Microbes as drivers of global element cycles

We explore how microbes drive small to large scale cycling of elements. We work towards understanding how environmental factors regulate these elemental cycles by shaping the microbial communities involved, both at present and in deep time. We further strive to explain the underlying physiological mechanisms and are actively hunting for yet unknown organisms and novel pathways.

KEY RESEARCH AREAS

Freshwater & Marine sediment biogeochemistry
Nitrogen cycle
Recycling versus loss in the marine N cycle
Carbon cycle
Ecophysiology
Deep-sea biogeochemistry
Interspecies interactions
Microbe-mineral interactions

FUNDERS and PROJECTS (last 5 years)

CARLSBERG: Microbial methane cycling under oxygen depletion
VILLUM: Cryptic microbial oxygen cycling: Drivers, evolution and environmental significance
ERC: MIMET
DFF Project 2: Seabed methane cycling by reversible electron transfer between archaea and bacteria
ERC: NOVAMOX
ERC: HADES
DFF CENTER: HADAL
DFF MOBILEX: Electric interspecies interactions
DFF: Recycling versus loss in the marine N2 cycle
DFF: Resuspension
VILLUM: A newly discovered microbial oxygen production pathway
DIAS: Evolution and Ecology of N2 fixation in the ocean
DIAS: Microbial feedbacks in climate change
Chinese Res. Council: Ecology of anoxygenic phototrophs in OMZ

PERSONNEL (A-Z)

Don CANFIELD, Professor (OMZ; O2-control of N-cycle; marine biogeochemistry)
Morten ELSNER KIELER, Engineering Assistant, Lab Technician (Pressure tanks)
Paula GARCÍA OTERO, Ph.D. student (Ecophysiology)
Ronnie N. GLUD, Professor (Carbon mineralization, carbon burial, microbial interactions)
Anni GLUD, Lab Technician (Microsensors)
Heidi GRØN JENSEN, Lab Manager (GC, IC)
Danijel JOVICIC, Ph.D. student (Interspecies & microbe-mineral interactions; methane-cycling)
Elisa HERNANDEZ MAGANA, Postdoc (Ecophysiology)
Beate KRAFT, Associate Professor (Ecophysiology, N-cycle, microbial interactions)
Carolin LOESCHER, Associate Professor (N2 fixation; greenhouse gases)
Amelia-Elena ROTARU, Professor (Interspecies & microbe-mineral interactions; methane-cycle, C-cycle)
Christian Furbo REEDER, Visiting fellow (Nitrogen fixation; greenhouse gases)
Peter STIEF, Associate Professor (N-cycle, deep-sea biogeochemistry, interspecies interactions)
Bo THAMDRUP, Professor (deep-sea biogeochemistry; N-cycles)
Alexander TREUSCH, Associate Professor (N-, C-cycles; greenhouse gases)
Peihang XU, Postdoc (C-cycle; greenhouse gases)
Lasse ØRUM-SMIDT, Lab Technician (methanogens, GC)

Image rights: Amelia-Elena Rotaru