Short presentation

I am interested in the evolutionary origin and stability of symbioses, including conflict and cooperation within beneficial symbiotic associations (mutualisms). My work focuses on population genetics, host-symbiont interactions, and the coevolutionary history of fungus-growing insect-microbe associations.

I did my PhD at the Department of Population Biology (Copenhagen University) from 2002-2005 with the focus being on conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant-fungus and -bacteria symbioses.

In 2005, I moved to the US, where I was a post-doc in Prof. Cameron Currie's lab at the Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (http://currielab.wisc.edu/). The primary focus during my tenure there was antibiotika-producing bacteria associated with fungus-growing ants.

In October 2010 I returned to Denmark to initiate a project funded by a four-year fellowship (STENO) from The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. My lab has expanded since then, both in number of people, but also in focus areas. For more information, see my full Curriculum Vitae and publication list.

If you are interested in my work or a potential collaboration, you are always very welcome to contact me ([email protected]).

Short presentation

CV

Curriculum Vitae

Personal information

Name: Michael Poulsen (Married name: Michael Thomas-Poulsen)
Date of birth: 23. May 1976
Nationality: Danish
 
Education & Employment                                    

2014-        Associate Professor, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2010-2014    STENO Assistant Professor, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2005-2010    Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, adviser Professor C.R. Currie.
2005        Post-doctoral position, Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, adviser Professor J.J. Boomsma.
2002-2005    PhD, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, supervised by Professor J.J. Boomsma.
2000-2001    MSc, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Aarhus University, supervised by Professor J.J. Boomsma (University of Copenhagen) and Associate Professor E. Davis Parker (Aarhus University).
1995-2000   BSc, Biological Sciences, Aarhus University.

Awards & Grants                                

2017           Consolidator Grant, European Research Council (15.000.000 DKK).

2017           Department of Biology, UCPH, grant for the 4.5ECTS PhD course on Chemical and Genomic Insight to Parasitic and Mutualistic Host-Microbe Interactions (67.000 DKK).

2017           Carlsbergfondet Research Infrastructure grant “Establishing the links between diet and microbiota in three divergent models” for MSc projects by students Kasun Bodawatta, Emilia Rolander, Malou Storm, and Kristjan Germer (177.000 DKK)

2017           DFF-Research Project 2 (Forskningsprojekt 2) from The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences (5.871.506 DKK).

2015        Funding from the NOVA University Network for the PhD course Chemical and Genomic insight to host-microbe symbiotic interactions (112.886 DKK).
2015        Docent Dr. Scient. Lauritz Olsons Rejsefond travel grant awarded to MSc student Benjamin H. Conlon (15.987 DKK).
2015        One-year co-financing of a PhD stipend, Department of Biology (380.756 DKK).
2015        Villum Kann Rasmussen Young Investigator Fellowship (6.690.432 DKK).
2014        PhD stipend, Rafael Rodrigues da Costa, Science without Borders, CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brazil (455.000 DKK).
2011        Best Photo Award, 6th Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecology Conference. Beijing, China.
2010        Four-year STENO fellowship from The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences (4.119.287 DKK).
2008        Mentor for Derek Abramowski, Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship (30.000 DKK).
2007-2008    Post-doctoral research fellowship from Carlsbergfondet (600.000 DKK).
2006        Post-doctoral research fellowship from Lundbeckfonden (350.000 DKK).
2004        Short-term fellowship, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) (11.500 DKK).
2002        Best talk, Third Annual Meeting of the International School of Biodiversity Sciences, Aarhus, Denmark.
2002        Three-year PhD-fellowship from the University of Copenhagen (ca. 1.300.000 DKK).

Publications & Presentations

•    63 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
•    1709 citations in Scopus; h=24 (excluding self-citations).
•    2352 citations in Google Scholar; h=28, i10=43 (Google Scholar Michael Thomas-Poulsen).
•    Four invited other publications.
•    Two book chapters.
•    55 invited talks at international meetings and departmental seminars.
•    46 contributed oral presentations at international meetings and departmental seminars.
•    65 contributed poster presentations at national and international meetings.
•    Researcher ID: C-6276-2012; ORCID Michael Thomas-Poulsen.

Short-term stays abroad

2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016     Fieldwork, South Africa (total five months).
2009                     Fieldwork, CICRA, Los Amigos, Peru (two weeks).
2002, 2004, 2005, 2008         Fieldwork, Gamboa, Panama (total nine months).
2006                    Visit to Dr. J. Kubanek’s lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA, USA (one week).
2003-2004                Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, KS, USA (six months).
2002, 2003                Visit to Professor Johan Billen, Katolische Universität, Leuven, Belgium (one week).

Summary of long-term research interests

My research interests combine the fields of evolutionary ecology and molecular microbiology. I am particularly interested in how antagonistic (parasitic) and beneficial (mutualistic) microbial symbionts shape host ecology and evolution, how partners complement each other metabolically, and how host-symbiont associations defend themselves against exploitation. My work is fundamental in nature, but encompasses components of applied significance, such as the natural use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance in parasites, and plant decomposition enzymes of interest to biofuel production. My focus is on the almost completely unexplored presence and role of additional symbionts associated with fungus-growing termites, part of the integrated approaches of my long-term research focus areas:

i) The evolution of symbiont complementarity. My studies of the contributions to plant decomposition by termites and their fungus gardens have provided the first -omics evidence of an intricate connection between the natural history of substrate processing and symbiotic partner complementarity.

ii) The evolution of termite microbiotas. We have established that the shift in fungus-growing termite gut microbiota composition coincided with fungus domestication 30MYA, and that a core set of microbes persists in the guts of the fungus-growing termite sub-family. This compositional shift was associated with the reduced handling of complex carbohydrates (now taken care of by Termitomyces fungi) and an enrichment of enzymes for fungal cell wall breakdown in the microbiota. Despite ancestral shared functional roles, gut communities have diversified: congeneric termite species have more similar microbiotas than species from different genera.

iii) Disease-defence dynamics in fungus-growing termites. With only Pseudoxylaria weeds being present in dying or abandoned combs, and culture-independent approaches indicating the virtual absence of other fungi within fungus combs, gut-mediated selective inhibition of non-mutualists in the substrate for Termitomyces growth is a candidate hypothesis.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

63. da Costa, R.R., Vreeburg, S.M.E., Shik, J.Z., Aanen, D.K., Poulsen, M. (2018). Can interaction specificity in the fungus-farming termite symbiosis be explained by nutritional requirements of the fungal crop? Fungal Ecology, in revision (IF=3.219; GS=0).

62. Da Costa, R.R. and Poulsen, M. Mixed-mode transmission shapes termite gut community assemblies (invited Spotlight). Trends in Microbiology, in press.

61. Giron, D., Dubreuil, G., Bennet, A., Dedeine, F., Dicke, M., Dyer, L., Erb, M., Harris, M.O., Huguet, E., Kaloshian, I., Kawakita, A., Lopez-Vaamonde, C., Palmer, T.M., Petanidou, T., Poulsen, M., Sallé, A., Simon, J.-C., Terblanche, J.S., Thiéry, D., Whiteman, N., Woods, H.A., Zchori-Fein, E., and Pincebourde, S. (2018). Promises and challenges in insect–plant interactions. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, in press (IF=1.162; GS=0).

60. Buys, M., Conlon, B., de Fine Licht, H.H., Aanen, D.K., Poulsen, M., De Beer, Z.W. (2018). Searching for Podaxis on the trails of early explorers in southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 115, 317.

59. Harrison, M.C., Jongepier, E., Robertson, H.E., Arning, N., Bitard-Feildel, T., Chao, H., Childers, C.P., Dinh, H., Doddapaneni, H., Dugan, S., Gowin, J., Greiner, C., Han, Y., Hu, H., Hughes, D.S.T., Huylmans, A.-K., Kemena, C., Kremer, L.P.M., Lee, S.L., Lopez-Ezquerra, A., Mallet, L., Monroy-Kuhn, J.M., Moser, A., Murali, S.C., Muzny, D.M., Otani, S., Piulachs, M.-D., Poelchau, M., Qu, J., Schaub, F., Wada-Katsumata, A., Worley, K.C., Xie, Q., Ylla, G., Poulsen, M., Gibbs, R.A., Schal, C., Richards, S., Belles, X., Korb, J., Bornberg-Bauer, E. (2018). Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality. Nature Ecology and Evolution, doi:10.1038/s41559-017-0459-1 (GS=1).

58. da Costa, R.R., Hu, H., Pilgaard, B., Vreeburg, S.M.E., Schückel, J., Pedersen, K.S.K., Kračun, S.K., Busk, P.K., Harholt, J., Sapountzis, P., Lange, L., Aanen, D.K., and Poulsen, M. (2018). Enzyme activities at different stages of plant biomass decomposition in three species of fungus-growing termites. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 84, e01815-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01815-17. (IF=3.807; GS=0).

