Ilka Maria Axmann

Professor Ilka Maria Axmann serves as a Research Professor at the Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, leading cutting-edge research at the intersection of synthetic biology and microbial metabolism. Her work focuses on engineering cyanobacteria for sustainable biotechnology applications through RNA-based regulatory systems.

Her research spans Synthetic Biology, Microbial Metabolism, and RNA Engineering, with particular emphasis on:

• Developing synthetic RNA-devices for dynamic control of metabolic pathways
• Engineering cyanobacteria as sustainable bioproduction platforms
• Mapping plant-microbe metabolic interfaces
• Integrating data science approaches in plant biology

The publication portfolio reveals a consistent focus on cyanobacterial systems (particularly Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803), terpenoid biosynthesis, and circadian regulation, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary integration between molecular biology and computational approaches.

Her laboratory operates key facilities including the Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Facility and Imaging Platform, supporting research in edaphic adaptation and plant-microbiota networks.