Research in the Amtmann Group uses a wide range of techniques:

• Molecular biology and genetics
• High-throughput phenotyping
• Genome-wide association mapping
• RNA sequencing
• ChIP sequencing
• Fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy

We work on model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, Synechococcus sp. PCC7002, but also study several crop species and unusual cyanobacterial strains, as well as extremophiles.

Our research falls into two main areas:

• Food security
• Green biotechnology

Food security

One of the major challenges for mankind in this century is to provide enough food for a rapidly expanding world population while preserving the natural resources of our planet. This challenge is further exacerbated by the impact of climate change on our crops and ecosystems. Future increase in crop production requires pushing the boundaries of current agriculture on two fronts.

• Increase the yield on the existing arable land, which is limited by the financial and ecological costs of irrigation, fertilization, and pest/disease control.
• Expand arable land surface, which is limited by soil degradation in the form of nutrient depletion, water scarcity and salinity.

To ensure rapid progress plant scientists must work closely together with breeders and ecologists. The contribution of our laboratory to global food security is to provide a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms in plants that underpin:

• Nutrient and water usage efficiency
• Salt and drought tolerance
• Interaction of abiotic and biotic stress

Green biotechnology

Many products that are essential to human life rely on industrial processes with  high carbon and water footprints. Industrial biotechnology based on photosynthetic organisms has the potential to alleviate the impacts of industry on climate and environment. Ancient strains of cyanobacteria were the first to tap into the energy from sunlight to transform CO₂ into organics products – while generating large amounts of oxygen that sparked the evolution of animals and humans. Since then, cyanobacteria have adapted to every niche of our planet aided by a plethora of secondary metabolites with protective and life-supporting properties.  Many of these have beneficial applications in industrial sectors including:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Nutraceuticals
• Food
• Cosmetics
• Manufacturing
• Packaging

We explore this natural treasure trove to develop sustainable photosynthesis-based sources of new green bioproducts. Including:

• Pigments
• Bioplastics

This research is carried out in collaboration with Industrial partners. We are always open for innovative ideas and new partnerships.