Can you tell us a bit about your journey in microbial ecology and what inspired you to pursue this field?
My research interests are broadly in elucidating microbial ecosystem processes in the Anthropocene. I have been particularly intrigued in what I call the “unusual appetites” of microorganisms. such as the metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotic chemicals or natural products, respiration of metals/metalloids, or life in the cryosphere.
Growing up in an industrial town in central Finland I was aware of the environmental problems from chemical pollution. I was early on intrigued by the microbial world and in an early “journal club” class as a microbiology student at the University of Helsinki I was assigned to prepare a summary of a paper dealing with microbial degradation of chlorinated compounds – and was hooked on this unusual metabolism. I soon thereafter joined Prof. Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen’s lab group and started working on the metabolism of chlorinated phenolic compounds, some of the main chemical pollutants from the pulp & paper and sawmill industry in Finland, which became the topic of my MS and PhD theses. Then as a Postdoc with Lily Young, I became enthralled by the metabolisms of anaerobes, and particularly the process of anaerobic organohalide respiration, where halogenated organic compounds serve as the terminal electron acceptor for respiration, and topic that has kept me busy ever since.
Currently, my research group works on the exploration, cultivation and characterization of novel microbes from diverse habitats, including soils, sediments, and marine sponges. A main goal is to elucidate ecosystem processes and link microbial diversity and function from the level of genomes to biomes, providing a foundation for applications that address the pollution problems facing impacted industrialized and urbanized environments. The current main themes are: 1) Dehalogenation of organochlorine and organobromine pollutants in anoxic environments; 2) Characterizing debrominating bacteria in marine sponges and elucidating an “organohalide-driven” microbe-sponge symbiotic association; 3) Exploring the physiology and ecology of selenium and arsenic respiring bacteria; and 4) Exploring the microbial ecology of Arctic tundra soils with a focus on the Acidobacteriota and cryophiles. I am huge fan of the classical enrichment culture technique (pioneered by Beijerinck and Winogradsky) combined with molecular ecology, allowing us to select for and identify microbes with particular metabolic traits, such as organohalide respiration, metabolism of aromatics, As/Se-respiration or subzero growth. Then we can elucidate their physiologies and ecological interactions in their natural habitats. There is always a new chemical pollutant or intriguing habitat to explore.
As the incoming president, are there any topic you feel very passionate about, regarding microbial ecology overall and ISME. What initiatives would you like to create, support or expand?
It is indeed a distinct honor to be elected ISME Vice President and I look forward to serving the society. My first direct connection with ISME came in 1989 when as a young Postdoc I attended the ISME5 meeting in Kyoto. I was hooked.
Early on during my training and professional development as a junior scientist I was instilled in the importance of service and active participation in scientific societies, including peer-review of manuscripts and participation in and organization of symposia or meetings. My service activities were first with the American Society for Microbiology and later with the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS). While this society service can be time-consuming it is also tremendously rewarding, fostering professional development and cultivating connections with researcher and educators around the globe.
Now as a senior scientist I find delight in mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scholars and educators. I am passionate about advancing the reach of our scholarly societies by promoting education and fostering professional development. It is also important that we amplify the microbiology community’s voice, such as in the recent calls for uniting societies for climate action and ensuring that science is at the forefront of the global response to the climate crisis. ISME is special, with an international network and global reach that is so important today.
I look forward to ensuring that we provide opportunities for the next generation of scholars to build their network of collaborators, that we foster a belonging and development of friendships across the world, and that we enable everyone to become engaged in our society activities. The biennal ISME Symposium is naturally the main activity that connects our members, but I hope to explore whether we can develop additional training and mentoring activities and workshops. I look forward to working with all of you in the years to come.
How do you see the role of microbial ecology evolving in addressing global challenges like climate change, health, or biotechnology?
I think that microbial solutions will be central to solving these challenges – microbes and microbiomes have untapped potential. Science needs to be at the forefront of the global response to these crises, and societies such as ISME will play a key role in advancing and publicizing these initiatives. For example, as proposed in a recent editorial (co-published across multiple journals, including The ISME Journal) a global science-based climate task force comprising representatives from scientific societies and institutions should be formed to facilitate the deployment of microbiome technologies. This is already moving forward, such as with the ISME Climate Change Committee. In May 2025, representatives from microbiology societies around the world convened in Washington, DC, for the Global Strategy Meeting on Microbes and Climate Change, identifying major priorities to guide collective action. A second co-published editorial across leading scientific society journals (including The ISME Journal) unveiled a joint global strategy to harness the power of microbial science in addressing the climate crisis. We need to expand on this commitment to raising awareness and communicating about the importance of microbes for a healthy planet and a sustainable future.
How do you balance research, leadership responsibilities, and personal life?
Likely not that well. I run my research lab, currently with a postdoc, half a dozen PhD students and an equal numbers of undergraduate researchers; I have been department chair at Rutgers University for over 15 years; and I serve as Editor in Chief of FEMS Microbiology Ecology since 2011. “No” is not quite in my vocabulary, and I thus continuously get pulled into new activities (such as co-coordinating the FEMS Summer School for Postdocs this last August). So, my work-life balance is a bit slanted, to put it mildly. It does help to be married to a scientist who gets my obsession. I do keep an important outlet – every Tuesday evening for rehearsals and ~6 concerts a year I become an orchestra violinist (you can check out the Greenwich Village Orchestra in New York City).
The current ISME Executive Board consists of Gabriele Berg as ISME President, Max Häggblom as Vice President, Raquel Peixoto as Past President, and Joana Falcão Salles as Treasurer.