I am a trained microbiologist and have a great passion for Archaea.
The passion for Archaea developed during my biology studies at the University of Regensburg, where I had the opportunity to be trained at the renowned Archaea Center by Robert Huber, Karl O. Stetter and many others.  Since then I am puzzled by the question on Archaea and their function in complex, host-associated microbiomes.  In various projects, we analyze archaeal signatures, genomes and isolates from human gastrointestinal and urogenital tract, oral cavity and skin. 

Short CV 

• PhD studies (2000-2005)

I earned a diploma degree in microbiology ifrom the University of Regensburg, Germany. I received my Dr. rer. nat. from the same University (“summa cum laude”). 

• PostDoc (2005-2006)

Subsequently I worked as a PostDoc at the University clinics in Regensburg (rheumatology) and joined afterwards the CALTECH/ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, US. 

• Junior group leader (2007-2014)

I returned as a junior group leader to the University of Regensburg, Chair for Microbiology and Archaea Center, where I obtained my habilitation. 

• University Professor @Graz (2014 - now)

Also in 2014, I accepted an offer from the Medical University of Graz as university professor on “Interactive Microbiome Research”. I acted as head of the Center for Microbiome Research, which was recently turned into a designated research field “Microbiome and Infection” of the Medical University of Graz. 

• Since 2023, I am the Co-Director of the Cluster of Excellence "Microbes drive Planetary Health" (Lead: Michael Wagner, Uni Vienna; Funding: FWF) Link
• Since 2025, I am the Director of BioTechMed, the research initiative, bringing scientists from three Graz Universities together for scientific exchange, collaboration and growth
• In 2025, I received an ERC Advanced Grant "Arch-Meth" 

• Expertise

To date, I have authored more than 130 publications, which mostly appeared in leading interdisciplinary and disciplinary journals.As a trained microbial ecologist and researcher focused on the third domain of life, archaea, I combined my expertise within (human) microbiome research. Our major expertise lies in the understanding of the contribution of the archaeome (community of all archaea) to human health and disease.