Current research

Current projects

My research is addressing the ecology of fungi in general and mycorrhizal fungi in particular often applying molecular markers to study these in the environment (within plant tissues and soil). Below specific current projects are presented.

Primary succession, dispersal limitation and life-history strategies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Primary succession, dispersal limitation and life-history strategies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are studied on the artificial island Peberholm, on small appearing sandy islands along the Danush cost as well as in classic sand dune successional systems south of Copenhagen.  See paper from 2016 by Nielsen et al. Colonization of new land by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Fungal Ecology 20: 22-29. Project are in in collaboration with Alvaro Lopez Garcia (carrying a Marie Currie grant), Søren Rosendahl and Hans Henrik Bruun all at Dept. Biology.

Foliar pathogen populations and biology
The infection biology, phenotypic traits, fungicide resistance and population genetics of the two foliar potato pathogens Phytopthora infestans and Alternaria solani are studied in collaboration with Søren Rosendahl (Dept. Biology) and Bent Nielsen (AU, Flakkebjerg). See recent publication: Population genetics of Phytophthora infestans in Denmark reveals dominantly clonal populations and specific alleles linked to metalaxyl-M resistance by Montes et al. Plant Pathology 65: 744-753.

BIOWIDE – Biodiversity in width and depth, DNAnmark and SoilTracker
In these projects we aim to establish the total eukaryotic biodiversity of Danish terrestrial habitats across the widest nutritional, water and disturbance gradients. eDNA approaches using groups specific primers are backed up by traditional inventories. Many participants are involved in the projects which is led by Rasmus Ejrnæs (AU, Bioscience) and Tom Gilber respectively. Important collaborators are Tobias Frøslev, Susana Santos and Hans Henrik Bruun (Dept. Biology) and Anders J Hansen (Center of GeoGenetics). BIOWIDE is funded by the Villum foundation and DNAnmark by Aage V Jensen. In SoilTracker we we wish to use these same eDNA biodiversity assessments to match soil samples from criminal investigations. SoilTracker is coordinated by Anders J Hansen (Center of GeoGenetics) and funded by the Innovation foundation.

ASHBACK – recycling biomass ash to forest and field
In ASHBACK we explore if biomass ash from power plants can be recycled to forests and field. We study potential liming and heavy metal effects on single key species, on food web structure and ecosystem functions. See homepage for recent publications. ASHBACK is funded by the Innovation foundation and led by Søren Christensen (Dept. Biology).

Fungal molecular ecology and mapping of traits on the fungal tree of life
Fungal molecular ecology is coordinated within the Baltic-Scandinavian area within the NEFOM network sponsored by SNS/EFINORD. A recent activity is the mapping of traits on the fungal tree of life. NEFOM is currently led by Karina Clemmensen (SLU, Uppsala).

CV

Work
Section of Terrestrial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Personal
Born in Copenhagen 1970, Danish citizen
Married to Bine Kjøller Bjerregaard. Three children, Nikolaj, Mikkeline and Linnea

Career
2006-                  Associate Professor at Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen

2003-2005         Assistant Professor at Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen

2001-2003         Post doc. at Botanical Institute, University of Copenhagen. Funded by the Carlsberg Foundation

1999–2000        Post doc. in Thomas D. Bruns laboratory at University of California – Berkeley, USA.  Funded by the Danish Research Council

1998                    Received the PhD degree in Botany based on the thesis: Detection and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their interaction with the root pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches

1995-1998         PhD student. Funded by the Danish Environmental Agency

1995                                                 MS in Biology from University of Copenhagen

1989                                                 Matriculated at University of Copenhagen

Project links

NEFOM - North European Mycology network

ASHBACK – Wood ash to forest and fields

BIOWIDE – Mapping all biodiversity in Denmark

BIOLINK – Linking biodiversity & function in forests

Personal grants or grant holder

2013-2016         North European Forest Mycologists (NEFOM) – a research network in Scandinavia/N Europe. SNS/EFINORD, EUR 42.000,-

2015                    Microbial Community Ecology – a PhD course. Faculty of Science, UCPH, DKK 70.000,-

2013                    Upgrading the molecular lab at Terrestrial Ecology - funding for new equipment. Carlsbergfondet, DKK 200.000,-

2007-2009         Total diversity and changes in microbial communities as influenced by “global change”. Carlsbergfondet, DKK 400.000,-

2006-2009         Ectomycorrhizal fungi - nitrogen and mycelial networks. Carlsbergfondet, DKK 100.000,-

2007                    The effect of liming on ectomycorrhizal communities on spruce forests in Southern Sweden. Skogstyrelsen, SEK 406.250,-