57. Richards, C., Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A., and Poulsen, M. (2017). Pycnoscelus surinamensis cockroach gut microbiota respond consistently to a fungal diet without mirroring those of fungus-farming termites. PLoS ONE 12(10): e0185745 (IF=2.806; GS=0).

56. Guo, H., Benndorf, R., Leichnitz, D., Klassen, J.L., Vollmers, J., Görls, H., Weigel, C., Dahse, H.‐M. Kaster, A.‐K., de Beer, Z.W. Poulsen, M., and Beemelmanns, C. (2017). Isolation, Biosynthesis and Chemical Modifications of Rubterolones A–F: Rare Tropolone Alkaloids from Actinomadura sp. 5-2. Chemistry, A European Journal 10.1002/chem.201701005 (IF=5.771; GS=1).

55. Wyche, T.P., Ruzzini, A.C., Beemelmanns, C., Kim, K.H., Klassen, J.L., Cao, S., Poulsen, M., Bugni, T.S., Currie, C.R., Clardy, J. (2017). Linear peptides are the major products of a biosynthetic pathway that encodes for cyclic depsipeptides. Organic Letters 19, 1772-1775 (IF=6.579; GS=2).

54. Beemelmanns, C., Ramadhar T.R., Kim, K.H., Klassen, J., Cao, S., Wyche, T.P., Hou, Y., Poulsen, M., Bugni, T., Currie, C.R., and Clardy, J.Macrotermycin A-D, glycosylated macrolactams from a termite-associated Amycolatopsis sp. M39. Organic Letters, accepted pending minor revisions (IF=6.732; GS=0).

53. Conlon, B.H., Mitchell, J., de Beer, W., Carøe, C., Gilbert, M.T., Eilenberg, J., Poulsen, M., de Fine Licht, H.H. Draft genome announcement of the fungus-growing termite pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps bispora. Data in Brief, accepted pending minor revisions (IF=4.165; GS=0).

52. Sapountzis, P., de Verges, J., Rousk, K., Cilliers, M., Voerster, J., and Poulsen, M. (2016). Potential for nitrogen fixation in the fungus-growing termite symbiosis. Frontiers in Microbiology 7, 1993. Doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01993 (IF=3.941; GS=0).

51. Guo, H, Kreuzenbeck, N. Otani, S. Dahse, H.-M., Weigel, C., Aanen, D.K., Poulsen, M., Beemelmanns, C. (2016). Pseudoxylallemycins A–F, cyclic tetrapeptides with rare allenyl modifications isolated from Pseudoxylaria sp. X802 - a competitor of fungus-growing termite cultivars. Org. Lett. 18, 3338-3341 (IF=6.364; GS=0).

