Embedded Files
We are a young group of researchers based at the University of Greifswald in Germany studying eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes in different coastal environments. We are particularly interested in their interactions with eachother and with larger organimsms as well as their roles in ecosystem carbon cycling. Microbial interactions are diverse and ubiquitous and are central to understanding biodiversity and element cycling in ecosystems such as coastal seas, lakes, rivers and streams!
Our interests include:
Our interests include:
Microbiomes of aquatic macrophytes and microalgae
Community ecology of microbiomes, from microalgae to mammals.
Biofilms
Macrophyte bed ecology (kelp forests/seagrass meadows)
Mixotrophy
Peatland microbiomes
Biodiversity-functioning relationships in microbial communities
Teaching and communication of science to the general public
Open access publication
Mia Bengtsson (group leader) can also be found here:
Mia Bengtsson (group leader) can also be found here:
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald
Bluesky @miamynta.bsky.social
Instagram @miasmicrobes
Open student thesis projects
Open student thesis projects
Are you looking for an opportunity to conduct your BSc- or MSc-thesis work in the group? Below are some potential topics! Contact Mia via email if you are interested.
Image: Mia Bengtsson
Using metagenomics to detect potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. bacteria in aquatic ecosystems (starting summer semester 2026)
Global change is leading to higher water temperatures, more frequent heatwaves and changes in nutrient regimes in coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems. This leads to proliferation of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria of the genus Vibrio, a global concern which threatens human and animal health. Vibrio is a large and diverse group of bacteria with many important roles in the ecosystem besides the pathogenic representatives. It is currently poorly understood why certain strains become pathogenic and how they can be controlled. Environmental monitoring tools to rapidly detect strains of concern and predict outbreaks are currently lacking. Classical tools depend on time consuming microbial cultivation and strain characterization, while modern DNA sequencing-based approaches fail to detect Vibrios before they have become abundant. Therefore, we want to develop a method combining the sensitivity of classical tools with the rapid and detailed information that can be gained by next-generation sequencing approaches. As a MSc student in this project, you will perform fieldwork to sample and cultivate diverse Vibrio populations in the Baltic Sea and in freshwater lakes in Germany and Sweden, apply state-of-the-art molecular methods such as metagenomics and analyze these datasets with the latest bioinformatic tools. The project is a collaboration between the University of Greifswald in Germany and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden and you will benefit from interactions with international experts. Join us to tackle one of the most pressing challenges to aquatic ecosystems and contribute to science that helps mitigate the effects of global climate change and promote human and environmental health!
Fine-scale variability of peatland microbiomes (starting summer semester 2026)
Peatlands are waterlogged, vegetated areas that store vast amounts of organic carbon. If they are drained, e.g. for land use purposes, this organic matter can be oxidised by microbes more easily.
In Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, 97 % of the area covered by natural peatland was drained. Rewetting efforts have already reduced the drained fraction to 86%, but it still contributes a third of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest single source.
Although rewetting helps to reduce emissions, it does not reverse the changes that the peat experienced during drainage, leading to the creation of novel ecosystems. These are important because they provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, climate cooling and habitat provision for specialised organisms. However, they are still poorly understood. With the aim of filling this knowledge gap, the WETSCAPES2.0 research consortium, funded by the DFG since 2025, is conducting multidisciplinary research on the >300 kmÇ rewetted peatland area in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. Following the changes induced by drainage and rewetting, communities of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms are altered in these systems. As their activities play a key role in central ecosystem processes, it is vital to understand the composition of their communities and how they respond to environmental factors in order to understand rewetted peatlands as a whole.
Although there is a large variability in microbial communities across peatlands on a regional scale, little is known about heterogeneity in microbiome composition and diversity at finer spatial scales.
To zoom in on this, we are looking for a motivated master's student to plan and conduct fineresolution sampling of peat, in order to acquire and analyse spatially resolved microbiome data. The applied methods include peat sampling techniques in the field, DNA extraction and PCR amplification in the lab, and bioinformatic processing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences, as well as statistical analyses. Experience in a microbiological or molecular laboratory is desirable, as is basic familiarity with the R programming language. This project involves fieldwork in peatlands, some of which are difficult to traverse. Fieldwork will start in April/May 2026. To allow enough time for familiarisation with the topic and planning of the sampling, we propose a starting date in March 2026. This thesis will be embedded in the framework of WETSCAPES2.0 with ample opportunities for interaction with other students and scientists in a dynamic, exciting and welcoming consortium. You will also be part of the Coastal Microbiomes Research Group at the Institute of Microbiology with possibilities for employment as a HiWi alongside your studies.
If you are interested or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us (email subject: “WS2.0/B3, MSc SS26”).
Dr. Mia Bengtsson & Tim Kaufmann
mia.bengtsson@uni-greifswald.de, tim.kaufmann@uni-greifswald.de
Image: John Couwenberg
Image: Tim Kaufmann
Google Sites
Report abuse