Heide Schulz-Vogt

Prof. Heide Schulz-Vogt is a Professor of Biological Oceanography at the University of Rostock and Head of the Biological Oceanography Department at the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Warnemünde, Germany. Her research focuses on geomicrobiology, sulfur and nutrient cycling in marine environments, and the ecological roles of large sulfur bacteria. She has held academic and leadership roles since 2012, including granting the title of Professor from the University of Bremen. Her work integrates microbial physiology with biogeochemical processes in coastal and open-ocean systems.

Education: PhD in Geosciences (1999, University of Bremen), Diplom in Biology (1995, University of Bremen), studies in Marine Biology, Zoology, Microbiology, and Geology (1989–1995, University of Bremen). Postdoctoral research included positions at the University of Concepción (Chile), University of California Davis (USA), and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen, Germany).

Research interests emphasize the interplay between microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles, particularly in redox-stratified environments such as the Baltic Sea and Namibian upwelling regions. Key topics include sulfur oxidation, phosphate dynamics, and the functional roles of large sulfur bacteria like Thiomargarita and Beggiatoa. Her studies often involve fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Publications highlight discoveries in microbial physiology, nutrient cycling mechanisms, and the ecological significance of benthic microbial mats. Her work has advanced understanding of superoxide dynamics, manganese-coupled sulfide oxidation, and the environmental impacts of anthropogenic inputs like thallium.

Labs/Teams: Leads a research group at IOW focused on geomicrobiological processes, with active collaborations in marine chemistry, geosciences, and oceanography.