Dr. Thore Rohwerder

Contact

Dr. Thore Rohwerder
Geomicrobiologist

Department of Microbial Biotechnology
Working Group Ecothermodynamics / Biocalorimetry
Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research - UFZ
Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany

Phone +49 341 6025-1317
Fax +49 341 235-451317
thore.rohwerder@ufz.de

Thore Rohwerder

Curriculum Vitae

since 2009

Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department for Environmental Microbiology

2006-2008

Scientist at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Group of Aquatic Biotechnology

2003-2005

Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department for Environmental Microbiology

1995

Diploma in Biology, University of Hamburg


Research interests

My primary interests are the microbial transformation processes of industrial organic chemicals and heavy metal-bearing compounds. Besides elucidating the underlying biochemistry and reaction mechanisms, I focus on biotechnological applications to address the challenges related to global depletion of fossil resources and minerals.

My mid- and long-term research perspectives focus on the sustainable synthesis of chemical products employing biotechnological processes as well as on the fate of industrial chemicals in the environment.


Current research

Biosynthesis of building block chemical 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid (2-HIBA)

  • Characterization of cobalamin-dependent acyl-CoA mutases
  • Biotechnological production of 2-HIBA from C1 compounds
  • Metabolic engineering

Biodegradation of fuel oxygenates and tertiary alcohols

  • Growth of Aquincola tertiaricarbonis on MTBE, ETBE, TAME and TAEE
  • Biochemistry and biotechnological use

Sulfur oxidation in acidophilic prokaryotes

  • Oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds in the autotrophic genus Acidithiobacillus
  • Oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds in acidophilic heterotrophs

Leaching of metal sulfides in acidophilic prokaryotes

  • Visualization of attachment and biofilm formation
  • Gene expression

Publications