Maria Holzmann

Maria Holzmann is a Lecturer in the Department of Genetics and Evolution at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Sciences. Her research integrates molecular phylogenetics and morphological taxonomy to study the diversity and evolution of foraminifera, particularly monothalamids and xenophyophores, across diverse environments from polar regions to deep-sea trenches. She specializes in environmental DNA applications for biodiversity assessment in vulnerable ecosystems like methane seeps and polymetallic nodule fields.

Her investigations focus on protistan adaptations to extreme conditions, including kleptoplasty in benthic foraminifera, heavy metal biosorption impacts, and biogeographical patterns in Arctic/Antarctic species. Research consistently demonstrates:

• Pioneering work on organic-walled monothalamid taxonomy using integrative approaches
• Documentation of novel species in undersampled abyssal/hadal zones
• Development of reference databases for environmental DNA studies

Dr. Holzmann maintains active collaborations with international deep-sea research consortia and contributes to understanding anthropogenic impacts on marine microfossil communities through pollution and climate change studies.