Using microbes to turn pollutants into harmless substances for a sustainable future

The microbes that we investigate convert pollutants like greenhouse gasses, specifically methane, or pharmaceuticals into less harmful substances. We find those microorganisms in the environment, where they are harmless members of complex microbial communities, and bring them to the laboratory to study them in controlled conditions, with high-end genomics and cultivation techniques. With this research, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable future by unravelling and characterizing novel metabolism, to combat environmental pollution and climate change.