Niels Kroer

Niels Kroer is Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen since 2015. Previously, he served as Head of Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University (2011-2015) and as Research Director at the National Environmental Research Institute (2002-2011). He holds leadership positions in multiple international Arctic research initiatives and serves on the Steering Committee of the Nano-Science Center at UCPH.

His educational background includes a PhD from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (1994), MSc in Biology from Aarhus University (1983), and BSc in Chemistry from Aarhus University (1986).

Kroer's research focuses on molecular microbial ecology with particular emphasis on extreme environments. His work examines bacterial communities in Arctic regions, mercury cycling in microbial systems, horizontal gene transfer between bacteria, and the unexpected presence of human virulence factors in environmental bacteria. His research spans water, soil, ice, and snow ecosystems, investigating how microbial communities evolve and function in diverse environments. His work has significant implications for understanding biogeochemical cycles and the potential environmental reservoirs of pathogenic traits.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on Arctic microbial communities and their role in global biogeochemical cycles, particularly mercury cycling. His research integrates molecular techniques with ecological approaches to understand bacterial community structure and function in extreme environments. There's a consistent theme of examining how environmental bacteria handle toxic elements and how virulence factors persist outside host environments.

• Member of Steering Committee for Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) Programme (2023-present)
• Member of Polar Expert Group (EU-PolarNet2) (2021-present)
• Member of Forum for Arctic Research, Ministry for Education and Research, DK (2020-present)
• Member of Research and Innovation Network (Altinget) (2020-2024)
• Member of Science Coordination Board for Villum Research Station in NE Greenland (2015-present)
• Member of Steering Committee, Nano-Science Center, UCPH (2015-present)

Kroer actively engages in science policy discussions, particularly regarding research funding and the development of Denmark's life science sector. His recent newspaper articles highlight concerns about university underfunding threatening Denmark's position in the global biotech landscape. He advocates for increased investment in research infrastructure and stronger university-industry collaboration to establish Copenhagen as a major biotech hub.

His research involves fieldwork in Arctic environments, particularly at the Villum Research Station in NE Greenland, where he studies microbial communities in snow, freshwater, and sea-ice environments. His work connects laboratory molecular techniques with environmental sampling to understand microbial processes in extreme conditions.