GRK 2341:  Microbial Substrate Conversion (MiCon)

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: since 2018
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 321933041

Microbial organisms dominate our planet according to both their sheer number and their tremendous metabolic versatility that enables them to populate essentially any place on earth. The enzymes and pathways responsible for this remarkable success are not only of fundamental interest for basic research, but also attractive for biotechnological and medical applications. Our Research Training Group “Microbial substrate conversion (MiCon)” aims at understanding the mechanistic principles of microbial metabolic processes at the molecular level, ideally both in reconstituted in vitro systems and in living cells. The enzymes and pathways under investigation are involved in the synthesis and conversion of small inorganic molecules like hydrogen or small organic molecules like styrene, and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites. The researchers in MiCon have considerably advanced our knowledge on these processes, often in fruitful collaborations, and the renewal proposal aims at a seamless continuation of this successful PhD programme. The participating researchers contribute a broad spectrum of microbiological, molecular biological, biochemical and biophysical techniques whose combination enables comprehensive insights into the studied conversion processes. A well-established network of internationally recognized principal investigators from various disciplines guarantees the success of the scientific projects. A comprehensive and structured qualification programme based on two local graduate schools and the RUB Research School is complemented by specific modules tailored to the interests of doctoral researchers in MiCon. Training includes an internship in an academic or industrial group outside Bochum and guarantees that early career researchers graduating from the RTG can build on a solid, yet individual education providing excellent qualifications to prevail in the competitive job market.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Franz Narberhaus
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Julia Bandow; Professor Dr. Thomas Happe; Privatdozentin Dr. Anja Christine Hemschemeier; Professor Dr. Eckhard Hofmann; Professorin Dr. Ute Krämer; Professor Dr. Lars Leichert; Professor Dr. Nils Metzler-Nolte; Professor Dr. Marc Nowaczyk; Professor Dr. Frank Schulz; Professor Dr. Dirk Tischler