50. Conlon, B.H., de Beer, W., de Fine Licht, H.H., D.K. Aanen, and Poulsen, M. Phylogenetic analyses of diverse Podaxis specimens from Southern Africa reveal hidden diversity and new insights into its relationship with termites. Fungal Biology, in press.
49. Sillam-Dussès, D., Hanus, R., Poulsen, M., Roy, V., Favier, M., and Vasseur-Cognet, M. The role of the glucose-sensing transcription factor ChREBP pathway in termite queen fertility. Open Biology, 160080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160080 (IF= 5.784; GS=0).
48. Palmer, M., de Maayer, P., Poulsen, M., Steenkamp, E.T., Coutinho, T.A., and Venter, S.N. (2016) Draft genome sequences of Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea vagans isolates associated with termites. Standards in Genomic Sciences 11, 23 (IF= 3.170; GS=0).
47. Beemelmanns, C., H. Guo, Rischer, M., and Poulsen, M. (2016). Natural Products from microbes associated with insects (Invited review). Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry 12, 314-327 (IF= 2.757; GS=0).
46. Otani, S., Hansen, L.H., Sørensen, S.J., and Poulsen, M. (2016). Bacterial communities in termite fungus gardens are comprised of consistent gut deposits and minor contributions from the environment. Microbial Ecology 71: 207-220. DOI: 10.1007/s00248-015-0692-6 (IF=2.973; GS=0).
45. Mikaelyan, A., Dietrich, C., Köhler, T., Poulsen, M., Sillam-Dussès, D., and Brune, A. (2015). Diet is the primary determinant of bacterial community structure in the guts of higher termites. Molecular Ecology 20, 5284-5295. DOI: 10.1111/mec.13376 (IF=5.840; GS=1).
44. Kooij, P., Poulsen, M., Schiøtt, M, and Boomsma, J.J. Somatic incompatibility of fungal crops in sympatric Atta and Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants (2015). Fungal Ecology 18, 10-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2015.08.003 (IF=2.929; GS=1).
43. Sapountzis, P., Gruntjes, T., Otani, S., Estevez, J., da Costa, R.R, Plunckett III, G., Perna, N., and Poulsen, M. (2015). The enterobacterium Trabulsiella odontotermitis presents novel adaptations related to its association with fungus-growing termites. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 81, 6577-6588. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02637-15 (Journal Cover) (IF=3.952; GS=0).
42. Korb, J., Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Li, C., Boomsma, J.J. Zhang, G., and Liebig, J. (2015). A genomic comparison of two termites with different social complexity. Frontiers in Genetics 6, 9. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00009 (GS=2).
41. Poulsen, M. (2015). Towards an integrated understanding of the consequences of fungus domestication on the fungus-growing termite gut microbiota (invited mini-review) Environmental Microbiology 17, 2562-72. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.12765 (Journal Cover) (IF=6.240; GS=2).
40. Aylward, F.O., Suen, G., Biedermann, P.H.W., Adams, A.S., Scott, J.J., Malfatti, S.A., Glavina del Rio, T., Tringe, S.G., Poulsen, M., Raffa, K.F., Klepzig, K.D., and Currie, C.R. (2014). Convergence of bacterial microbiotas in the fungal agricultural systems of insects. mBio 5, e02077-14 (IF=6.875; GS=8).
39. Poulsen, M.*, Hu, H.*, Li, C., Chen, Z., Xu, L., Otani, S., Nygaard, S., Nobre, T., Klaubauf, S., Schindler, P.M., Hauser, F., Pan, H., Yang, Z., Sonnenberg, A., de Beer, Z.W., Zhang, Y., Wingfield, M.J., Grimmelikhuijzen, C., de Vries, R.P., Korb, J., Aanen, D.K., Wang, J., Boomsma, J.J., and Zhang, G. (2014). Complementary symbiont contributions to plant decomposition in a fungus-farming termite. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 111, 14500-14505 (IF=9.809; GS=21). *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
38. Kim, KH, Ramadhar, TR, Beemelmanns, C, Cao, S, Poulsen, M, Currie, C.R., Clardy, J. (2014). Natalamycin A, an Ansamycin from a termite-associated Streptomyces sp. Chemical Science 5, 4333-4338 (IF=8.601; GS=5).
37. Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A., Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Koné, N.A., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A., and Poulsen, M. (2014). Identifying the core microbial community in the gut of fungus-growing termites. Molecular Ecology 23, 4631-4644 (IF=5.840; GS=26).
36. Marsh, S.E., Poulsen, M., Pinto-Tomás, A., and Currie, C.R. (2014). Interaction between workers during a short time window is required for bacterial symbiont transmission in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. PLoS ONE 9, e103269 (IF=3.534; GS=5).
35. Um, S., Fraimout, A, Sapountzis, S., Oh, D.-C., and Poulsen, M. (2013). The fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis harbors bacillaene-producing Bacillus sp. that inhibit potentially antagonistic fungi. Scientific Reports 3, 3250 (IF=5.078; GS=13).
34. Marsh, S.E., Poulsen, M., Gorosito, N.M., Pinto-Tomas, A., Masiulionis, V.E., and Currie, C.R. (2013). Association between Pseudonocardia symbionts and Atta leaf-cutting ants suggested by improved isolation methods. International Microbiology 16, 17-25 (IF=1.341; GS=3).
33. Aylward, F.O., McDonald, B., Adams, S.M., Valenzuela, A., Schmidt, R.A. Goodwin, L.A., Woyke, T, Currie, C.R. Suen, G., and Poulsen, M. (2013). Comparison of 26 sphingomonad genomes reveals diverse environmental adaptations and biodegradative capabilities. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79, 3724-3733 (IF=3.952; GS=35).
32. Raundrup, K., Levermann, N., and Poulsen, M. (2012). Overlap in diet and distribution of two goose species suggests potential for competition at a common moulting are in West Greenland. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift (DOFT) 106, 93-100 (No IF; GS=0).
31. Carr, G., Poulsen, M., Klassen, J.L., Hou, Y., Wyche, T.P., Bugni, T.S., Currie, C.R., and Clardy, J. (2012). Microtermolides A and B from termite-associated Streptomyces sp. and structural revision of Vinylamycin. Organic Letters 14, 2822-2825 (IF=6.324; GS=34).
30. Yek, S.H.Z., Boomsma, J.J., and Poulsen, M. (2012). Towards a better understanding of the evolution of specialized parasites of fungus-farming ant crops. Invited review. Psyche, online: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/2012/239392/ (IF unknown; GS=10).
29. Visser, A.A., Nobre, T.M., Currie, C.R., Aanen, D.K., and Poulsen, M. (2012). Exploring the potential for Actinobacteria as defensive symbionts in fungus-growing termites. Microbial Ecology 63, 975-985 (IF=3.118; GS=18).
28. Poulsen, M., Maynard, J.*, Roland, D.*, and Currie, C.R. (2011). The role of symbiont genetic distance and potential adaptability in host preference towards Pseudonocardia symbionts in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Journal of Insect Science 11, 120 (IF=0.921; GS=1). *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
27. Six, D.L., Poulsen, M., Hansen, A.K., Wingfield, M.J., Roux, J., Eggleton, P., Slippers, B., and Paine, T.D. (2011). Anthropogenic effects on interaction outcomes: examples from insect-microbial symbioses in forest and savannah ecosystems. Symbiosis 53, 101-121 (Journal Cover) (IF=0.941; GS=13).
26. Folgarait, P.J., Gorosito, N.B., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. (2011). Preliminary in vitro insights into the use of natural fungal pathogens of leaf-cutting ants as biocontrol agents. Current Microbiology 63, 250-258 (IF=1.359; GS=12).
25. Poulsen, M.*, Oh, D.-C.*, Clardy, J., and Currie, C.R. (2011). Chemical analyses of wasp-associated Streptomyces bacteria reveal a prolific potential for natural products discovery. PLoS ONE 6, e16763 (IF=3.534; GS=54). *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
24. Oh, D.-C., Poulsen, M., Currie, J.J., and Clardy, J. (2011). Sceliphrolactam, a polyene macrocyclic lactam from a wasp-associated Streptomyces sp. Organic Letters 13, 752-755 (IF=6.324; GS=36).
23. Cafaro, M., Poulsen, M., Little, A.E.F., Gerardo, N.M., Price, S., Wong, B., Stuart, A.E., Larget, B., Abbot, P., and Currie, C.R. (2011). Specificity in the symbiotic association between fungus-growing ants and protective Pseudonocardia bacteria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 278, 1814-1822 (IF=5.292; GS=58).
22. Abramowski, D., Currie, C.R., and Poulsen, M. (2011). Caste specialization in behavioral defenses against fungus garden parasites in Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutting ants. Insectes Sociaux 58, 65-75 (IF=1.312; GS=15).
21. Gerstner, A., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. (2011). Recruitment of minor workers for defense against a specialized parasite of Atta leaf-cutting ant fungus gardens. Ethology, Ecology and Evolution 23, 61-75 (IF=1.150; GS=7).
20. Poulsen, M. (2010). Biomedical exploitation of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis. Invited review. Drug News and Perspectives 23, 203-210 (IF=3.132; GS=4).
19. Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. (2010). Symbiont interactions in a tripartite mutualism: Exploring the presence and impact of antagonism between two fungus-growing ant mutualists. PLoS ONE 5, e8748 (IF=3.534; GS=23).
18. Poulsen, M., Erhardt, D., Little, A.E.F., Gerardo, N.M., Tebbets, B., Klein, B., and Currie, C.R. (2010). Variation in Pseudonocardia antibiotic defense helps govern parasite-induced morbidity in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Environmental Microbiology Reports 2, 534-540 (IF=3.264; GS=38).
17. Poulsen, M., Fernández-Marin, H., Currie, C.R., and Boomsma, J.J. (2009). Ephemeral windows of opportunity maintain horizontal transmission of fungal symbionts in leaf-cutting ants. Evolution 63, 2235-2247 (IF=4.659; GS=15).
16. Oh, D.-C.*, Poulsen, M.*, Currie, C.R., and Clardy, J. (2009). Dentigerumycin, the bacterially produced molecular mediator of a fungus-growing ant symbiosis. Nature Chemical Biology 5, 391-393 (IF=13.217; GS=180). (Journal Cover) *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
15. Caldera, E., Poulsen, M.*, Suen, G.*, and Currie, C.R. (2009). Insect symbioses – A case study of past, present, and future fungus-growing ant research (invited paper). Environmental Entomology 38, 78-92 (IF=1.424; GS=51). *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
14. Ivens, A.B.F., Nash, D.R., Poulsen, M., and Boomsma, J.J. (2009). Caste-specific symbiont policing by workers of Acromyrmex fungus-growing ants. Behavioral Ecology 20, 378-384 (IF=3.157; GS=18).
13. Richard, F.-J., Poulsen, M., Drifthout, F., Jones, G., and Boomsma, J.J. (2007). Specificity in chemical profiles of workers, brood and mutualistic fungi in Atta, Acromyrmex, and Sericomyrmex fungus-growing ant genera. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33, 2281-2292 (IF=2.239; GS=14).
12. Poulsen, M., Erhardt, D.P., Molinaro, D.J., Lin, T.-L., and Currie, C.R. (2007). Antagonistic bacterial interactions help shape host-symbiont dynamics in the fungus-growing ant-microbe mutualism. PLoS ONE 2, e960 (IF=3.534; GS=33).
11. Zhang, M., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. (2007). Symbiont recognition of mutualistic bacteria by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. The ISME Journal 1, 313-320 (IF=9.302; GS=41).
10. Richard, F.-J.*, Poulsen, M.*, Hefetz, A., Errard, C., Nash, D.R., and Boomsma, J.J. (2007). The origin of chemical profiles of fungal symbionts and their significance for nest-mate recognition in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61, 1637-1649 (IF=3.049; GS=30). *Contributed equally to the manuscript.
9. Poulsen, M., Hughes, W.O.H., and Boomsma, J.J. (2006). Differential resistance and the importance of antibiotic production in Acromyrmex echinatior leaf-cutting ant castes towards the entomopathogenic fungus Aspergillus nomius. Insectes Sociaux 53, 349-355 (IF=1.312; GS=33).
8. Currie, C.R., Poulsen, M., Mendenhall, J., Boomsma, J.J., and Billen, J. (2006). Coevolved crypts and exocrine glands support mutualistic bacteria in fungus-growing ants. Science 311, 81-83 (IF=31.447; GS=189).
7. Poulsen, M., Cafaro, M., Boomsma, J.J., and Currie, C.R. (2005). Specificity of the mutualistic association between actinomycete bacteria and two sympatric species of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Molecular Ecology 14, 3597–3604 (IF=5.840; GS=54).
6. Poulsen, M. and Boomsma, J.J. (2005). Mutualistic fungi control crop diversity in fungus-growing ants. Science 307, 741-744 (IF=31.447; GS=122).
5. Hughes, W.O.H., Petersen, K.S., Ugelvig, L.V., Pedersen, D., Thomsen, L., Poulsen, M., and Boomsma, J.J. (2004). Density-dependence and within-host competition in a semelparous parasite of leaf-cutting ants. BMC Evolutionary Biology 4, 45-56 (IF=3.407; GS=50).
4. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., and Boomsma, J.J. (2003). The effect of metapleural gland secretion on the growth of a mutualistic bacterium on the cuticle of leaf-cutting ants. Naturwissenschaften 90, 406-409 (IF=1.971; GS=28).
3. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Currie, C.R., Nielsen, M.G., and Boomsma, J.J. (2003). Within colony transmission and the cost of a mutualistic bacterium in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. Functional Ecology 17, 260-269 (IF=4.857; GS=49).
2. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Currie, C.R., and Boomsma, J.J. (2002). Mutualistic bacteria and a possible trade-off between alternative defence mechanisms in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Insectes Sociaux 49, 15-19 (IF=1.312; GS=49).
1. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Nielsen, M.G., and Boomsma, J.J. (2002). Experimental evidence for the cost and hygienic significance of the antibiotic metapleural gland secretion in leaf-cutting ants. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 52, 151-157 (IF=3.049; GS=109).

Book chapters    
                                        
Poulsen, M., Little, A.E.F., and Currie, C.R. (2009). Fungus-growing ant-microbe symbiosis: Using microbes to defend beneficial mutualisms within symbiotic communities. In Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis, White, J.F. and Torres, M.S. (eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (No IF; GS=23).
Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. (2006). Complexity of insect-fungal associations: Exploring the influence of microorganisms on the attine ant-fungus symbiosis. In Insect Symbiosis vol. II, Bourtzis, K. and Miller, T. (eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (No IF; GS=25).

