Research

Microorganisms are directly and indirectly involved with every aspect of our lives, from the oxygen that we breath to the food that we eat. Considering their importance, one might be surprised to learn that only a small fraction (around 5%) of the microbial diversity that exists in our planet has been studied in detail. My research is dedicated to a better understanding of the ecology of microbial communities, which I believe is essential for developing and maintaining a sustainable society. To this end, I apply molecular ecology techniques (e.g. metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) to study microbial communities in detail. My research has mosly focused on the microbial ecology of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems, motivated by the fast pace of the changes happening at high latitudes and how they affect the planet as a whole. Many ecosystems that are characteristic of polar regions such as sea ice and permafrost soils are disappearing at alarming rates.