Åsa Helena Frostegård

Åsa Helena Frostegård is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM). She leads the Microbial Ecology and Physiology (MEP) group and is a core member of the NMBU Nitrogen Group, a cross-faculty initiative focused on nitrogen cycling from molecular to field scales. Her research is internationally recognized, with extensive collaborations across Europe, the USA, China, and New Zealand.

• PhD in Microbial Ecology, Lund University, Sweden (1995)
• Postdoctoral research at Lyon University-1
• Permanent position at NMBU (1999)
• Full Professor (2001)

Her research focuses on microbial nitrogen transformations, particularly denitrification and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. She investigates the ecophysiology and regulatory biology of denitrifying bacteria, soil microbial communities, and the role of rhizobia in nitrogen fixation and N₂O reduction. Her work bridges biochemistry, microbial physiology, and environmental microbiology to address climate-relevant challenges in agriculture and soil systems.

Her recent publications (2020–2023) show a strong trend in understanding microbial regulation of N₂O emissions, electron competition in denitrifiers, fungal contributions to nitrogen cycling, and the genetic and phenotypic diversity of key nitrogen-transforming microbes. The studies employ meta-omics, kinetic modeling, and molecular microbiology to dissect microbial processes in soils and wastewater.

• Elected Member of the International Board of ISME (2013–2018)
• Invited 'Citation Classic' paper in Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2011)
• Coordinator of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Initial Training Network (NORA)
• Leader of top-level Research Council of Norway Fripro projects

She has advised numerous PhD and master’s students, evident from co-authorships on key publications. She has led major research grants, including EU-funded NORA and national projects with high competitive success rates. She teaches master’s courses BIO330 and BIO332 and has contributed to multiple Nordic and European PhD courses. She is actively involved in research leadership, grant acquisition, and international collaboration.

She leads the MEP research group and is integral to the NMBU Nitrogen Group, which includes about 25 researchers. The group maintains strong links with NIBIO and other international research institutions.