The Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science | CeMESS at the University of Vienna brings together rapidly advancing research fields of high societal relevance. Our Centre unites four Research Divisions spanning microbiology, bioinformatics, ecology, and environmental geoscience.
This multidisciplinary strength enables us to investigate, in a comprehensive way, the biotic and abiotic processes that shape our bodies, ecosystems, and the entire planet. Our research delivers key insights to help address some of today’s most pressing global challenges, from human to planetary health.
Around 70 researchers from different institutions in ten countries gathered in Vienna for the 22nd ChlamydienWorkshop. The meeting was organized by…
Almost all plants live in close symbiosis with so-called mycorrhizal fungi – an important symbiosis for absorbing essential nutrients. In their new…
The new CeMESS Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) paid its inaugural visit to the Centre. An All Hands Meeting introduced CeMESS, and over two days…
Congratulations to Yujia Luo, who received a highly competitive Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship for her project “Tracing microbial…
DOME postdoctoral researcher Pegah Kalatehjari has been awarded a mobility fellowship from the University of Vienna. She will spend an eight-week stay…
We are delighted to congratulate Bettina Glasl and Sarah Förster on their recognition at the Haus-des-Meeres Science Day 2026.
The FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence (CoE) brings together the expertise of CeMESS researchers from all four CeMESS divisions in a joint, ambitious research project.
Paul Wilmes
Mark Anthony
Kristin Schirmer
Ullah MR, Kwatcho Kengdo S, Peršoh D, Tian Y, Heinzle J, Urbina Malo C et al. Long-term soil warming decreases fungal biomass and alters fungal but not bacterial communities in a temperate forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2026 May;216:110120. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2026.110120
Zhou J, Liu S, Jan van Groenigen K, Mueller CW, Ochoa-Hueso R, Fanin N et al. Contrasting responses of particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon stocks to grazing exclusion in an alpine meadow. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 2026 Apr 15;400:110227. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110227
Hansen PM, Zhang Y, Guseva K, Kaiser C, Francesca Cotrufo M. Microbial community regulation of extracellular enzyme production can mediate patterns of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter accumulation in undersaturated soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2026 Mar;214:110056. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110056
Steindorff AS, Cai FM, Ding M, Jiang S, Atanasova L, Baker SE et al. Phenogenomics reveals the ecology and evolution of Trichoderma fungi for sustainable agriculture. Nature Microbiology. 2026 Mar;11(3):815-831. doi: 10.1038/s41564-026-02260-3
Lüke C, Haaijer SCM, Bespiatykh D, Speth DR, Mesman R, Jetten MSM et al. A novel North Sea ammonia-oxidizing archaeon Nitrosarchaeum marinum leverages a high abundance of transport systems to grow over a wide salinity range. FEMS microbiology ecology. 2026 Feb 26;102(3):fiag013. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiag013
