Erik Borchert

Erik Borchert is a postdoctoral researcher at GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, working within Research Division 3: Marine Ecology in the Research Unit Marine Symbioses. His research focuses on utilizing marine microorganisms for biotechnological advances toward a blue bioeconomy, particularly studying microbial consortia that degrade complex substrates like plastics and bones.

Education:

• PhD in Environmental Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland (2014-2017, BluePharmTrain - Marie Skłodowska Curie fellowship)
• MSc in Biochemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany (2011-2013)
• BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany (2008-2011)

Dr. Borchert's research interests center on marine microbiology, host-microbiome interactions, metagenomics, and enzyme discovery. He specializes in deciphering whole microbial consortia and their capabilities to degrade complex substrates synergistically, using 'Multi-Omic' approaches to identify enzymatically active microorganisms and enzymes. His work aims to apply targeted evolution to microbial consortia to enhance activity for biotechnological applications, particularly in plastic and bone degradation. He also explores bioprospecting of the marine environment for novel pharmaceuticals, biocatalysts, and biopolymers to support sustainable resource use.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on marine plastic pollution (the "plastisphere"), bone degradation microbiomes, and novel marine bacterial species. The research spans from fundamental microbial ecology to applied biotechnology, with a clear trajectory toward developing solutions for environmental challenges through marine microbial resources. His work combines advanced genomic techniques with practical biotechnological applications for sustainable resource utilization.

Scientific Awards:

• Poster prize at the EMBRIC workshop "Treasures from the Deep", Brussels, Belgium (March 2019)
• Marie Skłodowska Curie initial training network (MC-ITN) fellowship, BluePharmTrain (2014-2017)

Dr. Borchert has supervised numerous master's theses from international students and has been involved in significant research projects including AI MareExplore (2025-2027), XTREAM (2025-2028), P-LEACH, BioProMare, Capri Sun, and ERA-NET Marine Biotechnology's ProBone project. His collaborative network spans multiple institutions across Europe, including research partners in Germany, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK. He has participated in several research expeditions, including SO279 on RV "Sonne" to study plastic pollution in the North Atlantic Garbage Patch.

Dr. Borchert is actively involved in both fundamental research through projects like XTREAM and applied research through industry collaborations like Capri Sun. His laboratory work focuses on marine microbial communities, particularly those associated with plastic pollution (the plastisphere) and bone degradation, using advanced genomic and metagenomic approaches to identify novel enzymes and biocatalysts.