Cluster of Excellence »Balance of the Microverse«

With »Balance of the Microverse«, the University is successfully contributing to Germany’s Excellence Strategy.

Three researchers are discussing in the laboratory, on the work surface there are several petri dishes and glass flasks with green algae.

Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
Three researchers are discussing in the laboratory, on the work surface there are several petri dishes and glass flasks with green algae.

Excellent research on dynamic balances of microbial communities

Learn more about our Cluster of Excellence 'Balance of the Microverse« Microverse'.External link

»Balance of the Microverse«External link is a research cluster that, on September 27, 2018, was selected as one of the Clusters of Excellences to be funded by the German Excellence Strategy Programme. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Cluster of Excellence entered its next seven-year funding period in 2026.

Complex microorganisms can be found in nearly all habitats on our earth. Their interactions between each other, with other organisms and with their environment are of great significance for the functioning of ecosystems, our climate and the well-being of plants, animals and humans. Anthropogenic impact or infectious microorganisms can cause a dramatic imbalance in microbial communities, resulting in the deterioration of ecosystems, weather extremes, severe crop loss or diseases. The vision of the Microverse Cluster is to investigate the dynamic balance of complex microbial communities from the molecular to the ecosystem level. This should enable us to develop new technologies to maintain the balance or restore it.

The Cluster of Exzellence »Balance of the Microverse« combines the expertise of the profile lines LIFE and LIGHT in microbiology, chemical biology, infection biology, clinical medicine, ecology, optics/photonics, materials science, bioinformatics, and ethics at the University, the University Hospital, and seven non-university research institutes. The Cluster builds on the Graduate School Jena School for Microbial CommunicationExternal link, and is supported by additional coordinated research programmes, and local industry partners.

  • Learn more about the Cluster of Excellence »Balance of the Microverse«

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    Image: EXC "Balance of the Microverse"

  • Symposium »Microbes—Connecting Environment and Health«

    Preview image/Video: EXC "Balance of the Microverse"

  • Microverse Science Event: Experience science in a new way!

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    Image: EXC "Balance of the Microverse"
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Contacts

Kirsten Küsel, University Professor Dr

Spokesperson of the Cluster "Balance of the Microverse"
Professorship Aquatic Geomicrobiology
Link to download vCard
vCard
Microverse Center Jena, Room 1059
Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 5
07745 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link
Further link
To website

News and press releases

  2. Amoebae: Master Tunnel Builders

    Researchers from Jena, Cambridge and Bengaluru discover a special communication pathway in social amoebae—and a possible building block on the path to complex life

    • Light
    • Life
    The microscopic image shows amoebae cells connected to one another via tunnelling nanotubes (arrow). The nanotubes enable the exchange of cellular contents between the amoebae. The amoeba cells are shown in orange, and the cellular material in blue. The scale bar is 10 µm long.
    Image: Harikumar Suma | Leibniz-HKI

  3. Life on the energy limit

    New framework concept on microbial frugality explains changes in groundwater

    • Life
    Dr Will Overholt (left) and Prof. Dr Kirsten Küsel are collecting samples in the Hainich. Findings from this research have also been incorporated into the framework.
    Image: Beatrix Heinze

  5. Good yeast, bad yeast

    Researchers discover new potential of baker’s yeast to treat persistent fungal infection

    • Life
    Mark Gresnigt at work in the laboratory
    Image: Anna Schroll (Leibniz-HKI)
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Cooperations and Participations