People

Current members

Lars Behrendt, assistant professor

My research explores the structure, function and assembly of microbial communities in relationship to microenvironmental landscapes. I am interested in a diverse array of organisms with an emphasis on aquatic ecosystems. My research approach is highly interdisciplinary and integrative, bridging discrete research fields in order to elucidate problems from neglected perspectives. Within the rigorous application of the scientific method, I employ unconventional problem-solving strategies with the aim of answering questions central to microbiology. 

Linhong Xiao, postdoc

My research concerns study of physiological responses of unicellular organisms in relation to climate change and anthropogenic pollution for ecological risk assessment. In my project, I combine high-throughput microfluidic technology with chlorophyll fluorometry to measure single-cell photophysiological readouts for understanding the interplay between multiple stressors.

Short CV

  • 2018-2020, Postdoc in Environmental Chemistry, Umeå University (Sweden)
  • 2012-2017, PhD in Materials Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
  • 2008-2012, BSc in Polymer Materials and Engineering, Hebei University (China

Saskia Rughöft, postdoc

As a microbial ecologist, I am interested in how microorganisms drive biogeochemical cycles on both local and global scales and how these microorganisms respond to pollutants or changing environmental conditions. My project aims to quantify the effects of singular and combined stressors on the metabolism of single microbial cells (e.g. marine bacteria and phytoplankton). By combining microfluidic technology and quantitative phase imaging, I will develop a novel high-throughput ‘Ecotoxicology-on-a-chip’ approach.

Short CV

  • 2021, PhD in Environmental Sciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen (Germany)
  • 2019, MSc in Biogeosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany)
  • 2012, BSc in Biology, Free University Berlin (Germany)

Yuan Cui, PhD student

The focus of Yuan’s PhD project will be on developing a microfluidic platform enabling the metabolism measurement for ecologically relevant single marine phytoplankton cells, and assessing the singular and combined impacts of environmental change on single cells with a focus on heterogeneity within populations.

Short CV

  • Since 2020, PhD student in Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University
  • 2019, MSc in Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)
  • 2017, BSc in Environmental Engineering, Jilin University (China)

Alumni:

Olle Pontén (MSc, 2021), Research Engineer at U-Print/AM4Life

Chiara Buonfrate (MSc, 2021)

Charlie Biwer (MSc, 2021)

Emanuel Armanu (Erasmus intern, 2020-2021)

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