The main research focus
The research in my lab focuses on physiology and ecology of cyanobacteria, the major photosynthetic organisms that evolved >2.5 billion years ago, drove oxygenation of the planet and continue producing ~1/4 of the atmospheric oxygen. Cyanobacteria populate any available sun-light environment and play a key role in microbial communities by sustaining them with a range of organic compounds. Their capacity to fix carbon and nitrogen makes cyanobacteria an attractive system for biotechnological applications, whilst oxygenic metabolism of cyanobacteria combined with their superior resilience to environmental stressors positions cyanobacteria at the forefront of astrobiological and terraforming research.

The specific research questions addressed in my lab include:
physiological response of cyanobacteria to excess CO2 availability
carbohydrate metabolism of cyanobacteria
cyanobacteria of the desert crusts
interactions between cyanobacteria and their unicellular predators

Methods:
Molecular biology and genetic engineering
Microscopy and imaging
Physiology, biochemistry and metabolic tracing
Field work

Find our research interesting?
I welcome applications from intellectually curious students with background in biology or earth sciences. M.Sc., Ph.D. and postdocs research positions are available. For details you are encouraged to contact me directly.