Yesterday, the Holomicrobiome Institute was officially launched by Staatssecretaris van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur | Silvio Erkens. The institute aims to strengthen the Dutch economy and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable society. Beijerinck’s famous quote, “Fortunate are those who start now” (“Gelukkig zijn zij die nu beginnen”), feels even more relevant today. In […]
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On Friday, May 6, Tom Theirlynck successfully defended his outstanding thesis, “Disentangling the Golden Floating Rainforest: Multi-omics Insights into the Sargassum Holobiome and Its Nutrient-Driven Dynamics.” Tom’s research significantly advances our understanding of the holobiome associated with holopelagic Sargassum species and provides valuable new insights into their nutrient-driven dynamics. The supervision team — Linda Amaral-Zettler, […]
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Today my PhD-student Xi Bai published an article entitled “Schmutzdecke maturation and layers’ contribution to bacterial removal performance in slow sand filters for drinking water production” in the journal Water Research. Go to READ MORE and click on the link to read the paper.
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Today my PhD-student Suyash Gupta published an article entitled “Enhanced activity and tolerance of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in a dual reactor haloalkaline biodesulfurization system” in the Journal of Applied Microbiology. Go to READ MORE and click on the link to read the paper.
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On Friday, February 13, Xi Bai successfully defended her excellent thesis, “The Role of Microbial Ecology in the Functioning of Slow Sand Filters for Drinking Water Production.” Her research significantly advances our understanding of slow sand filtration and supports drinking water companies in ensuring safe drinking water, both now and in the future. Her co-promotor, […]
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As of last Friday, July 4th, I am officially retired. I had the honour of delivering my valedictory lecture, “From Giant Dinosaurs to Tiny Microbes: 40 Years of Passionate Research and Discovery,” reflecting on an exciting and rewarding scientific journey. I began by exploring original macromolecules in fossil shells, dinosaur bones, and microbial mats using […]
Read More →To mark my retirement, I am pleased to invite you to a symposium on Friday, 4 July 2025, where fellow scientists will share brief presentations on their research and perspectives. The symposium will be followed by a reception at the same venue, and you are warmly welcome to join for drinks afterwards at Café De […]
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Today my PhD-student Tom Theirlynck published an article entitled “Nutrient-driven growth and microbiome shifts in the brown alga Sargassum fluitans III” in the Journal of Phycology. Go to READ MORE and click on the link to read the paper.
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For years, I’ve asked my students in the Microbial Ecology course to create short videos on course-related topics. Over time, this has become a fantastic collection of creative and insightful work. This year, I’m proud to share something groundbreaking: three students have pushed the boundaries of creativity by incorporating AI into their project. From writing […]
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Today my PhD-student Anastasiia Barilo published an article entitled “Shifts in sulphur-cycling bacteria in the rhizobiome support the adaptation of Caulerpa prolifera to elevated sulphide levels” in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Go to READ MORE and click on the link to read the paper.
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