Biogeochemistry

We investigate molecular traces of microorganisms preserved in sediments—natural fingerprints of past environments that let us reconstruct ancient conditions, including ocean temperatures.

A woman working in a laboratory. In front of her a bench with four scale-like machines, with a hollowed out iron cube on each where a sample can be put into. Above each cube a glass tubelike structure, where samples will come from.

Our work centers on developing paleoclimate proxies, especially microbial lipids and isotope ecology. With bulk and compound-specific isotope analyses, we reconstruct marine food webs, while advanced metabolomics, lipidomics, and biomarker studies reveal the role of microbes in biogeochemical cycles.

Beyond the past, we examine the molecular fingerprints of microbes themselves. By characterizing their biomolecules, we uncover interactions, metabolic strategies, and even potential for biotechnological innovation.

By integrating lipid-based paleoclimate proxies, molecular insights into microbial ecology, and cutting-edge analytical chemistry, research at MMB sheds light on both the history and the future of ocean–climate interactions, while pointing to sustainable applications of marine microbiology.