Other publications                                    

Poulsen, M. and Sapountzis, P. (2012). Behind every great ant, there is a great gut. Molecular Ecology 21, 2054-2057. Invited Perspectives: News and Views on Anderson et al. (2012). Highly similar microbial communities are shared among related and trophically similar ant species. Molecular Ecology 21, 2282-2296 (IF=5.840; GS=8).
Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. (2009). On ants, plants, and fungi. New Phytologist 182, 785–788. Invited Commentary to Defossez et al. (2009). Ant-plants and fungi: a new threesome symbiosis. New Phytologist 182, 942–949 (IF=6.373; GS=6).
Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. (2006) Ant use of antibiotic-producing bacteria - ancient coevolved fungus-growing ant-actinomycete mutualism. BIO Forum Europe 6, 40-41 (No IF; GS=0).
Poulsen, M., Nash, D.R., and Boomsma, J.J. (2004) Bladskæremyrer – tropernes succesfulde landbrugere (in English: Leaf-cutting ants – the successful farmers of the tropics). Naturens verden 5, 27-35 (No IF; GS=0).

Service as peer-reviewer for journals    

I have since 2004 reviewed >120 manuscripts for the following journals: African Journal of Agricultural Research, African Journal of Microbiology Research, Animal Behaviour, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Axios Review, Biology Letters, Arthropod Structure and Development, Behavioral Ecology, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Biology Letters, BMC Biology, BMC Microbiology, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Current Microbiology, Ecological Entomology, Ecology, Ecology Letters, Environmental Entomology, Environmental Microbiology, Evolution, FEMS Microbiology, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers in Zoology, Fungal Ecology, Genomics, Insectes Sociaux, International Journal of Acarology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Invertebrate Biology, ISME Journal, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Applied Entomology, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal of Insect Physiology, Journal of Wood Science, Marine Drugs, mBio, Microbial Ecology, Molecular Ecology (top reviewer 2014), Myrmecological News, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Microbiology, Naturwissenschaften, PeerJ, Plant and Soil, PLoS ONE, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, Psyche, Scientific Reports, SpringerPlus, and Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment.

Service as peer-reviewer for granting agencies                            

2016            European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant 2016 Call.
2016            Panel member for the Swedish Research Council; Ecology, Systematics and Evolution NT-12.
2016            Fellowship application, LE STUDIUM, Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, Centre-Val de Loire, France.
2016            UK-China AMR Partnership Initiative application, Medical Research Council, UK.
2015            "MOVE-IN Louvain incoming post-doc Fellowships” for The Research Council of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium.
2008, 2010, 2014    National Science Foundation, USA.
2014            The Austrian Science Fund, Austria.
2013            The Icelandic Research Fund, Iceland.
2012             French Research Agency, France.
2012            Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK.

Service as a editorial board member                                

2016    Co-hosted Research topic Microbial community interactions as a source of new therapeutics with Christine Beemelmanns and Victoria Challinor in Frontiers in Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy.
2016    Co-hosted Research topic Biology and evolution of reduced-genome microbes with João Marcelo Alves and Maria Cristina Motta, Frontiers in Microbial Symbiosis.
2015-    Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbial Symbiosis - specialty section of Frontiers in Microbiology and Frontiers in Marine Science.
2013-    Review editor for Frontiers in Microbiology - subsection Systems Microbiology.

Memberships of national and international societies

2015-        On the board of Docent, Dr. Scient. Lauritz Olsons Rejsefond.
2015-        Substitute on the board of The Danish Microbiological Society (DMS).
2014-present    Member, International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
2013-present    Member, American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
2010-present    Member, Danmarks Mikrobiologiske Selskab (The Danish Microbiological Society) (DMS).
2003-present    Member, The North-West European Section of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI).
2003-present    Member, International Symbiosis Society (ISS).

Main collaborators (in alphabetical order)                            

•    Associate Professor Duur Aanen, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Holland.
•    Professor Jacobus J. Boomsma, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
•    Professor Andreas Brune, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
•    Assistant Professor Christine Beemelmanns, International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and
    Biomolecular Interactions, Jena, Germany.
•    Professor Jon Clardy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
•    Professor Cameron Currie, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
•    Associate Professor Wilhelm de Beer, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
•    Professor Judith Korb, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
•    Professor Lene Lange, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
•    Professor Anders Michelsen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
•    Assistant Professor Dong-Chan Oh, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
•    Assistant Professor Bent Petersen, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, DTU Systems Biology, Denmark.
•    Professor Søren Sørensen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
•    Morten Schiøtt, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
•    Assistant Professor Garret Suen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
•    Professor Stephanus Venter, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
•    Professor Mike Wingfield, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
•    Assistant Professor Guojie Zhang, BGI Shenzhen, China and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Presentations (presenting author in bold)                                

Invited talks
43. Poulsen, M. Title to be decided. Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany (28. Nov. 2016).
42. Poulsen, M. Zero waste and no known diseases in fungus farming termites. Mini-symposium on animal-microbe symbiosis. The annual meeting of the German Zoological Society, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany (14-17. Sept. 2016).
41. Poulsen, M. Zero waste and no known diseases in fungus farming termites. Jena Microbial Communication Colloquium (MiCoCo). Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany (27.  Apr. 2016).
40. Poulsen, M. Learning from the leading architects of nature. Copenhagen Architecture Festival, X and Beyond, Copenhagen, Denmark (Mar. 17. 2016).
39. Poulsen, M. Workshop on “how to explain your research to the public”. Annual Conference 2016 of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM), Jena, Germany (Mar. 15. 2016).
38. Otani, S. & Poulsen, M. Microbial community adaptations to fungiculture in termites. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 25, 2015).
37. Hu, H. & Poulsen, M. The genetic potential of antimicrobial ability in fungus-termites symbiosis. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 25, 2015).
36. Da Costa, R.R. & Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptation to decomposition of plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 25, 2015).
35. Poulsen, M. The evolutionary ecology of an ancient farming symbiosis. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 25, 2015).
34. Poulsen, M. Novel insights into biomass decomposition through holobiotic sequencing of an ancient farming symbiosis. Gordon Research Conference on Animal-Microbe Symbioses: Identifying the Common Language of Host-Microbe Associations. Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire, USA (June 21-26, 2015).
33. Poulsen, M. Molecules of biotechnological interest from social insects. 7th Symposium on Applied Microbiology, São Paulo State University – Rio Claro campus, São Paulo, Brazil (May 28, 2015).
31. Poulsen, M. Beyond meta-barcoding in the fungus-farming termite symbiosis. Invited lecture part of Molecular Community Analysis – a PhD course on Ecoinformatics, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 22, 2015).
31. Poulsen, M. The central role of the gut microbiota in fungus-farming termites. Danish Microbiological Society, Annual Assembly, Copenhagen, Denmark (Mar. 26, 2015).
30. Poulsen, M. Thirty million years of farming and pharmacy innovation in fungus-growing termites. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Feb. 12, 2015).
29. Poulsen, M. Integrating next-generation sequencing tools to elucidate complementary roles in an ancient symbiosis between farming termites, their fungal crops, and co-adapted bacteria communities. Mini-symposium on Symbiosis, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark (December 15 2014).
28. Poulsen, M. Ancient insect-fungus-bacteria symbiosis made fungus-growing termites dominant decomposers in the Old World. Seminar course jointly organised by the Doctoral Programmes in Wildlife Biology Research and in Plant Science, Helsinki, Finland (December 11-12, 2014).
27. Poulsen, M. How ancient insect-fungus-bacteria symbiosis made fungus-growing termites dominant decomposers in the Old World. Aarhus University Research on the Anthropocene (AURA) Workshop, Århus, Denmark (October 31, 2014).
26. Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Li, C., Otani, S., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., and Zhang, G. The implications of Termitomyces domestication for gut microbiome function in fungus-growing termites. Department of manufacturing Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (August 21, 2014).
25. Poulsen, M. Exploring an ancient multi-partite fungus-farming symbiosis: the presence and role of gut microbiomes in fungus-growing termites. FEMS Microbiology Congress 2013. Leipzig, Germany (July 21-25, 2013).
24. Poulsen, M. Using genomic tools to explore the role of Termitomyces in association with fungus-growing termites. Network meeting: Secreted proteins in fungal interactions. Uppsala (May 29, 2013).
23. Poulsen, M. Fungus-growing termites. AG Brune Lab Retreat 2013. Felsberg, Germany (May 12-16, 2013).
22. Poulsen, M. Exploring an ancient multi-partite fungus-farming symbiosis using genomic techniques. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Feb. 28, 2013).
21. Poulsen, M. Taking a (meta)genomic approach to explore host-symbiont metabolic complementary in the fungus-growing termite symbioses. Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany (Jan. 31, 2013).
20. Poulsen, M. Genomic analyses suggest metabolic complementary between fungus-growing termites, their mutualistic fungus and termite gut communities. Laboratoire d'Ethologie Experimentale et Comparee, University of Paris 13, France (Jan. 29, 2013).
19. Poulsen, M. Taking a (meta)genomic approach to explore host-symbiont metabolic complementary in the fungus-growing termite symbioses. Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen (Jan. 18, 2013).
18. Poulsen, M. Taking a (meta)genomic approach to explore host-symbiont metabolic complementary in the fungus-growing termite symbioses. Workshop: Host-associated microbiota 2012: The evolution and ecology of microbiota. University of Basel, Switzerland (Sept. 12-14, 2012).
17. Poulsen, M. Genomic analyses suggest metabolic complementary between fungus-growing termites, their mutualistic fungus and termite gut communities. Department seminar, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland (Sept. 12, 2012).
16. Poulsen, M. Genomic analyses suggest metabolic complementary between fungus-growing termites, their mutualistic fungus and termite gut communities. The Metagenomics groups at Center for Biosustainability and Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen (Sept. 6, 2012).
15. Poulsen, M. From ants to termites: Exploring fungus-farming microbiomes. Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany (May. 3, 2012).
14. Poulsen, M. Exploring fungus-farming microbiomes: Bacterial contributions in insect-fungus symbioses. Meeting of the NVvM Section Mycology, Utrecht, Holland (Nov. 25, 2011).
13. Poulsen, M. Fungus-growing ant use of Actinobacteria-derived antibiotics. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands (Nov. 24, 2011).
12. Poulsen, M. Fungus-growing ant use of Actinobacteria-derived antibiotics. University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (Oct. 26, 2011).
11. Poulsen, M., Oh, D.-C., Currie, J.J., and Clardy, J. Chemical analyses of wasp-associated Streptomyces bacteria reveal a prolific potential for natural products discovery. 6th Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecology (APACE) Conference: Chemical Ecology Future: Green Chemoecology in 21st Century. Beijing, China (Oct. 11-15, 2011).
10. Poulsen, M. From ants to termites: Exploring fungus farming microbiomes. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Feb. 16, 2011).
9 Poulsen, M. Microbial interactions shaping insect-fungus symbioses. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 20, 2010).
8. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. International Congress of Entomology (ICE), Durban, South Africa (July 6-12, 2008).
7. Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Ant use of antibiotics in agriculture. International Congress of Entomology (ICE), Durban, South Africa (July 6-12, 2008).
6. Currie, C.R. and Poulsen, M. Ancient agriculture in ants: exploring the complexity of social insect-microbe associations (I gave Cameron Currie’s invited talk because he was not able to attend). International Congress of Entomology (ICE), Durban, South Africa (July 6-12, 2008).
5. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. Biology Department, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2008).
4. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. 6th International Symbiosis Society Congress, Madison, Wisconsin (Aug. 9-15, 2009).
3. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. Departmental seminar, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC (March 24, 2008).
2. Poulsen, M. Ancient use of antibiotics in fungus-growing ants. Department of Bacteriology Annual Retreat, University of Wisconsin, Madison (March 9, 2007).
1. Poulsen, M. Chemical defence by means of gland secretion and mutualistic bacteria in leaf-cutting ants. Zoological Institute, Katholische Universität Leuven, Belgium (Feb. 2003).

