Steffen Kolb

Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb is a Professor at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin’s Faculty of Life Sciences and leads ZALF’s Microbial Biogeochemistry working group. He co-heads Research Area 1 (Landscape Functioning), focusing on soil microbiology, trace gas dynamics (methane, nitrous oxide), and agricultural sustainability. His research bridges microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and climate impacts, with projects on land-use changes, soil health, and crop-microbe interactions.

Key roles include membership in the DFG Review Panel (Agricultural Sciences) and the COST Action ROOT-BENEFIT. Recent work emphasizes soil biodiversity’s role in ecosystem resilience, methane sinks in grasslands, and microbial responses to environmental stressors like drought and salinity. Collaborations span global institutions, addressing agricultural challenges through multi-omics and field-based studies.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, such as linking transcriptomics and metabolomics to plant stress responses, and exploring microbiome dynamics under climate change. His contributions advance sustainable land management and climate mitigation strategies.