The Cultivation Lab focusses on aerobic and anaerobic enrichment and isolation of bacteria and archaea (microbial cultivation) as well as morphological, physiological and phylogenetic characterization. It covers simulation experiments and investigates adaptation to extremes.

Studying the subsurface life also encounters the quantification of total cell abundance. Imaging and optical analysis methods are used for this. In the Flow Cytometry Lab, samples are studied via fluorescence microscopy for the visualization of microorganisms by fluorescent labelling. Thereby, phase-contrast images are used for direct observation of microorganisms. Flow cytometry is applied for cell detection and sorting.

The core of the laboratory is a Raman micro-spectrometer. The spectrometer is equipped with a cryostat serving as a planetary simulation chamber which permits simulation of environmental conditions on planetary surfaces, namely pressure (10⁻⁶ hPa – 1000 hPa), atmospheric constituents, and temperature (4 K – 500 K). The laboratory is also equipped with preparation facilities for analog materials. The samples which are analyzed in the laboratory range from minerals, Martian analog material, …