My Research
It has been recently discovered that numerous microalgae species included in the class Chlorodendrophyceae form intracellular carbonates called听micropearls. These mineral inclusions are composed of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) in which other elements such as strontium can also accumulate. Under both laboratory and natural conditions, the Sr/Ca ratio of the micropearls can be more than 200 times higher than in the growing medium, indicating that these species have a strong capacity to concentrate strontium.听
My research aim is to investigate the potential of these organisms for new bioremediation solutions regarding radioactive听90Sr water pollution. Ongoing experiments with laboratory cultures of different Chlorodendrophyceae species are providing missing information about their strontium uptake mechanisms.
This multidisciplinary project including Biology, Environmental Chemistry and Geology is supported by the Gebert R眉f Stiftung Foundation听within the framework of the听听initiative that focuses on the direct use of microorganisms in health and technology.
Research Interests
- Biomineralization
- Bioremediation
- Environmental conservation
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Limnology
- Biodiversity
Lecturer Assistant for bachelor students
- Micropalaeontology
- Palaeontology
- Limnogeology
Other activities
- (R)am猫ne ta science !
Publications
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