Contributed talks
41. Otani, S. and Poulsen, M. The adaptive significance of fungus-growing termite microbiotas to the evolution of fungiculture. Euro-IUSSI 2016, Helsinki, Finland (8.-11. Aug. 2016).
40. da Costa, R.R, Hu, H., Pilgaard, B., Schükel, J., Krešimir Kračun, S., Vreeburg, S., Aanen, D.K., Lange, L., Poulsen, M. Enzyme capacities to decompose plant biomass in microbial symbionts associated with fungus-growing termites. Euro-IUSSI 2016, Helsinki, Finland (8.-11. Aug. 2016).
39. Poulsen, M. Zero waste and no known diseases in fungus farming termites. Euro-IUSSI 2016, Helsinki, Finland (8.-11. Aug. 2016).
38. Otani, S. and Poulsen, M. Microbial community adaptations to fungiculture in termites. the 4th annual PhD day at the Department of Biology (12. Nov. 2015).
37. Otani, S. and Poulsen, M. Disease defence dynamics in fungus-growing termites. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 23, 2015).
36. Conlon, B., de Fine Licht, H.H., Eilenberg, J., and Poulsen, M. Associations between termites and Cordyceps and Podaxis fungi. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 23, 2015).
35. de Verges, J., Sapountzis, P., and Poulsen, M. Do nitrogen-fixing bacteria help fungus-growing termites overcome the limitations of plant-based farming? Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (Jan. 23, 2015).
34. Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Li, C., Otani, S., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., and Zhang, G. The implications of Termitomyces domestication for gut microbiome function in fungus-growing termites. The 15th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, ISME15, Seoul, Korea (August 24-29, 2014).
33. Otani S., Mikaelyan, A., Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Kone, N’G. A., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A. and Poulsen, M. Identifying the core microbial community in the gut of fungus-growing termites. International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) International Congress. Cairns, Australia (July 13-18, 2014).
32. Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Li, C., Otani, S., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., and Zhang, G. The functional implications of Termitomyces domestication on fungus-growing termite gut microbiomes. International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) International Congress. Cairns, Australia (July 13-18, 2014).
31. Otani S., Mikaelyan, A., Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Kone, N’G. A., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A. and Poulsen, M. Identifying the core microbial community in the gut of fungus-growing termites. Danish OIKOS annual meeting 2014, Odense, Denmark (March 14-15, 2014).
30. Poulsen, M. The gut microbiome of fungus-growing termites expresses two orders of magnitude more decomposition genes than the termites or their fungus-garden symbiont. 14th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Lisbon, Portugal (August 19-24, 2013)
29. Poulsen, M., Exploring an ancient multi‐partite fungus‐farming symbiosis: the presence and role of gut microbiomes in fungus‐growing termites. OIKOS-DK Annual Meeting (Mar. 9, 2013).
28. Poulsen, M., Li, C., Hu, H., Nobre, T., Korb, J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Zhang, G., Wang, J. Genomic analyses suggest metabolic complementary between fungus-growing termites, their mutualistic fungus and termite gut communities. 5th Congress of the European Sections of the IUSSI, Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Italy (August 26-30, 2012).
27. Poulsen, M., Li, C., Hu, H., Nobre, T., Korb, J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Zhang, G., Caste-specific microbial gut communities of fungus-growing termites revealed through functional metagenomics. The 14th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, ISME14, Copenhagen, Denmark (August 19-24, 2012).
26. Marsh, S.E., Poulsen, M., Pinto-Tomas, A, Currie, C.R. Symbiont acquisition in leaf-cutter ants. 7th International Symbiosis Society Congress “The earth’s vast symbiosphere”. Krakow, Poland (July 22-28, 2012).
25. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Aylward, F.O., Moeller, J.A., Adams, S.M., Tringe, S.G., Barry, K.W., Malfatti, S., Goodwin, L.A., Aanen, D.K., and Currie, C.R. Fungus-farming microbiomes: Metagenome analyses suggest bacterial contributions to biomass breakdown in fungus-growing termites. 2011 International Social Insect Genomics Research Conference. Shenzhen, China (July 1, 2011).
24. Poulsen, M. Nygaard, S, Schiøtt, M., de Fine Licht, H., Breum Andersen, S., Bruun Jensen, A., and Boomsma, J.J. Genomic approaches in Center for Social Evolution (CSE) studies. Center for Social Evolution Retreat, Gentofte, Denmark (Jan. 28, 2011).
23. Poulsen, M. Genomic approaches to fungus farming: From ants to termites. Center for Social Evolution Follow-Up Meeting. Copenhagen, Denmark (Nov. 25, 2010).
22. Poulsen, M. Microbial interactions shaping insect-fungus symbioses (seminar). Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia (Feb. 1, 2010).
21. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Clifton, S.W., Oh, D.-C., Scott, J.J., Klepzig, K.D., Clardy, J., and Currie, C.R. Genomic and biochemical characterization of Actinobacteria-derived antimicrobials mediating insect-fungal associations. 2009 Ecological Genomics Symposium – genes in ecology, ecology in genes. Kansas City, Missouri (Nov. 13-15, 2009).
20. Poulsen, M. Actinobacterial associations with fungus-growing ants. Evolution 2009 (Annual Meetings of the ASN, SSE, and SSB), Moscow, Idaho (June 11-17, 2009).
19. Oh, D.-C., Scott, J.J., Poulsen, M., Currie, C.R., and Clardy, J. Discovery of new secondary metabolites mediating insect-microorganism symbioses. The 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy / 7th Joint Meeting of AFERP, ASP, GA, PSE, and SIF, Athens, Greece (August 3-8, 2008).
18. Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Ancient antibiotic use in fungus-growing ants. Evolution 2008 (Annual Meetings of the ASN, SSE, and SSB), Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 20-24, 2008).
17. Roland, D., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. Symbiont recognition of mutualistic bacteria by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Plant Pathology 2007 Symbiosis Summer Program Final Symposium, University of Wisconsin, Madison (July 31, 2008).
16. Maynard, J., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. Host-symbiont choice of mutualistic bacteria by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Plant Pathology 2007 Symbiosis Summer Program Final Symposium, University of Wisconsin, Madison (August 1, 2007).
15. Poulsen, M. Fungus-farming in ants. Research Experience for Undergraduates in Microbiology (REU-Microbiology), Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison (July 24, 2007)
14. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. Evolution Seminar Series, University of Wisconsin, Madison (Feb. 1, 2007).
13. Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Microbial conflict shaping the fungus-growing ant mutualism. Holiday Symbiosis Colloquium, University of Wisconsin - Madison (Dec. 18, 2006).
12. Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Ancient use of bacteria for antibiotic-production in fungus-growing ants. International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) International Congress. Washington DC, USA (July 30-Aug. 4, 2006).
11. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms (seminar talk). Monthly Symbiosis meeting. University of Wisconsin - Madison (Sept. 19, 2005).
10. Poulsen, M. Conflict and cooperation in fungus-growing ant mutualisms. Ph.D defense talk at the Dept. of Population Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen (Apr. 15, 2005).
9. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Incompatibility mechanisms of fungus clones cultivated by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Third Annual Meeting of the International School of Biodiversity Sciences (ISOBIS). Århus, Denmark (Jan. 20-21, 2005).
8. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Incompatibility mechanisms of fungus clones cultivated by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. The Closing Symposium of the EU Research Training-Network INSECTS (Integrated Studies of the Economy of Insect Societies), Helsingør, Denmark (Sept. 2-6, 2004).
7. Poulsen, M., Currie, C.R. & Boomsma, J.J. Reproductive conflict in mutualistic interactions involving Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants (seminar talk). Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA (Dec. 16, 2003).
6. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Incompatibility mechanisms of fungus clones cultivated by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. 4th International Symbiosis Society Congress. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Aug. 17-23, 2003).
5. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Incompatibility mechanisms of fungus clones cultivated by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Ninth Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Leeds, England (Aug. 17-23, 2003).
4. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Chemical defence by means of gland secretion and mutualistic bacteria in leaf-cutting ants. First Annual Meeting of the International School of Biodiversity Sciences (ISOBIS). Sandbjerg, Denmark (Dec. 5-6, 2002).
3. Poulsen, M. Chemical defence by means of gland secretion and mutualistic bacteria in leaf-cutting ants (seminar talk). Dept. of Population Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen (Nov. 2002).
2. Poulsen, M. & Boomsma, J.J. Chemical defence by means of gland secretion and mutualistic bacteria in leaf-cutting ants. XIV International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI). Sapporo, Japan (Jul. 27-Aug. 3, 2002).
1. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Nielsen, M.G. & Boomsma, J.J. Experimental evidence for the costs and hygienic significance of the antibiotic metapleural gland secretion in leaf-cutting ants. Second European Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI). Berlin, Germany (Sept. 25-29, 2001).

