Marie Schölmerich receives SNSF Starting Grant

Microorganisms play an important role in both the production and degradation of methane, a greenhouse gas with a particular high impact on climate. The molecular mechanisms of methane metabolism in these microorganisms are still poorly understood. Marie Schölmerich is a professor of environmental microbiology. In her project, she will investigate how certain genetic elements regulate methane metabolism in these organisms. She will also study the rewetting of peatlands, which is currently being done for climate protection reasons. She is interested in the effects of this practice on the populations of microorganisms living in the peatlands and their genetics. Her findings will support the climate effectiveness of peatland restoration. They could also be useful in the development of vaccines against methane-producing microorganisms in the stomachs of cows.