Johannes Raff

Dr. Johannes Raff is Head of the Terrestrial Microbiology Group at the Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) since 2025. He serves as a consultant/expert for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2021 and has held guest lecturer positions at University of Granada (since 2016) and Technische Universität Dresden (since 2015).

• PhD in Biology (2002), University of Leipzig
• Diploma in Biology (1996), University of Bayreuth

His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of radionuclide-microbe interactions, uranium speciation in contaminated waters, and biotechnological applications of S-layer proteins for metal recovery and biosensing. Key areas include:

• Actinide speciation and bioavailability
• Fungal/bacterial metal binding mechanisms
• Development of S-layer-based biosensors
• Phytoremediation of radioactive contaminants
• Microbial processes in nuclear waste repositories

Recent publications emphasize:

• Eu(III)/U(VI) uptake in plants/fungi
• Uranium-diatom-bacteria interactions
• IAEA-relevant bioremediation strategies
• Microspectroscopic characterization of metal-microbe systems

Projects include RENA (uranium remediation), BioVeStRa (radiation protection), and S-Sieve (metal recovery). He has contributed to advanced methodologies for:

• Impedance biochips for microbial diagnostics
• Uranium biosorption using biocers
• Nanoparticle synthesis via S-layer proteins
• Actinide speciation modeling