Istituto federale di ricerca per la foresta, la neve e il paesaggio WSL
Funzione
Responsabile di gruppo
Biodiversità ed ecologia della conservazione
Genetica ecologica
Contatto
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Sito
WSL Birmensdorf Bi MG C 45
I am interested in diverse aspects of the symbiotic interaction between forest trees and fungi, the so called ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. I am studying the neutral and functional diversities of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their role for forest ecosystems in a changing environment. In particular the impact of drought and nitrogen deposition on the community structure and function of mycorrhizal fungi is in my research focus. I am also interested in how forest fungi adapt to their environment and lifestyle. I am mostly using molecular markers to study the communities and populations of mycorrhizal fungi and both gene expression and enzymatic assays for functional studies.
| Since 2019 | Group leader "Ecological Genetics" at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf | |
| 2017-2018 | Group leader a.i. "Mycorrhiza" at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf | |
| 2010-2013 | Editor of the journal Trees - Structure and Function | |
| Since 2009 | Representative of the Intensive Study Site (ISS) Valais, EVOLTREE Network of Excellence | |
| Since 2005 | Research Associate at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf | |
| 2001-2004 | Post-doctoral stay at INRA / Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy, France in the group "Interactions Tree / Microorganisms" of Francis Martin. Genomics and transcriptomics of the mycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor | |
| 1997-2000 | Ph.D. thesis "Above- and belowground views of ectomycorrhizal fungi in spruce forests: community structure and impacts of increased nitrogen deposition" at the University of Zürich and WSL (Prof. R. Honegger Uni Zürich, Prof. M. Aebi ETHZ, Dr. S. Egli WSL; English, 122p.) | |
| 1991-1996 | Masters Degree in Plant Biology, University of Zürich. Master thesis "Impacts of lead on fungi and the fungal/plant-system: mycorrhization, fungal diversity, and bioaccumulation. Case study at a shooting range" at the University of Zürich and WSL (German, 90pp.) |