Cutting-edge research

Research focuses on the areas of enzymology, mycology, microbial ecology, environmental process engineering, environmental chemistry and hydrology. The chair has fully equipped modern laboratories both for microbiological, biochemical and molecular work as well as for organic and inorganic analysis.

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Enzymology & Mycology (Fungal Biotechnology)

Research focuses on the physiology and biochemistry of saprotrophic sporocarp-forming fungi (Basidiomycota, Ascomycota) as well as on biotechnological aspects resulting from their metabolic activities. Particular emphasis is given to oxyfunctionalizing enzymes and their application in organic synthesis.

Microbial and Molecular Ecology

Research focuses on the degradation of deadwood (coarse woody debris) by fungi and their extracellular biocatalysts (peroxidases, peroxygenases, laccases, glycoside hydrolases) in forest ecosystems; special attention is paid to functional biodiversity. Furthermore we analyze fungal and bacterial communities in response to varying environmental conditions with molecular tools and we are dealing with the sequencing and analyzing of fungal genomes.

Environmental Process Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Hydrology

This section deals with the analysis of elements and compounds in different environmental compartments with focus on water and soil.

Details

Next-generation sequencing is one of the routine techniques just as the detection of heavy metals and organic pollutants in environmental samples, the purification and characterisation of enzyme proteins, the identification of fungi, or the growing of microorganisms in bioreactors.

In addition, the chair is responsible for the well-equipped “Zittauer Ökologische Forschungsstation“ (Ecological Research Station Zittau). For example, it is possible to measure evaporation or other hydrological parameters by means of a weighable lysimeter.