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
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
1996-2002
PhD, University of Hamburg; subject
Enzymatic oxidation of elemental sulfur by acidophilic leaching bacteriae
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