Istituto federale di ricerca per la foresta, la neve e il paesaggio WSL

Research Focus

Mycorrhiza of Cenococcum geophilum
Mycorrhiza of Cenococcum geophilum

I am interested in diverse aspects of the symbiotic interaction between forest trees and fungi, the so called ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. I am studying the neutral and functional diversities of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their role for forest ecosystems in a changing environment. In particular the impact of drought and nitrogen deposition on the community structure and function of mycorrhizal fungi is in my research focus. I am also interested in how forest fungi adapt to their environment and lifestyle. I am mostly using molecular markers to study the communities and populations of mycorrhizal fungi and both gene expression and enzymatic assays for functional studies.

 

Curriculum vitae

Since 2019 Group leader "Ecological Genetics" at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf
2017-2018 Group leader a.i. "Mycorrhiza" at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf
2010-2013 Editor of the journal Trees - Structure and Function  
Since 2009 Representative of the Intensive Study Site (ISS) Valais, EVOLTREE Network of Excellence  
Since 2005 Research Associate at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf  
2001-2004 Post-doctoral stay at INRA / Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy, France in the group "Interactions Tree / Microorganisms" of Francis Martin. Genomics and transcriptomics of the mycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor
 		 
1997-2000 Ph.D. thesis "Above- and belowground views of ectomycorrhizal fungi in spruce forests: community structure and impacts of increased nitrogen deposition" at the University of Zürich and WSL (Prof. R. Honegger Uni Zürich, Prof. M. Aebi ETHZ, Dr. S. Egli WSL; English, 122p.)  
1991-1996 Masters Degree in Plant Biology, University of Zürich. Master thesis "Impacts of lead on fungi and the fungal/plant-system: mycorrhization, fungal diversity, and bioaccumulation. Case study at a shooting range" at the University of Zürich and WSL (German, 90pp.)

Lectures and Teaching

  • ETH Zürich, Department of Biology, Bachelor Block Course: "Biology and Ecology of Fungi in Forests". Start HS 2018
  • ETH Zürich, Department of Biology, Master: "Selected Topics in Forest Mycology". Start FS 2015
  • ETH Zürich, Department of Biology, Bachelor Block Course: "Biodiversity and Ecological Significance of Fungi". HS 2009 - 2014
  • Lecture in Functional Genomics. FORCE-NFZ SummerSchool (2007)
  • Courses in functional genomics for master students (DEA, DESS) in Nancy, France (2003)

 

Projects

Publications