About Us

The Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna combines rapidly developing research areas of high societal relevance. Our Centre consists of four Research Divisions spanning microbiology, bioinformatics, ecology and environmental systems science.

This multidisciplinary approach empowers us to comprehensively investigate those critical biotic and abiotic processes that shape our bodies, ecosystems, and our planet at large. Our research provides critical insights that address pressing global challenges, from human to environmental health.

CeMESS Divisions

 News from our Centre


EDGE
 

We are pleased to announce that Michael Zumstein has been appointed Associate Professor at the Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems...

DOME
 

CeMESS researcher Marie-Therese Fischer (DOME) is investigating the microbiome of fire salamanders in collaboration with Tiergarten Schönbrunn. An ORF...

TER
 

From plastic bottles to non-stick pans – many everyday products release microscopic pollutants that can persist in the environment and our bodies. In...

EDGE
 

Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers...

CeMESS
 

Several open PhD positions are currently available in our doctoral school.

DOME
 

We are pleased to announce that the 28th European Nitrogen Cycle Meeting (ENC28) will take place at CeMESS from September 8-11, 2025. The meeting is...

 Upcoming Events


05.06.2025 12:00
 

Lindsay Hall

University of Birmingham, UK

hybrid, UBB HS2

12.06.2025 16:00
 

Philipp Mayer

DTU

Eberhard Clar Saal (2B204), UZA II

26.06.2025 16:00
 

Anke Neumann

Paul Scherrer Institute

Eberhard Clar Saal (2B204), UZA II

 Recent Publications


Global Water Microbiome Consortium, Zhu C, Wu L, Ning D, Tian R, Gao S et al. Global diversity and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in human wastewater treatment systems. Nature Communications. 2025 Dec;16(1):4006. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59019-3

Keegstra JM, Landry ZC, Zweifel ST, Roller BRK, Baumgartner DA, Carrara F et al. Risk-reward trade-off during carbon starvation generates dichotomy in motility endurance among marine bacteria. Nature Microbiology. 2025 May 26. doi: 10.1038/s41564-025-01997-7

Guggenberger P, Patil P, Fickl B, Pichler CM, Bayer BC, Stockhausen M et al. In-Situ Formation of High-Performance β-NiOOH OER Electrocatalysts Using Boron and Phosphorus-Enriched Ni Core-Shell Nanoparticles. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2025 May 16;30773 - 30784. Epub 2025 May 16. doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c22116

Rohrhofer J, Wolflehner V, Schweighardt J, Koidl L, Stingl M, Zehetmayer S et al. Gastrointestinal Barrier Disruption in Post-COVID Syndrome Fatigue Patients. Allergy: European journal of allergy and immunology. 2025 May 15. Epub 2025 May 15. doi: 10.1111/all.16593