Saskia Bindschedler
Research interests
Overall, I am interested in the interaction between biological and mineral compartments within ecosystems. Focusing on soil environments as models of mineral-biological interfaces, I am trying to understand how interactions between microbes impact biogeochemical cycles at various scales. In particular, I chose to concentrate on fungi and bacteria, as both types of organisms present a myriad of great adaptations to their environment. In my current research, I look at fungi-bacteria interactions in the oxalate-carbonate pathway (OCP). This process occurs in soils and is known to be relevant on biogeochemical cycles of both carbon and calcium. Its main biological players are plants, fungi and bacteria. Therefore, the OCP is the perfect model system to study microbial interactions together with their effects on biogeochemical cycles, while working at several ecosystemic scales.
Academic curriculum
Since August 2014 : Lecturer
Mycology – Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel.
Teaching : Mycology for Bachelor students and several lectures in the Master of Biogeosciences. Research area : Influences of fungi-bacteria interactions in biogeochemical cycles.
October 2013 – July 2014 : Post-doctoral fellow (SNSF fellowship « Advanced Postdoc.Mobility »)
Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel & Geobiology group, IMPMC, UPMC, Paris.
Research area : Importance of fungal highways in soil functioning: the oxalate-carbonate pathway as a model system of microbial interactions.
March 2012 – August 2013 : Post-doctoral fellow (SNSF fellowship for prospective researchers)
Bioavailability group, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig.
Research area : Influence of fungal highways on the efficiency of the “oxalate-carbonate pathway” in unsaturated environments.
May 2011 – February 2012 : Post-doctoral assistant
Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel.
Participation in lectures and tutorials of the laboratory.
Research area : Ecological aspects of bacteria dispersion by fungal hyphae in soils.
November 2006 - April 2011 : PhD Thesis in Environmental Sciences
Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Lausanne.
Participation to field and laboratory tutorials of the institute, assistant at the library of Earth Sciences.
Thesis title : « The role of Fungi in the precipitation of calcite. Relationships between fungal filaments, nanofibres and needle fibre calcite ». Funded by the SNSF.
2005-2006 : Master of Science in Biogeosciences
University of Neuchâtel
Thesis title : « Characterization and functionalities of fungal and bacterial communitites in organic soils developped on a cold scree slope ecosystem. Creux du Van/NE », Laboratory of Microbiology and Laboratory of Soil and Vegetation (Unine).
2001-2005 : Bachelor of Science Pluridisciplinary in Nature Sciences
University of Neuchâtel
Teaching activities
Publications
