Niculina Musat

Niculina Musat is Scientific Head of the Centre for Chemical Microscopy (ProVIS) at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ since April 2012. Her work bridges microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and innovative imaging across marine, freshwater, and agricultural systems.

Research Pillars

• Microbial nutrient interactions in aquatic and rhizosphere systems
• Advanced correlative microscopy (FISH, CARD-FISH, NanoSIMS, ToFSIMS)
• Antibiotic impact on environmental microbiomes and biodegradation pathways
• Multi-species symbiotic associations and metabolic mapping

Publication Trends

Her recent work focuses on single-cell metabolic tracking using stable isotopes, plant-microbe rhizosphere dynamics, and cross-kingdom symbiotic systems in both marine and clinical contexts. Collaborative studies with the Isotope Biogeochemistry Department emphasize environmental applications.