Alexander Mahnert

Post-Doc 

I am a trained microbiologist investigating diverse host (human, plants) and non-host (built environments) associated microbiomes by (mainly) bioinformatics methods. My main interest is the complex interaction of microbes with their surrounding habitat and how to translate such knowledge into future diagnostic applications. The ultimate goal of my research is to improve human health by personalized medical monitoring, treatment and prognostics on Earth and beyond.

I studied molecular microbiology (Bachelor 2009, Masters 2012, PhD 2016) at the Karl Franzens and the Technical University in Graz. My education and Postdoc career was accompanied by diverse research stays at the Archaea Center at the University in Regensburg (Germany), the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech in Pasadena, CA, USA, the UCSD and Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA, USA and the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, WA, USA. Specifically, my acquired experiences from versatile labs around the world consolidated my interdisciplinary research profile, which lead to >20 publications and which were honored with five awards. 

Christina Kumpitsch

Post-Doc
LinkedIn

As a microbiologist specializing in human microbiome research, I investigate the composition and functions of microbes associated with the human body. My research primarily focuses on the aerodigestive tract, from the nasal passages to the gut, examining these areas in both healthy and diseased states. Currently, my main focus is on the human gut archaeome, particularly its impact on gut health and the overall microbial community. This includes studies on “human cows” (high methane emitters) and the potential loss of archaea throughout human evolution. My research aims to improve understanding of the human microbiome (archaeome) across different health contexts to help alleviate patient symptoms and reduce their overall burden. 

I began my academic journey with studies in Molecular Biology and Molecular Microbiology at Karl Franzens University and Technical University of Graz, followed by a PhD in Human Medicine at the Medical University of Graz (Bachelor’s, 2014; Master’s, 2017; PhD, 2021). During my studies, I gained practical experience through several internships and worked as a research assistant on various projects at Karl Franzens University. Since 2021, I have been working as a Postdoctoral Researcher (University Assistant) in Christine’s group and completed a research stay abroad in the Lab of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.