My main research interest is the structural and functional characterization of soil bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities in different habitats affected by biotic and abiotic environmental factors. To achieve these goals I apply genetic based approaches (e.g. sequencing, qPCR of taxonomical and functional marker genes) and combine these with measuring soil processes (e.g. enzyme activities, respiration, methanogenesis, denitrification). Currently I am interested in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arctic permafrost soils with relation to soil microbial communities and green house gas emissions.