Dr Anne Jungblut

I am an environmental microbiologist and lead the Microbes Research Group at the Natural History Museum. My research explores the extraordinary world of microscopic life that shapes our planet from icy Antarctic lakes to tropical soils to understand how microbes adapt, evolve, and sustain life on Earth. The work integrates a range of technologies and approaches including molecular biology, environmental DNA sequencing, genomics, field work and laboratory experimentation to address key questions about microbial biodiversity, ecology, evolution, climate resilience, and sustainable resource use. We also apply museomics to use historic museum specimen collections for taxonomy research and temporal comparisons.

The research encompasses the study of microbial diversity and ecology ranging from bacteria, algae, protists and fungi that are able to thrive under extreme conditions in freshwater environments in the polar regions; and gain a better understanding of adaptative traits and response to environmental change and role in biogeochemical processes. I have a particular interest in the ecology, biogeography and evolution of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. Cyanobacteria are key primary producers and play a central role in the formation of microbial mats that contribute much of the biomass in polar freshwater environments and serve as modern analogues of life on early Earth.

Another research focus is microbiome research aimed at developing microbial-based solutions for sustainable practices in agriculture and mine rehabilitation. This includes surveys of microbiomes and their functional role in association with plants, as well as studies of beneficial microorganisms for economically important crops. My geomicrobiology research investigates microbe-mineral interactions to better understand mineral weathering by fungi and other microorganisms and tracking the impact of habitat disturbance in former mine sites.