Thomas Kiørboe

Thomas Kiørboe is a Professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), affiliated with the National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua), Section for Oceanography and Climate. He is a key member of the Centre for Ocean Life and the DTU Microbes Initiative, where his research bridges oceanography, ecology, and fluid physics to understand microbial marine systems.

His research focuses on the ecological and physical dynamics of planktonic organisms, particularly zooplankton, phytoplankton, diatoms, and microbial predators. Using principles of fluid dynamics, he investigates foraging mechanisms, predation strategies, and locomotion in aquatic microorganisms. His work contributes to broader understanding of marine food webs, microbial ecology, and the evolutionary arms race between predators and prey in the ocean.

Recent publications highlight trends in microbial motility, the biomechanics of flagellate foraging, ontogenetic changes in copepod swimming, and chemical defenses in harmful algae. These studies reflect an interdisciplinary approach combining biology, physics, and ecological modeling.

He has led major research projects such as PHYMOT (Physics of Microbial Motility), funded by the Marie Curie program, and has supervised multiple PhD students working on fluid dynamics, suspension feeding, and microbial predation. His collaborative network spans institutions in Europe and involves interdisciplinary efforts in marine science.

Thomas Kiørboe has no listed scientific awards in the provided text. However, his extensive publication record and leadership in funded research underscore his academic impact.

He is actively involved in research teams and initiatives focusing on microbial oceanography and aquatic ecology. His lab contributes to understanding the functional roles of microbes in oceanic systems, particularly through experimental and theoretical studies on motility, feeding, and ecological interactions.