My continuous research goal is contribute to our understanding of the microbial diversity in extreme environments with a specific focus on what we can learn from these habitats concerning the habitability of other planets but also their applications on Earth.

In the last years I have gained a strong background knowledge in Microbiology/Astrobiology while developing two main areas of focus: I am interested in isolation and identification of (an)aerobic microorganisms in extreme habitats and determination of their response to stress situations. Another aspect that particularly interests me is using advanced molecular approaches to provide insights into microbial diversity and to deepen the knowledge on the cellular effects of environmental stresses.