Joel Kostka

Joel Kostka is a Professor at the Schools of Biological Sciences and Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. He serves as the Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair for Research in Biological Sciences. His work bridges biogeochemistry and microbiology to elucidate the role of microorganisms in ecosystem function, with a focus on quantitative predictive understanding of ecosystem resilience under environmental change.

• Collaboration with Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, with Prof. Dr. Marcel Kuypers on marine plant microbiomes and climate change resilience

Scientific expertise spans biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and marine microbiology, directly contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through research on carbon sequestration, ecosystem restoration, and adaptive management. His recent work investigates how microbial communities in coastal ecosystems respond to climate change stressors.

• Developed predictive models for ecosystem biogeoscience
• Focus on marine plant microbiomes and carbon cycling

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award (2025)
• Mercator Fellow (German Research Foundation, 2018; 2022)
• Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
• Fellow, American Geophysical Union

Leadership & Editorial Roles:

• Current Editor-in-Chief of mBio, leading ASM journal
• Former Editor of Applied and Environmental Microbiology
• Chair of Gordon Research Conference in Applied and Environmental Microbiology
• Division Chair and Distinguished Lecturer for ASM

Collaboration: Will conduct Humboldt-funded research with Prof. Marcel Kuypers at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, focusing on coastal ecosystem microbiomes.