Poster presentations
49. Hu, H., Challinor, V.L., Otani, S., Kreuzenbeck, N., Beemelmanns, C., and Poulsen, M. Antimicrobial potential of the fungus-growing termite symbiosis. Euro-IUSSI 2016, Helsinki, Finland (Aug. 8.-11. 2016).
48. Poulsen, M. Zero waste and no known diseases in fungus farming termites. Annual Conference 2016 of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM), Jena, Germany (Mar. 13-16. 2016).
47. Benndorf, R., Sommerwerk, E., Weigel, C., Otani, S, Poulsen, M., and Beemelmanns, C. Functional analysis of symbiotic and associated microbes of fungus-growing termites. Annual Conference 2016 of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM), Jena, Germany (Mar. 13-16. 2016).
46. Guo, H., N. Kreuzenbeck, Otani, S., Weigel, C., Poulsen, M, and Beemelmanns, C. Functional and chemical analysis of fungal symbionts and antagonists of fungus-growing termites. Annual Conference 2016 of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM), Jena, Germany (Mar. 13-16. 2016).
45. Haofu, H. and Poulsen, M. The shift to a fungal diet in fungus-growing termites led to a fungilytic gut bacteria community. The 4th annual PhD day at the Department of Biology (Nov. 12. 2015).
44. Otani, S. and Poulsen, M. Stability and variation in the gut and fungus comb microbial communities in fungus-growing termites. Danish Microbiological Society Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (Nov. 9, 2015).
43. da Costa, R. and Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptations to decomposing plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts (poster and flash talk). Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (Oct. 2, 2015).
42. Conlon, B., de Beer, Z.W., de Fine Licht, H., Aanen, D.K., and Poulsen, M. Associations between termites and Cordyceps and Podaxis fungi (poster and flash talk). Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (Oct. 2, 2015).
41. de Verges, J., Sapountzis, P., Rousk, K., Du Plessis, M., Vorster, B.J., and Poulsen, M. Do nitrogen-fixing bacteria help fungus-growing termites overcome the nitrogen limitations of plant-based farming? (poster and flash talk). Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (Oct. 2, 2015).
40. Otani, S. and Poulsen, M. Stability and variation in the gut and fungus comb microbial communities in fungus-growing termites. XVth Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Lausanne, Switzerland (Aug. 10-14, 2015).
39. da Costa, R.R. and Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptations to decomposition of plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts. XVth Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Lausanne, Switzerland (Aug. 10-14, 2015).
38. Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Li, C., Otani, S., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., and Zhang, G. The implications of Termitomyces domestication for gut microbiota function in fungus-growing termites. XVth Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Lausanne, Switzerland (Aug. 10-14, 2015).
37. Beemelmanns, C., Benndorf, R, Otani, S, and Poulsen, M. Interkingdom communication – a rich source of new natural products (poster and short presentation). 27th Irseer Naturstofftage 2015, Kloster Irsee, Germany (25.-27. Feb 2015).
36. da Costa, R. and Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptations to decomposing plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts. PhD Day 2014, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen (November 13, 2014).
35. Conlon, B. de Fine Licht, H., and Poulsen, M. Associations between termites and Cordyceps and Podaxis fungi (poster and flash talk). Danish Microbiological Society Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (November 10, 2014).
34. de Verges, J., Sapountzis, P., and Poulsen, M. Do nitrogen-fixing bacteria help fungus-growing termites overcome the nitrogen limitations of plant-based farming? (poster and flash talk). Danish Microbiological Society Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (November 10, 2014).
33. da Costa, R. and Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptations to decomposing plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts. Danish Microbiological Society Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark (November 10, 2014).
32. Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A, Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Koné N’G. A., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A., and Poulsen, M. Fungus-growing termite microbiotas: do core communities exist in termite guts or fungus combs? Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (October 3, 2014).
31. Conlon, B. de Fine Licht, H., and Poulsen, M. Associations between termites and Cordyceps and Podaxis fungi. Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (October 3, 2014).
30. de Verges, J., Sapountzis, P. Do nitrogen-fixing bacteria help fungus-growing termites overcome the nitrogen limitations of plant-based farming? (poster and flash talk). Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium (October 3, 2014).
29. da Costa, R. and Poulsen, M. Metabolic adaptations to decomposing plant biomass in fungus-growing termite symbionts. Copenhagen Microbiology Center Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (October 3, 2014).
28. Poulsen, M., Hu, H., Boomsma, J.J., and Guojie Zhang. Complementary symbiont contributions to plant decomposition in a fungus-farming termite. The 9th International Congress of Genomics, Shenzhen, China (Sept. 9-12, 2014).
27. Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A, Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Koné N’G. A., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A., and Poulsen, M. Fungus-growing termite microbiotas: do core communities exist in termite guts or fungus combs? The 15th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, ISME15, Seoul, Korea (August 24-29, 2014).
26. Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A, Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A., and Poulsen, M. Culture-independent characterisation of the core gut microbiome of fungus-growing termites. Danish Microbiological Society Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (November 18, 2013).
25. Otani, S., Mikaelyan, A, Nobre, T., Hansen, L.H., Sørensen, S.J., Aanen, D.K., Boomsma, J.J., Brune, A., and Poulsen, M., Culture-independent characterisation of the core gut microbiome of fungus-growing termites. XIV Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Lisbon, Portugal (Aug. 19-24, 2013).
24. Poulsen, M., Sapountzis, P., Liberti, J., Otani, S, Adams, R.M.M., Schiøtt, M. and Boomsma, J.J. Exploring the roles of microbiomes in the guts of fungus-farming social insects (poster & 5 min flash talk). Danish Microbiological Society Annual Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark (November 5, 2012).
23. Poulsen, M., Sapountzis, P., Liberti, J., Otani, S, Adams, R.M.M., Schiøtt, M. and Boomsma, J.J. Exploring the roles of microbiomes in the guts of fungus-farming social insects. Copenhagen Microbiology Center Symposium 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark (October 5, 2012).
22. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Aylward, F.O., Moeller, J.A., Adams, S.M., Tringe, S.G., Barry, K.W., Malfatti, S., Goodwin, L.A., Aanen, D.K., and Currie, C.R. Metagenome analyses suggest bacterial contributions to biomass breakdown in fungus-farming insects. 2011 Symposium ved Danmarks Mikrobiologiske Selskab, Copenhagen (Nov. 7, 2011).
21. Estevez, J. and Poulsen, M. (2011). Draft genome of Trabulsiella odontotermitis, a putative symbiont of fungus-growing termites. University of Puget Sound Fall 2011 Research Symposium. Tacoma, Washington (Sept. 18, 2011).
20. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Aylward, F.O., Moeller, J.A., Adams, S.M., Tringe, S.G., Barry, K.W., Malfatti, S., Goodwin, L.A., Aanen, D.K., and Currie, C.R. Fungus-farming microbiomes: Metagenome analyses suggests bacterial contributions to biomass breakdown in fungus-growing termites. 13th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology. Tübingen, Germany (Aug. 20-25, 2011).
19. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Adams, S., Aanen, D.K., de Beer, W., Tringe, S.G., Barry, K., Goodwin, L.A., and Currie, C.R. Exploring potentially novel symbioses between fungus-growing termites and ligno-cellulose degrading bacteria. XVI Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI), Copenhagen, Denmark (Aug. 8-14, 2010).
18. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Oh, D.-C., Zhou, S., Clifton, S.W., Schwartz, D.C., Thomas, M.G., Clardy, J., and Currie C.R. Structural, genomic, and ecological characterization of Dentigerumycin, a small molecule from Actinobacteria associated with fungus-growing ants. Perlman Symposium on Antibiotic Discovery and Development. Madison, Wisconsin (Apr. 23, 2010).
17. Poulsen, M., Suen, G., Adams, S.M., Aanen D.K., de Beer, W., Tringe, S.G., Barry, K., Goodwin, L.A., and Currie C.R. Bioprospecting for bacteria with ligno-cellulolytic potential from fungus-growing termites. 5th Annual DOE Joint Genome Institute Meeting: Genomics of Energy and Environment. Walnut Creek, California (Mar. 24-26, 2010).
16. Gorosito N.B., Poulsen, M., Currie, C.R. and Folgarait, P.J. Evaluating the contribution of antibiotic-producing bacterial symbionts of leaf-cutting ants in defense against general entomopathogenic fungi. VI Congreso Argentina de Microbiología General. Córdoba, Argentina (21-23. Oct. 2009).
15. Marsh, S., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. Evaluating bacterial stability in the leaf-cutter ant symbiosis, 6th International Symbiosis Society Congress, Madison, Wisconsin (Aug. 9-15, 2009).
14. Abramowski, D., Poulsen, M., and Currie, C.R. Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutter worker castes differ in contribution to defense against parasites. Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship Symposium (May 2009).
13. Poulsen, M., Steffensen, R.A., Adams, S., and Currie, C.R. The evolution of complex relationships: Fungus farming and pharmacy in fungus-growing ants (poster and display). Evolution matters: A celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin. University of Wisconsin, Madison (Feb. 7, 2009).
12. Adams, S., Steffensen R.A., Poulsen, M., Suen, G, Adams, A., and Currie, C.R. Cellulose-degrading actinobacteria associated with insects. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Retreat, Wisconsin Dells, WI (Oct. 15-18, 2008).
11. Oh, D.-C., Scott, J., Poulsen, M., Currie, C.R., and Clardy, J. Identification of bacterially-produced small molecules that mediate insect-fungal associations. ASM 108th General Meeting, Boston MA (June 1-5, 2008).
10. Pahnke, B.P., Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Examining actinomycete association with social and solitary wasps. Introductory Biology 151-152 Independent Project Poster Session, UW-Madison (May 6, 2008).
9. Poulsen, M. Erhardt, D.P., and Currie, C.R. Evaluating host-symbiont conflict in the fungus-growing ant-bacterium mutualism. Microbial Doctorate Training Programme (MDTP) Recruiter Poster Session, UW-Madison (February 29, 2008).
8. Poulsen, M. Erhardt, D.P., and Currie, C.R. Evaluating host-symbiont conflict in the fungus-growing ant-bacterium mutualism. Kenneth B. Raper Symposium on Microbial Research at UW-Madison (August 31, 2007).
7. Poulsen, M. Erhardt, D.P., and Currie, C.R. Evaluating host-symbiont conflict in the fungus-growing ant-bacterium mutualism. ASM 107th General Meeting, Toronto, Canada (May 21-25, 2007).
6. Abramowski, D., Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Evaluating the contribution to defense against specialized parasites by two worker castes of Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutting ants. Introductory Biology 151-152 Independent Project Poster Session, UW-Madison (May 6, 2007).
5. Currie, C.R., Caldera, E., and Poulsen, M. The evolution of complex relationships: Fungus farming and pharmacy in fungus-growing ants (poster and display). Evolution matters: A celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin. University of Wisconsin, Madison (Feb. 10, 2007).
4. Erhardt, D.P., Poulsen, M. and Currie, C.R. Examining microbial conflict in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ant symbiosis. Introductory Biology 151-152 Independent Project Poster Session, UW-Madison (May 6, 2006).
3. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Currie, C.R., & Boomsma, J.J. Task specialisation in chemical defence mechanisms in leaf-cutting ants. 4th International Symbiosis Society Congress. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Aug. 17-23, 2003).
2. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Currie, C.R., & Boomsma, J.J. Task specialisation in chemical defence mechanisms in leaf-cutting ants. Midterm Review Meeting of the EU Research-Training Network INSECTS. Laufen, Germany (Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2003).
1. Poulsen, M., Bot, A.N.M., Nielsen, M.G. & Boomsma, J.J. Costs and benefits of an antibiotic defence in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. Eight Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Aarhus, Denmark (Aug. 20-25, 2001).

