Karin Rengefors

Karin Rengefors is a Professor in Aquatic Ecology and Functional Ecology at Lund University, affiliated with the BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate) research program. She serves as Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Science and leads multiple research initiatives focused on phytoplankton ecology and evolution.

Her research interests include phytoplankton biogeography, algal blooms, genetic diversity, and population genomics. She investigates invasive species such as Gonyostomum semen and cyanobacteria like Microcystis botrys, particularly in the context of climate change and extreme weather events. Her approach combines population genomics, trait analysis, and experimental studies.

The recent publications highlight trends in phytoplankton resilience, genomic adaptation, and environmental drivers of algal blooms, with a strong emphasis on freshwater and marine systems under climate stress. Her work spans disciplines including ecology, genomics, and environmental science.

Scientific Awards:

• Marine Biological Laboratory Whitman Summer Investigator Grant Award (2015)
• Lunds universitets pedagogiska pris (2012)
• Ledamot Kungliga Fysiografiska Sällskapet i Lund (2011)
• Manton Prize for best student oral contribution (1998)
• Linneaus Prize for outstanding PhD thesis (1998)

Advising and Grants: She is Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple active grants, including projects funded by the Swedish Research Council and FORMAS. She supervises PhD students and collaborates on dissertation projects. Her leadership extends to public engagement, where she frequently participates in media as an expert on algal blooms and water quality.

Labs and Teams: She leads a research group focused on phytoplankton ecology and collaborates extensively within Lund University and internationally. Her team works on projects related to aquatic ecosystem monitoring, cyanobacterial toxicity, and eukaryotic evolution.