GeoBioLab – Helmholtz Laboratory for Integrated Geological and Biological Research

The geomicrobiology laboratories are part of the GeoBioLab – The Helmholtz Laboratory for Integrated Geological and Biological Research. The GeoBioLab provides a platform for interdisciplinary research across various scientific fields, including microbiology/molecular biology, biogeochemistry, soil science/sedimentology, geology, mineralogy, and physics. It enables the investigation of fundamental questions regarding surface–deep biosphere interactions, particularly within the critical zone, using state-of-the-art methodologies. To conduct fundamental research on the (micro)biological, (bio)geochemical, and geological processes and their dynamics in deep sedimentary deposits and rock formations, the laboratory is fully equipped for both classical microbiological studies (e.g., isolation and characterization of bacteria and archaea, taxonomy, and physiology) and culture-independent analyses of microbial communities (e.g., DNA/RNA-based studies, quantitative PCR, stable isotope probing, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics). A key aspect of this research is the quantification of slow biological processes, particularly microbial transformation processes and rates of organic matter turnover in geological habitats. This also includes modeling geomicrobiological processes and microbial networks. The GeoBioLab is a laboratory complex and consist of several sub-modules. For more details, please see the individual websites.