Luka has spent the past few years working as a research consultant, focusing on the cultivation of Termitomyces cultures among other laboratory methods. In addition, he is responsible for the group’s dissemination activities on social media and at events. Alongside his work, Luka has been involved in several projects within the group. From quantifying the impact of microbes associated with fungus-farming termites on plant decomposition in a savannah ecosystem to his latest project comparing the culturomics of soil fungi and bacteria in a compartmentalized Portuguese cave ecosystem recognized as a subterranean biodiversity hotspot.

Katharina has a background in biotechnology, with a bachelor's from TU Berlin and a master's from DTU, and previous experience in microbial community analysis and metagenomics. She's drawn to complex systems and symbioses, with an interest in their biotechnological potential. Her PhD investigates the functional and compartmentalized organisation of the co-evolved fungus-farming termite holobiont using a multi-omics approach, characterising microbial composition, function, and spatial organisation across gut compartments, in conjunction with the roles of the termite host and its fungal cultivar.

Line has a particular passion for birds and ecology, particularly those things and species that seem to defy human expectations. This has led her to writing her bachelor thesis on a group of toxic birds found in New Guinea.

She will be investigating the evolutionary significance of the accumulation of batrachotoxins in this group, which includes Pitohui dichrous, as a possible deterrent for ectoparasites. A major focus will be on investigating the effects this might have on the prevalence of haemosporidian blood parasites which can act as agents of diseases like avian malaria.

Johanne is passionate about insects and fungi. Her thesis investigates the largely unknown diversity and host specificity of Ophiocordyceps fungi parasitizing rice-associated Hemiptera insects, including the major rice pest Nilaparvata lugens. Using both museum specimens from the Natural History Museum and newly collected specimens from Brazil, she will explore the diversity of these parasitic fungi and their intimate relationships with their insect hosts.

Klara is interested in ecology, genetics and biological systems. She enjoys studying systems in which e.g. genetic, microbial, or ecological processes come together to create functional relationships that help explain how organisms interact and adapt. Her master theses focuses on the fungus-farming termite symbiosis and the interactions between the termite and its gut microbes within the compartmentalized gut.

Mathias will determine whether fungi found in the environment of fungus-growing termites may potentially be harmful to the termites. His work will involve establishing an infection protocol to investigate this, using mealworms as a proxy for termites.

The fungi were collected in Africa and have since been isolated. Erin Cole previously conducted experiments showing that termites exhibit a social immune response when exposed to some of these fungi, suggesting that they could be harmful. However, this is not certain, so his task is to clarify this.

Anders wrote his bachelor’s thesis in the group on termite diversity in Senegal, aiming to contribute to more effective chimpanzee conservation in West Africa. His next research project with the group focuses on investigating volatile compounds produced by microbial communities in a Portugues cave ecosystem.

Pieter has a very strong interest in mycology. In his masters thesis, he is researching the effectiveness of indoor mould sampling methods in cooperation with the Indoor climate laboratory at Rambøll Danmark. He will specifically be assessing if DNA-based sampling methods can reveal fungal diversity uncaptured by traditional methods.