Research

ANIMAL ECOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS

• Ecology and evolution of aquatic systems with emphasis on: community ecology and ecological biogeography, biodiversity and nature conservation, stress ecology, evolutionary ecology and behavioural ecology, molecular ecology and ecological genetics, aquaculture and environmental microbiology.
• Cooperation and conflict in social insects.
• Vertebrate archaeozoology from late Quaternary deposits onwards.

ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NEUROBIOLOGY

• Functional genomics, proteomics and peptidomics in various model organisms (Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, locust, honeybee, mouse, zebrafish).
• Identification and functional analysis of (orphan) G protein coupled receptor - ligand couples.
• Study of the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the control of locust reproduction and phase transition.
• The role of hormones in vertebrate development.
• Molecular mechanisms of developmental and lesion induced plasticity of the mammalian brain.

PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY

• Phylogeny of flowering plants (mainly Ericales and Gentianales) based on DNA sequences and characters of floral ontogeny, palynology, seed and wood anatomy.
• Molecular systematics and evolutionary developmental studies in Ericales.
• Ecology of seed germination (woodland plants and weeds).
• Effects of fragmentation on biodiversity in nature reserves.

MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY OF PLANTS AND MICRO-ORGANISMS

• Molecular and biochemical analysis of nutritional, metabolic or hormonal controlled signals transduction processes in plants and micro-organisms.
• Elucidation of the metabolism and physiological role of steviosides, fructans and other reserve carbohydrates.
• Development and validation of transgenic plant and yeast models as tools for medicinal and medical research and biopharming.
• Identification of novel drug targets and lead-compounds with therapeutic potential, novel antimycotics, novel enzymes and products for food and non-food applications.

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Molecular genetics of nutrient sensing and signaling in yeast.
• Nutrient sensing and antifungal targets in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans.
• Development of novel industrial yeast strains (baking, brewing, wine and bioethanol production).
• Yeast and plant trehalose metabolism for improvement of stress resistance in crop plants.
• Yeast as a tool for selecting and studying mammalian proteins with medical interest.