Environmental Microbiology Workgroup UTIT

Environmental microbiology workgroup at the Institute of Technology, University of Tartu

The main areas of research of this workgroup include paleolimnolgy and -microbiology with the aim of optimizing and developing fossil  DNA-based methods for analysis of  paleodiversity in lake sediment samples.
Fine resolution analysis of total algal community based on DNA with higher replication of samples is presumed to facilitate analysis and construction of paleoclimatic and –environmental changes. Another major interest is the ecology, physiology and phylogeny of bacteria in lakes and their catchments. Researchers study the diversity and activity of bacteria in the sediment, sediment-water column interaction, resuspension, and in water column. 
Additionally, researchers at the environmental microbiology workgroup are developing a wastewater-based SARS-CoV-2 monitoring system.