Sigrid Neuhauser

Sigrid Neuhauser is a Full Professor (Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.) at the Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, where she also serves as Deputy Head of the Institute. She is a START-Fellow of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and leads a vibrant research group focused on Phytomyxea, phytopathology, and marine and soil microbiology.

Education & Career:

• Current: Professor and Deputy Head, Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck
• START-Fellow, Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Research Interests:

Prof. Neuhauser’s work spans taxonomy and systematics of Phytomyxea, host-parasite interactions, phytopathology, and marine and soil microbiology. Her group uses cutting-edge molecular tools, including transcriptomics and single-cell RNA visualization (FISH), to unravel how biotrophic parasites interact with their hosts at the cellular level. She has pioneered studies on Plasmodiophora brassicae (clubroot) and Maullinia parasites of brown algae, and she leads the EU Marie Curie ITN ALFF – Algal friends and foes.

Scientific Awards:

• START-Fellowship, Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Leadership & Grants:

• Principal Investigator, HiPhy – Understanding Phytomyxid-Host-Interactions (START-Grant, FWF)
• Partner, ALFF – Algal friends and foes (EU Marie Curie ITN)
• Coordinator, YETIS: Yeast Endophytes of VitIS sp. (applied research)

Labs & Teams:

She heads the Phytomyxea Research Group at the Institute of Microbiology, comprising post-docs, PhD students, and technical staff. The group operates state-of-the-art microscopy, molecular biology, and bioinformatics facilities.