Training in teaching                                        

2016        Faglig vejleder (professional advisor) for Asst. Prof. Guojie Zhang on his Adjunktpædagogikum teaching certification.
2012-2013     Adjunktpædagogikum (Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Programme for Assistant Professors and Postdocs), University of Copenhagen, Adjunktpædagogikum.
2012        Introduction to University Pedagogy, University of Copenhagen, Introduction to University Pedagogy.
2011        Supervision of PhD Students, University of Copenhagen, PhD supervision.
2006, 2007    Entering mentoring, Wisconsin Program for Scientific Teaching, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Entering Mentoring.

Undergraduate supervision
                                    
2016-2017        MSc student Anna Vejlin on the 60 ECTS project Targeted screening for antibiotic-producing bacteria associated with fungus-growing termites, co-supervised by Dr. Victoria Challinor, University of Copenhagen.
2016            BSc student Anna Fomsgaard bachelor project (15 ECTS) Gut bacteria in leaf-cutting ants, co-supervised by Dr. Panagiotis Sapountzis and Dr. Morten Schiøtt, University of Copenhagen.
2016            BSc student Theis Jacobsen bachelor project (15 ECTS) Stability of leaf-cutting ant fecal fluid enzymes, co-supervised by Dr. Morten Schiøtt, University of Copenhagen.
2016            BSc students Frida Carlsen and Gustav B. Pedersen on the 15 ECTS independent project Characterization of royal pair gut microbiota in fungus-farming termites, University of Copenhagen.
2016            Visiting student Alexandra Pyatnitskaya (AgroParisTech) on the project Exploration of chemical compounds involved in interactions between hosts and symbionts in fungus-growing termites, University of Copenhagen.
2016            Visiting Erasmus student Callum Richards (Imperial College London) on the project The role of diet on the composition of gut microbiota, University of     Copenhagen.    
2016            BSc student Stephen Nielsson-Møller bachelor project (15 ECTS) Ant caste  specificities in behavioral defences against parasites co-supervised by Dr. Tabitha Innocent, University of Copenhagen.
2015-2016        MSc student Kristine Sydow Krogh Pedersen on the 45 ECTS project Foraging behaviour in fungus-growing termites, University of Copenhagen.
2016            Visiting Erasmus student Jayalal Kalathilparambil Jayanthan (University of     Skövde) on the project Characterization of royal pair gut microbiota in fungus-farming termites, University of Copenhagen.    
2015            BSc student Stephen Nielsson-Møller on the 15 ECTS independent project Behavioural defences against specialised parasites in ants co-supervised by Dr.     Tabitha Innocent, University of Copenhagen.
2015            MSc student Philip Craddock on the 45 ECTS project Long-term health effects of antibiotic use, University of Copenhagen. Co-supervised by Dr. Sean Byars, The University of Melbourne.
2014-2015        MSc student Jane de Verges on the 60 ECTS project Do nitrogen-fixing bacteria help fungus-growing termites overcome the nitrogen limitations of plant-based farming? University of Copenhagen.
2014-2015        MSc student Ben Conlon on the 60 ECTS project Associations between termites and Cordyceps and Podaxis fungi, University of Copenhagen. Co-supervised by Henrik de Fine Licht, University of Copenhagen.
2013-2014        MSc student Saria Otani on the project Microbial ecology of fungus-growing termite microbiomes, University of Copenhagen.
2005-2010             At University of Wisconsin-Madison, I supervised 10 BSc-level independent projects and managed eight BSc-level students in paid positions.
2002-2005            During my PhD, I supervised five MSc-level independent projects, University of Copenhagen.

