I am involved in many projects covering a wide range of topics, from climate change effects on C and nutrient cycling to Cecropia ants grown microorganisms. I am also involved in projects regarding method development. Here below a list of the main projects I have been working on.
Present primary projects:
Interplai
(Interactions between root exudates and the root microbiome in plant iron acquisition)
In this projetct we are going to explore the ecology and chemistry of plant-microbiome interactions in iron-deficient soil. The aim of the project will be to integrate metagenomic and metabolomic analyses in order to disentangle the contribution of the soil microbiome to plant iron acquisition and the role of root exudates in selecting beneficial microbes.
Climgrass
ClimGrass is the abbreviation of: ”Grassland carbon dynamics in a changing climate” (for further information please visit the website https://climgrass.at/). In this complex project we simulate warming (0, +1.5 and +3°C above ambient), elevated CO2 (0, +150 and +300ppm above ambient) and drought to study carbon and nutrient dynamics. My main focus has been primarily on the C exchange between plants and microorganisms by using a field pulse chase 13CO2 labelling technique.
Long term drought
In this project we study the effects of long term multiple re-current drought events on soil microbial community and soil functioning. I have been involved in this great project managed by the University of Innsbruck where they maintain a facility for long term drought study in a managed grassland. In this project we study the effects of long term multiple re-current drought events on soil microbial community and soil functioning. I have been involved in this great project managed by the University of Innsbruck where they maintain a facility for long term drought study in a managed grassland.
Long Term Nutrient Deficiency
Effects of long-term fertilization on grassland productivity and carbon balance. I am currently working on one of the longest long-term fertilization experiments in the world. Where they tested different fertilization regimes for the past 70 years.