Helle Ploug

Professor Helle Ploug is a faculty member at the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Marine Sciences, specializing in marine biogeochemistry and plankton ecology. She holds a permanent 100% position as a Professor since June 2013. Her research focuses on carbon and nutrient fluxes in marine systems, particularly involving cyanobacteria and diatoms. Key areas include N₂ fixation dynamics in Baltic Sea cyanobacteria, aggregate formation effects on carbon sequestration, and microscale biogeochemical processes.

Education:

• M. Sc. in Biology and Chemistry, University of Aarhus, Denmark (1992)
• Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology, University of Aarhus, Denmark (1996)
• Docent in Marine Ecology, Stockholm University (2012)

Research Interests:

• Carbon/nutrient uptake in phytoplankton
• Vertical carbon fluxes via marine snow
• Cyanobacterial colony microenvironments
• Linking small-scale and large-scale biogeochemical cycles
• Impact of turbulence on diatom productivity

Her work employs advanced techniques like NanoSIMS to quantify microscale nutrient fluxes and model aggregate dynamics.

Collaborations & Projects:

• Lead researcher on FORMAS-funded Baltic Sea cyanobacteria studies (2011-2013)
• Swedish Research Council grant for diatom carbon pump research (2012-2015)
• International collaborations with institutes like MPI-Bremen, UFZ Leipzig, and Stockholm University

Advising & Training:

• Guided PhD students including Malin Olofsson (cyanobacteria), Isabell Klawonn (nitrogen cycling), and Jennie Svedén (Baltic N₂ fixation)
• Hosted postdocs like Nurun Nahar and Johanna Bergkvist

Labs & Infrastructure: Utilizes advanced microsensor and isotope tracing facilities at the University of Gothenburg, with fieldwork in the Baltic Sea and global ocean regions.