study

Scopus Author ID: 57205742129

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5064-497X