Maternity leave

N/A

Molecular ecology of environmental and human associated microbial communities

I am a microbial ecologist with special interest in single cell techniques to link microbial identity and function.

My postdoctoral research focused on human associated microbial communities and their role in polymicrobial diseases (e.g. periodontitis or Crohn’s disease). I investigated microbial diversity and community structure with traditional 16S rRNA based methods: 16S rDNA clone libraries and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Additionally, I applied state-of-the-art techniques, such as microfluidics and high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), to gain insights into the genomes and physiology of yet uncultivated microbial species.

My graduate work focused on microbial communities in methane-rich marine sediments. I identified and quantified methane-oxidizing microbes to further elucidate the ecological role of and the environmental factors selecting for the predominant methanotrophic guilds found in a certain habitat. Special emphasis was on so-called ANME groups, i.e. archaea capable of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM), and symbiotic associations of bacteria and invertebrates found at cold seeps.

2004 Fortbildungslehrgang für Projektleiter und Beauftragte für Biologische Sicherheit, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany (Training for project leaders and representatives for biological safety)

2004 Geobiology course, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California, USA

2002 Cruise SO-165, aboard German research vessel “SONNE”: Sampling of gas hydrate bearing sediments, coast off Oregon

2007-2008 Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Stanford University