Description of research and teaching

I am the principal investigator in the Fungal Genetics and Biotechnology group, which studies plant biomass modifying enzymes from fungi and bacteria. The research focuses on various aspects of fungal molecular biology and enzymology. Lignocellulose, particularly lignin, degradation has been the long-term interest at the Department of Microbiology. Our research has provided strong international contribution in the field of fungal and enzymatic degradation of lignin and lignocellulose.

Our most recent projects focus on the aromatic metabolism of basidiomycete fungi and enzymatic valorization of lignin. The project Biodecompose aims to detail understanding of degradation of lignin-carbohydrate complexes by lignin-degrading basidiomycete fungi. EU-funded project PROSPLIGN explores the potential of bioactivity of lignin. We will use microbial enzymes to depolymerize lignin into sustainable and valuable building blocks.

The long-term research interest is functional genomics of plant biomass degrading microbes from various biotopes. Our on-going studies include different and complementary points of view: i) Genome mining and characterization of novel plant biomass modifying activities and fungal carbon metabolism, ii) Elucidating the difference in plant biomass strategies between ascomycetes and basidiomycetes and iii) Heterologous production of novel catalysts for lignin valorisation.

My teaching activities as a senior university lecturer in microbiology consist of lectures and laboratory courses in microbiology, biotechnology and mycology. I also supervise bachelor, master and doctoral theses.

Education information

PhD, Docent in microbial biotechnology