Katharina Kitzinger

Dr. Katharina Kitzinger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, affiliated with the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science. She leads the "Recycling versus loss in the marine nitrogen cycle: controls, feedbacks, and the impact of expanding low oxygen regions (RECLESS)" project (2025–2031), addressing nitrogen dynamics in marine ecosystems. Her research focuses on microbial ecology, nitrification processes, and symbiotic relationships in marine environments.

Key areas include nitrifying bacteria in marine sponges, wastewater microbiology, and nutrient cycling in extreme environments, such as the Greenland Ice Sheet. She employs advanced techniques like single-cell imaging and stable isotope probing to study microbial communities and their roles in global biogeochemical cycles.

Kitzinger has published in top journals including Nature Communications and The ISME Journal, with recent work highlighting symbiont lineage inheritance in marine sponges and microalgal nutrient uptake mechanisms. She actively presents on topics like "Metabolic interactions in marine AOA-sponge symbioses" and "Urea fuels open ocean nitrification", engaging both scientific and public audiences.

Her interdisciplinary research bridges microbiology, environmental science, and engineering, with a focus on sustainable solutions for climate and water challenges. Current projects investigate how expanding low-oxygen ocean zones impact nitrogen recycling, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and marine conservation.