Working groups
Applied Biocatalysis

Head: Prof. Dr. Bruno Bühler
Tel. +49 341 6025-4687
bruno.buehler@ufz.de
- Whole-cell multistep and redox biocatalysis
- Integration of biocatalyst and bioprocess engineering
- Whole-cell biocatalysis powered by sunlight
- Applications of O2 tolerant hydrogenases
Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance

Head: Dr. Anja Worrich
Tel. +49 341 6025-2295
anja.worrich@ufz.de
- Effects of single and combined factors of global change on microbial communities
- Consequences of adaptation for soil functions
- Modulation of the adaptive capacity of plants by microorganisms
Biophotovoltaics

Head: Dr. Bin Lai
Tel. +49 341 6025-4690
bin.lai@ufz.de
- Electro-microbiology with particular focus on the extracellular electron transfer pathway and microbial phenotype
- Bottom-up electro-biosynthesis process development driven by quantitative and holistic understandings from biochemistry, electrochemistry and process engineering
- Digitalization and modelling of electro-biotechnological process
Bioavailability

Head: Dr. Lukas Y. Wick
Tel. +49 341 6025-1316
lukas.wick@ufz.de
- Quantification and process-based analysis of the effect of substrate bioavailability/ bioaccessibility on the autecology and ecology of contaminant biodegradation in soil
- Process-based development of novel biotechnological remediation approaches for contaminated soil (‘fungal-highways, electro-bioremediation’)
Electrobiotechnology

Head: Prof. Dr. Falk Harnisch
Tel. +49 341 6025-1337
falk.harnisch@ufz.de
- Electromicrobiology: Electroactive microorganisms – from fundamentals to potential application
- Focus: Novel processes for the generation of platform and fine chemicals (microbial bioelectrosynthesis and bioelectrochemcially steered fermentation)
Flow Cytometry

Head: Prof. Dr. Susann Müller
Tel. +49 341 6025-1318
susann.mueller@ufz.de
- Study of the life strategies of microbial populations
- Optimisation of biotechnological and environmental processes based on single cell data which are obtained with multi-parameter flow cytometry
Catalytic Biofilms

Head: Prof. Dr. Katja Bühler
Tel. +49 341 6025-4683
katja.buehler@ufz.de
- Understanding biofilms in technical settings
- Designing microbial biofilms for biocatalysis
- Developing novel biofilm reactor concepts
- Applying biofilms for productive catalysis
Microbial Data Science

Head: Dr. Ulisses Nunes da Rocha
Tel. +49 341 6025-1865
ulisses.rocha@ufz.de
- Extending genome-scale microbial interaction models to the diversity observed in terrestrial environments
- Prediction of the capacity of microbial ecosystems to handle disturbances using multi-omics analysis
- Data mining for functional traits related with contaminant degradation
Microbial Interaction Ecology

Head: Prof. Dr. Antonis Chatzinotas
Tel. +49 341 6025-1324
antonis.chatzinotas@ufz.de
- Description of interactions within and between microbial trophic levels focusing on prokaryotes, viruses, protists and fungi
- Emphasis on the importance of these interactions for the establishment, the stability and the resilience of microbial systems and services
Microbiology of Anaerobic Systems

Head: Dr. Sabine Kleinsteuber
Tel. +49 341 6025-1325
sabine.kleinsteuber@ufz.de
- Microbial ecology and physiology of anaerobes in natural and engineered environments
- Biotechnological application of anaerobic microbiota
Ecothermodynamics / Biocalorimetry

Head: Prof. Dr. Thomas Maskow
Tel. +49 341 6025-1328
thomas.maskow@ufz.de
- Application, development and validation of thermodynamic rules in ecosystems as well as in biotechnology
- Development of ultra-sensitive real time sensors for ecosystems and biotechnology (Biocalorimetry)
Plant Biogeochemistry

Head: Ass.-Prof. Dr. Marie Muehe
Tel. +49 341 6025-1336
marie.muehe@ufz.de
- Evaluation of how and to what extend climate changes contaminant bioavailability in soils and how that imprints on plant performance
- Emphasis on characterising and optimising root growth and functioning, rhizobiome dynamics and soil geochemistry and mineralogy in rhizosphere
Systems Biotechnology

Head: Prof. Dr. Jens Krömer
Tel. +49 341 6025-4688
jens.kroemer@ufz.de
- Quantitative physiology (fluxomics and metabolomics)
- Metabolic modelling (FBA, EMA, GEM, 13C)
- Metabolic engineering
- Analytics (LC, GC-MS, LC-MS)
- Bioelectrochemical systems
Environmental Mycology

Head: Dr. Dietmar Schlosser
Tel. +49 341 6025-1329
dietmar.schlosser@ufz.de
- Exploration of mechanisms, conditions, and constrains of degradation and biotransformation of environmental pollutants (micropollutants, synthetic polymers, and polymer additives) in fungi of diverse habitats and lifestyles
- Application of fungi in environmental biotechnology and lignocellulosic waste valorisation