Magdalena J. Mayr

Dr. Magdalena J. Mayr, Senior Scientist

Magdalena J. Mayr
Image: Magdalena J. Mayr
Information

As atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations rise, my main research focus are methane-oxidizing microbes – both aerobic and anaerobic – across ecosystems. I am excited to study freshwater, marine, and groundwater environments including rocks to understand the diversity, evolution, and interactions of methanotrophs. Some of these methanotrophs might even have potential for future applications to help remove methane before it reaches the atmosphere. For my research I combine molecular tools (metagenomics, transcriptomics and proteomics), with laboratory experiments, and measurements of microbial activity in environmental samples. If you are interested in collaborating on methane-oxidizing microbes, I am happy to connect.

  • Curriculum Vitae

    Since 09/2025
    Senior Scientist, Institute for Biodiversity, Chair of Aquatic Geomicrobiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

    “Ecology and evolution of methane-consuming microbes across oceans, groundwater, and rocks” with Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel

    2020 - 2025
    Postdoc, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech, USA

    „Microbial lifestyles in and on deep-sea methane seep carbonates” with Prof. Dr. Victoria Orphan

    2019 - 2020
    Postdoc, EAWAG Kastanienbaum, ETHZ, Switzerland

    2015 - 2019
    Doctoral researcher, EAWAG Kastanienbaum, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

    Thesis: „Ecology of the aquatic methane filter: Vertical distribution and temporal dynamics of active methanotroph assemblages in stratified lakes“, Advisors: Dr. Hemut Bürgmann, Prof. Dr. Martin Ackermann

    2013 - 2015
    Project Scientist, University of Vienna

    Project member, “Microbial reaction to organic material in riverine retention areas“

    2012
    M.Sc. Biology/Ecology, Specialization in Limnology, University of Vienna

  • Publications
  • Collaborators

    Antoine Crémière (Geo-Ocean, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, France)

    Beatrix M. Heinze (ETHZ, Switzerland)

    Robert L. Hettich (Oak Ridge National Lab, USA)

    Ranjani Murali (University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA)

    Victoria J. Orphan (California Institute of Technology, USA)

    Steven Tavis (Oak Ridge National Lab, USA)

    Dan Utter (California Institute of Technology, USA)

    Philip Woods (California Institute of Technology, USA)

Contact

Room 314
Dornburger Strasse 159
07743 Jena