- Technical University of Munich, Department of Microbiology
- Emil-Ramann Str. 4
- Freising
- 85354
- Germany
- +49 8161 / 71 54 61
Molecular Geomicrobiology of metal-transforming subsurface microorganisms
The topic of my PhD thesis at the Technical University of Munich is: „Molecular Geomicrobiology of metal-transforming subsurface microorganisms“. The goal is to explore the biomineralisation, biogeochemistry and biodiversity of the chemolithotrophic microorganisms in the subsurface, using the underground Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL), Sweden as a model site. The Äspö HRL is about 500m deep and enables in situ explorations of endogenous subsurface microbial systems within Precambrian granodioritic rocks of the Baltic Shield. Within this context, the iron-oxidizing Gallionella serves as an interesting chemo-autotrophic model organism for dark life ecosystems in rocky environments. Previous studies have shown that Gallionella forms extensive biofilms on rock fractures and in ponds and streams in many parts in the HRL (the Pedersen lab, Sweden).
Our goal is to perform complementary molecular studies on the general microbial biodiversity of microorganisms present in the aquifers that penetrate the HRL as well as in the biofilms distributed all over the HRL, in order to gain a deeper insight into the survival biology, microbial ecology and geomicrobiology of relevant key organisms like Gallionella. This is a multidisciplinary project, encompassing collaborations with geologists, geochemists, hydrogeologists, molecular biologists and microbial ecologists in Germany, Sweden and USA.
Tel.: +49 8161 / 71 54 61
Fax.: +49 8161 / 71 54 75
E-mail: marco.meola @tum.de
Curriculum vitae (born 1982 in Visp, Switzerland):
- 2010: Travel award for oral presentation at 10th European Workshop on Astrobiology EANA, 6–8 September 2010, Pushchino/Moscow, Russia.
- Meola, M., Lee, N. M., Heim, C., Braissant, O., Löffler, F. E., Thiel, V., J. Reitner and W. Liebl. 2010. Astrobiological lessons from the ancient iron-oxidizing genus Gallionella. Oral presentation at 10th European Workshop on Astrobiology EANA, 6–8 September 2010, Pushchino/Moscow, Russia.
- 2010: 2nd Master Thesis (Deveolpmental & Cell Biology): Interaction of MOG-2 within the C. elegans spliceosome and polysome profiling, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- 2008: 1st Master Thesis (Earth Sciences): Petrography and Geochemistry of Late Paleozoic marine cements and brachiopods of Southern Guizhou, South China. Implication for seawater composition, Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- 2005: Bachelor Thesis (Earth Sciences): Thermische Entwicklung der Kristallstruktur von Neptunit, Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland