Dr. Bram Vekeman
Microbial Physiology Research Group
MPI for Marine Microbiology
Celsiusstr. 1
D-28359 Bremen
Germany
Phone: |
Research Interests
My research focuses on the microbial physiology of microorganisms that turnover methane and ammonium. I aim to identify and culture novel microorganisms active in marine and freshwater water columns and sediments. To enrich these microorganisms, I use state-of-the-art approaches including continuous cultivation bioreactors that mimic the environment as closely as possible under controlled conditions. After culturing these microorganisms, I aim to physiologically characterize them, disentangle their further metabolic capacities, and unravel the underlying biochemical pathways.
My main research projects are:
Discovery of new biochemical pathways involved in the anaerobic activation of ammonium
Cultivation and physiological characterization of diverse methane-producing microorganisms
Discovery of ethane-producing microorganisms
Cultivation and isolation of new nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms
Metabolic flexibility of methane converting microorganisms