Teaching experience
                                    
2016            Contributing teacher to the course Mycology, led by R. Kjøller, A. Bruun Jensen and S. Rosendahl, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2015            Guest Lecture and discussions, Bacterial symbionts in social insects, Advanced Bacteriology 2 led by A. Prieme, Department of Biology, University of     Copenhagen.
2015            Contributing teacher to the course Organismernes Diversitet, led by A.L. Garm, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2015            Contributing teacher to the course Advanced Ecology, led by H.H. Kehlet Bruun, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2014            Guest Lecture, Ancient associations and functional roles of fungus-growing     insect-associated bacteria, Advanced Bacteriology, Department of Biology,     University of Copenhagen.
2014, 2015, 2016    Contributing teacher to the course Mycology, led by R. Kjøller, A. Bruun Jensen and S. Rosendahl, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2011-present        One of three main teachers of the 7.5 ECTS MSc course in Genomic Approaches for Non-model Organisms, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of     Copenhagen.
2011-present        One of three main teachers of the annual 7.5 ECTS MSc course in Evolutionary Ecology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen.
2011-2014        Teacher in the course Seminars in Ecology and Evolution, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen.
2008, 2009, 2010    Guest lectures on Cooperation, as part of Bacteriology 450: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms, taught by Dr. Cameron R. Currie, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2009            Guest lecture on Community Ecology, part of General Ecology/Botany/Zoology/ Forest Ecology 460, by Dr. Robert Bohanan, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2003, 2004        Instructor, Theoretical Exercises in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Copenhagen.
2002, 2004        Instructor, Terrestrial Biological Summer Course, University of Copenhagen.
2002, 2004        Instructor, Exercises in Population Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2003            Guest teacher at Advanced Seminars in Evolutionary Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Curriculum development and course responsibilities                        

2015        Contributing teacher to the course Advanced Ecology (MSc level course).
2011-2015        Curriculum development Evolutionary Ecology (MSc level course).
2011-2015        Curriculum development Genomic approaches in non-model organisms (MSc     level course).
2012-2015         Course responsible for the annual 7.5 ECTS MSc course Evolutionary Ecology     (MSc level course).
2011-2012        Course responsible for Genomic approaches in non-model organisms (MSc     level course).
2011-2014        Course responsible for Seminars in Ecology and Evolution (MSc level course).

Supervision of PhD students and postdocs

2017-2019     Antimicrobial defences against putative antagonists of fungus-farming termites (Postdoc).
2016        Co-supervision of PhD student Birgitte Hollegaard on the last part of her PhD thesis in evolutionary medicine, and on her research assistantship.
2016-2017     Dr. Victoria Challinor, Metabolomics of fungus-growing termite guts (Postdoc).
2015-2018     Haofu Hu, Antimicrobial compounds from fungus-growing termite guts (PhD).
2014-2017    Rafael Rodrigues de Costa, Specific adaptations to decomposing plant components in the fungi and gut bacteria associated with fungus-growing termites (PhD).
2014-2017    Saria Otani, Disease-defence dynamics in fungus farming termites (PhD).

Service as an examiner (excluding independent projects that I supervised)        
                            
Nov. 2015    Assessment of 17 written assays and corrections of 35 multiple-choice exams in Evolutionary Ecology, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
April 2015    Assessment of two written re-exams in Principles in Genomic Studies, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
Nov. 2014    Assessment of twenty-two written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Ecology, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
June 2014    Independent project, Vincent Biard, 7.5 ECTS.
January 2014    Assessment of 9 written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Genomic Approaches for Non-Model Organisms, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
Nov. 2013    Assessment of thirteen written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Ecology, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
Nov. 2012    Assessment of eleven written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Ecology, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
June 2012    Oral examination on the basis of the submitted project reports for three students at the graduate level, who performed Biological Research Projects, University of Copenhagen, 7.5 ECTS.
January 2012    Assessment of seven written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Genomic Approaches for Non-Model Organisms, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
Nov. 2011    Assessment of nine written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Ecology, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.

Service as an external examiner
June 2015     Assessment of six portfolios followed by oral exams (25 min) in Tropical Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, 15 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
June 2015    Independent project, Anna Fomsgaard, Supervisor Morten Schiøtt, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
June 2014    Independent project, Simone Gustafsson, Supervisor Torben Dabelsteen, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
January 2014    Virksomhedsprojekt, Caroline Buch, Supervisor Torben Dabelsteen, 15 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
July 2013    MSc defence, candidate Paul Kroer, Aarhus University.
May 2013    Part A PhD exam evaluation, candidate Flavia Viana, Aarhus University.
April 2013    Assessment of twelve written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Medicine, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
April 2013    MSc evaluation for candidate Zander Human, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
April 2012    Assessment of nine written assays followed by oral exams (25 min) in Evolutionary Medicine, 7.5 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.
July 2011    Assessment of four reports followed by oral exams (25 min) in Tropical Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, 15 ECTS, University of Copenhagen.

Departmental duties
                                
2016-2019    Member of the Strategic Research Committee (Strategisk Forskningsudvalg), Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Dec. 2015    Chair of the evaluation committee for PhD thesis by candidate Christina Lehmkuhl Noer, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Sep. 2015-    Member of the Communication Committee (Kommunikationsudvalg), Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Jul. 2015    Chair of the evaluation committee for PhD thesis by candidate Guilin Robin Ren, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Apr. 2015    Planning committee member for the 2015 Annual Department of Biology Retreat (154 participants).
Apr. 2015    Evaluations of PhD applications for full stipends at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
Mar. 2015    Chair of the evaluation committee for PhD thesis by candidate Andreas Kelager, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.
2011        Co-organizer with Louise Lee Munk Larsen and Jes Søe Pedersen of a two-day retreat for the Center for Social Evolution (University of Copenhagen).
2010-        Coordinator for the weekly seminar series at the Section for Ecology and Evolution.

Public dissemination
2016    Interview to Ida Møller Jensen, Thyregod Skole, on climate change.
2016    Interview to 9th grade students from Nørrebro Park Skole on evolution and religion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cMzOvEiFJk&app=desktop.
2015    Interview to Danish public radio on the use of epigenetics:  
    http://www.dr.dk/radio/ondemand/p1/videnskabens-verden-2015-12-22#!/.
2015    Interview for an educational movie for Danish high school students on nature as an inspiration for human societies, produced by AlphaFilm & Kommunikation ApS.
2015    Co-producer of the termite movie “Termite fungiculture – a hidden treasure trove, together with Asst. Prof. Christine Beemelmanns, International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tWKwQ1yCuo).
2015    Interview to ScienceNews.
2014    Consultant for fungus-growing ant video footage for Rasmus Jessen, film- og tv-teknikerstuderende at Københavns Tekniske Skole.
2014    Interviews to German public radio (Deutschlandfunk) and Videnskab.dk after the publication of Poulsen et al. PNAS 2014.
2013    Interviews to Strib skole on Evolution, to Videnskab.dk on exploding insects, and to The Scientist after the publication of the fungus-growing ant symbiont fungus genome by Aylward et al. (2013). Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79, 3770-3778.
2010    Interview to Politiken (Danish national newspaper) on kin structure and the application of genomic tools for studying social evolution.
2010    Scientific consultant for production company Ammonite during the filming of a documentary on Atta cephalotes leaf-cutting ants for National Geographic Channel.
2010    Contributed photos to Discovery Channel, Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 10th edition, and KQED/Northern California Public Broadcasting.
2010    Interview to Politiken (Danish national newspaper) on symbioses as evolutionary innovation and to Science Now.
2009    Interviews to Ingeniøren (Danish Labor Union Magazine for Engineers) and Grow Magazine (University of Wisconsin-Madison) after the publication of Oh et al. 2009 (Nature Chemical Biology).

Selected other scientific contributions                    

2015        Judge of PhD student posters, flash talks, and talks at the 4th annual PhD day at the Department of Biology (12. Nov. 2015).
2010        Symposium organizer, 16th Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI), Copenhagen, with Dr. Henrik H. de Fine Licht, University of Copenhagen.
2009        Contributed jacket cover photo of The Symbiotic Habit (Amazon.com The Symbiotic Habit) by A.E. Douglas.
2008-2009    Planning Committee, Darwin Day 2009: Celebrating the birth of Charles Darwin, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2006        Symposium organizer, 15th Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI), Washington DC, with Associate Professor Duur K. Aanen, Wageningen University.