I am a microbial ecologist with a deep interest in the diverse interactions between microbes—both with other microorganisms (e.g., bacteria-predatory protists) and with macro-organisms (e.g., plant-microbe)—and how these interactions integrate in different ecosystems. My skills include a range of approaches, from molecular techniques and microscopy in highly controlled laboratory setups to greenhouse experiments that better mimic natural environments.
As part of the DRought Impacts on soil microbial metabolism in European foRests (DRIER) project, I am working to develop and apply hydrogen isotope ratios of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) as indicators of soil microbial metabolism. My goal is to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and to place this knowledge in an ecological context. To achieve this, I will conduct a series of experiments that progressively increase in complexity, starting with simple co-cultures and expanding to soil mesocosms.