The mission of the Microbiology department (part of Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences) is to conduct research at the forefront of microbial ecology and physiology with the main aim of understanding the diversity, ecology, and physiology of microorganisms responsible for the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon (methane).
Microbiology
Research
The Microbiology department conducts research on microorganisms in freshwater and marine systems, studying their physiology, interactions, survival strategies and involvement in nitrogen and methane cycles.
In close collaboration with stakeholders and industrial partners, the department collaborates on the development of microbial applications in sustainable drinking water production and wastewater treatment systems in order to remove nitrogen, methane and micropollutants (CECs).
There is a focus on the following research themes: 1. Nitrogen Cycle Microbiology, 2. Carbon/Methane Cycle Microbiology, 3. Host-Microbe Interactions, and 4. Bioremediation.
The department collaborates on these themes with expertise in microbial metabolomics, microbial cell biology and biochemistry, environmental microbiology, microbial biotechnology, microbial physiology, microbial bioinformatics, geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry.
Internships
Would you like to do your internship at the Microbiology department? Please get in touch for more information. A few examples of relevant subjects are:
- Microbial Removal of Organic Micropollutants Under Wastewater Treatment Conditions
- Multi-Omic Characterisation of Nitrospira Moscoviensis
- Biochemistry and Molecular Mechanism of Hydrazine Synthase in the Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidizer Kuenenia Stuttgartiensis
- Novel Methane- and Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms from Acidic Environments
- Biochemistry and Physiology of a Metabolite Produced by Stressed Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
- Effect of Seawater Intrusion and Increased Salinization on Methane Emission
The research department offers various Bachelor's and Master's courses. The department is closely involved in the Bachelor's Biology and the Master's specialisation Microbiology. Coordinator of the education programmes is Cornelia Welte.
Academic staff
Below are the professors, associate professors and assistant professors of Microbiology. Chair of the department is Prof. Laura van Niftrik.
Contact information
6525AJ Nijmegen