2004-2006         Functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities. The Danish National Science Foundation, 234.000 DKK

2001-2003         CO-existence and niche differentiation of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The Carlsberg Foundation 1.431.663 DKK

1999-2000         Genetic diversification of ectomycorrhizal fungi: the impact of geographic isolation and host tree specificity. The Danish National Science Foundation, 310.657 DKK

Active funding/co-applicant

2017-2020         Co-applicant: DNAnmark - Udvikling af miljø-DNA som værktøj til dansk naturbeskyttelse. Aage V. Jensen Naturfond, DKK 11.712.209 (grant holder, Tom Gilbert)

2017-2020         Co-applicant: SoilTracker - Forensic toolkit for fingerprinting soil. Innovation Fund Denmark, DKK 12.900.000 (grant holder, Anders Johannes Hansen)

2015-2018         Co-applicant: Optimization of microbial consortia for RICE culturing with a genetic algorithm - OP-RICE-ING. DFF, DKK 4.000.000 (grant holder, Flemming Ekelund)

2014-2018         Co-applicant: Biodiversity in width and depth BIOWIDE. Villum Foundation: DKK 12.646.600 (grant holder, Rasmus Ejrnæs).

2013-2018         Co-applicant: Ash from bio-fuel in energy plants back to the forest and field; eco-toxicological consequences. DSF, DKK 20.685.800 (grant holder, Søren Christensen)

Past funding/co-applicant

2013-2015         Co-applicant: Early warning of potota lite-blight attacs with genetic markers (BioMark). Danish Environmental Protegency Agency, DKK 2.737.470,- (grant holder, Søren Rosendahl)

2011-2013         Co-applicant: Influence of plant-microbial interactions and climate on plant performance and ecosystem C and N pools (grant holder, Anders Michelsen). FNU, DKK 748.800,-

2011-2013         Co-applicant: Primary succession and colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Peberholm – an artificial island in the straight between Denmark and Sweden (grant holder, Søren Rosendahl). Carlsbergfondet, DKK 250.000,-

2008-2011         Main applicant and in management committee for the Nordforsk research network “Fungi in boreal forest soils” with emphasis on implementation of next-generation sequencing technologies for fungal ecology research. Our network includes 15 research groups in North Europe. NOK 900.000,-

Administration and special tasks

2017-2019         Member of the study board for the bachelor and master educations in Biology at University of Copenhagen. 

2013-2016         Served in the departmental strategic research committee. The committee provides ad hoc advice to the department regarding research priorities and organizes workshops to increase cross disciplinary/organizational collaborations.    

2007-                  Serves as supervisor for Adjuncts/post docs at Science Faculty while taking their university pedagogic education, typically 4-6 supervisions per year.

2007-2012         Head of the Terrestrial Ecology Section at Dept. Biology. The section included 7 Faculty staff members and in total, including post docs, PhDs and students about 50 people

Current and recent participation in larger networking activities

2015-2018         In the organizing committee for ICOM9 – the 9th international conference on mycorrhiza

2014-2017         Management Committee member of the COST Action: FP1305, BioLink: Linking belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests.

2013-2016         Applicant and network coordinator for North European Forest Mycologists (NEFOM) – a SNS/EFINORD research network in Scandinavia/N Europe.

2009-2013         Participated in the COST action FP0803: Belowground carbon turnover in European forests – Danish representative for the WG2: Mycorrhizal mycelia biomass and turnover.

Teaching

Since 1996 I have been involved in all stages of university teaching including bachelor, graduate and PhD courses and supervision of students. My formal University Pedagogy education through the obligatory teaching course University Pedagogy and Didactics was approved in 2005 by the Faculty of Science.

I have organized PhD courses in 2016 (Microbial Community Analysis) and 2007 (From Environmental Sample to DNA Sequences) both the 20-25 students.

Evaluation commissions

In the evaluation board for PhD exams at University of Aarhus University (2012 and 2017), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan (2016), Lund University (2008 and 2013), University of Copenhagen (2013), Oslo University (2012), University of Tartu  (2013), Inspruck Univeristy (2008), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) (2005)

Evaluated research applications for the Research Councils or other research bodies of: Netherlands (2015, 2012 and 2010), SNS/EFINORD (2014), Estonia (2011) and Norway (2004)

Referee commissions

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek International Journal, Applied Soil Ecology, Ecography, Ecology, FEMS journals, Forest Ecology and Management, Fungal Ecology, International Journal of Phytoremediation, ISME Journal, Journal of Ecology, Journal of Forestry, Microbial Ecology, Molecular Ecology, Mycological Research, Mycorrhiza, New Phytologist, Plant & Soil, PLoS ONE