I currently lead the Section of Microbiology where I, coordinate several international and domestic initiatives, am cofounder and vice director of the Copenhagen high throughput sequencing facility. Coordinating roles include leading large international research projects such as Trainbiodiverse, a 20-partner consortium investigating soil microbiology, and section management approximately 30 staff. My research priorities focus on social interactions in natural microbial communities with special focus on biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer. Specifically, I have a deep desire to understand the evolutionary mechanisms behind synergistic interspecies interactions and dependencies and the emergent properties of complex microbial populations. I have co-authored >350 scientific papers in international (peer reviewed) journals, books and presentations at international meetings with a google scholar H index of 89. A full list of citations is available at https://scholar.google.dk/citations?user=HlNN0OQAAAAJ&hl=en.

EDUCATION

1989-1992

Ph.D. from the Faculty of Natural Science, University of Copenhagen (14/05/1992)

1980-1988

M.Sc. in Molecular Ecology

PROFFESSIONEL CAREER

2015

5 MTh’s visiting professor at University of California and Stanford University

2011 – ongoing

Head of Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen

2010

5 MTh’s visiting professor at The J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego, USA

2005 – ongoing

Professor at the Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen

2002

2 Months visiting scientist at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

2000 – 2004

Honourees Associate Lecturer at School of Biology Macquarie University, Australia

1999 – 2000

7 MTh’s visiting scientist at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

1997 – 2004

Associated professor at Dept. General Microbiology, University of Copenhagen

1993 – 1994

6 MTh’s visiting scientist at EPA's Environmental Research Laboratory, Florida

1992 – 1996

Assistant professor at Dept. General Microbiology, University of Copenhagen

1989 – 1992

Ph.D. at Faculty of Natural Science, University of Copenhagen

1989 – 1990

10 MTh’s visiting scientist at EPA's Environmental Research Laboratory, Florida

COLLABORATIONS (RECENT)

My research is firmly rooted in a large existing network of Danish and international collaborators:

Microbial ecology: Prof. L. Philippot, Agroecology, INRA  Dijon; Prof A. Spormann and Prof. T. Fukami, Stanford University, Prof. N. Boon, Gent University; Prof. T. Vogel, Université de Lyon; Prof. S. Kjelleberg, University of NSW; Prof. E. Wellington, University of Warwick; Prof. M. Schloter, Helmholtz Zentrum München; Prof. J. J. Boomsma, UCPH, Prof. H. Bisgaard COPSAC DK.
Bioinformatics and modelling: Prof. A. Sczyrba and A. Goesmann, Universität Bielefeld; J.U. Kreft University of Birmingham; Dr J. Xavier, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Prof. M. Blaser, Rutgers University; Prof. K. Gernaey, and Prof. A. Gorm, CBS, DTU. Dr. S. Rasmussen, UCPH

Mobile genetic elements: Prof. K. Smalla, Julius Kühn-Institut; Prof. I. Mizrahi, Ben-Gurion University; Prof. D. van Elsas, University of Groningen; Prof. D. Springael, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Prof. B. Smets and Prof. F. Aarestrup, DTU.

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

Mentor for >40 completed postdocs in molecular microbial ecology

Supervisor of >50 completed Ph.D. students in molecular microbial ecology

Supervisor of >90 completed masters students in microbiology, at the Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

TOTAL PUBLICATIONS