Molecular Ecology and Genomics

Schulzensee in the Feldberg Lake District (Feldberger Seenlandschaft) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany (photo: MT Monaghan)
We study the evolution and ecology of freshwater biodiversity in its many forms, applying molecular genetic /genomic tools and bioinformatics to a wide range of questions and problems. Focal organisms include insects, plankton, fungi, and microbes. Our research in biodiversity includes the study of evolution and lineage diversification over long periods (phylogenomics) and the study of how organisms and whole communities respond to ongoing environmental changes (genomics, eDNA metabarcoding). We also develop new approaches and methods for studying freshwater biodiversity with molecular tools, and provide an ecological component to interdisciplinary projects that seek to balance societal needs with biodiverse ecosystems.
Team
# Former Postdocs #
Dr. Maria Alp (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) - Lyon)
Dr. Kingsly C. Beng (Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg)
Dr. Elizabeth Bourne (Private industry)
Prof. Maribet Gamboa (Universidad Católica de la Santísima - Concepción)
Dr. Paul R. Johnston (University of St. Andrews)
Prof. Ignacio Lucas-Lledo (Universitat de València)
Dr. Tatiana Semenova (Private industry)
Dr. Jasmine Smith (Private industry)
Dr. Norman Warthmann (International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | IAEA · FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories - Rome)
Prof. Kozo Watanabe (Ehime University - Matsuyama)
Dr. Christian Wurzbacher (Head of the Microbial Systems Group, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, TUM - Munich)
Prof. Sakiko Yaegashi (University of Yamanashi - Kofu)
# Former Doctoral students #
Seraina Bracamonte
Felix Heeger
Marie Hoffmann
Ann-Christin Honnen
Sereina Rutschmann
Laurent Vuataz
# Former Master's and Bachelor's students #
Nina Broszio
Mary Ann Davenport
Anna Hjalmarsson
Hanna Kissener
Bram Koese
Janina Kypke
Erik Rohe
Paul Schmidt Yáñez
# Visitors #
Bryce Alex, Student intern, Univ Utah (DAAD-RISE program)
Beata Baranova Visiting Scientist, Univ Presov
Joanna Chao, Student intern, UC Berkley/Humboldt Univ
Maria Angenica Fulo Regilme, Visiting PhD Student, Ehime Univ
Jana Kulichová, Visiting Professor, Charles Univ
Arnelyn Larano, Visiting PhD Student, Ehime Univ
Jessica J Lee, Guest Scientist / Writer in Residence
Cristina Miño, Student Intern, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Kei Nukazawa, Visiting PhD student, Tohoku Univ
Snaebjörn Pálsson, Visiting Professor, Univ Iceland
Paria Raoufi, Visiting PhD Student, Gonbad Kavous Univ
Joeselle Serrana, Visiting PhD Student, Ehime Univ
Rania Siam, Visiting Professor, American Univ Cairo
Lucas Sire, Visiting PhD Student, Université de Tours
Masano Suiyoshi, Visiting PhD Student, Hokkaido Univ
Noriko Uchida, Visiting PhD Student, Tohoku Univ
Máté Vass, Visiting MSc Student, Univ Pannonia
Kozo Watanabe,Visiting Professor, Ehime Univ
Sakiko Yaegashi, Visiting PhD student, Tohoku Univ