FSU Faculty

The microbial communication group, based at the Insitute of Microbiology, focuses on fungal mating systems and pheromone receptors in white rot fungi, host-specificity of ectomycorrhizal fungi, symbiotic interactions of fungi with plants and soil microbiology with special emphasis on metal responses of fungi and bacteria. more

The plant microbiosis lab at the Institute of Microbiology investigates the role and interplay of mutualistic and antagonistic plant microbiota using a variety of plant-microbe associations. more

Prof. Oelmüller’s plant physiology lab at the Schleiden Institute investigates the interaction of plants with microorganisms, vascular biology and biogenesis of chloroplasts and their interconnectedness. In particular, they study growth promotion of Arabidopsis thaliana by the fungus Piriformospora with focus on early signaling events leading to recognition of both partners. Recent research centers on communication in plant communities via fungal networks. more

The Theißen lab at the Schleiden Insitute investigates how the phylogeny of developmental control genes encoding transcription factors contributes to the evolution of complex morphological structures. The major study object is the phylogeny of MADS-box genes and their role in the evolution of land plants. Their recent interest in the interaction of bacterial effector proteins with plant homeotic and other factors fits very well with the theme of our IMPRS. more

The central topic of the bioinformatics group at the Schleiden Institute is the mathematical modeling and computer simulation of biomolecules, metabolic processes and host-pathogen interactions. This group also applies game theory to biochemical and microbiological systems and investigates calcium oscillations and alternative splicing. more

Prof. Schielzeth's group at the Institute of Ecology uses population genomic as well as comparative genomic approaches based on high-throughput sequencing to study the genetic underpinnings of phenotypic polymorphisms in grasshoppers and birds as well as the population structure of species that live in patchy habitats. A central goal is to understand the evolutionary mechanisms that maintain polymorphisms across species. more

Prof. Van Dam's group at the Institute of Biodiversity unravels the chemical and molecular mechanisms that govern multitrophic interactions with a special focus on plant-mediated interactions between aboveground and belowground herbivores. Her research advances ecological-evolutionary theories on optimal defense allocation in plants and has implications for integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture. more

Prof. Nowotny's group at the Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology focusest focus on hearing. They cover a broad investigative spectrum: i) animal behavior and locomotion, ii) sound production and perception, iii) auditory processing in neuronal networks and iv) pathological dysfunctions. The main focus in on the auditory system in orthopteran insects and mammals, more

Prof. Pohnert’s group at the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry elucidates new chemical defense- and communication strategies of algae, bacteria and mosses using the tools of modern analytical chemistry, organic chemistry and ecology with a particular focus on community metabolomics. more

Prof. Hellmich’s group at the Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC) studies essential proteins from neglected tropical disease pathogens, dysfunctional ion channels causing disease and the role of membrane proteins in microbial communication. more

Prof. Böcker’s group at the Institute of Computer Science develops computational methods and software for structural elucidation of small molecules via mass spectrometry. Other interests include investigating algorithms for gene cluster analysis, phylogenetic tree inference and solving NP-hard bioinformatics problems. more