Research interests
I am a professor of biology at the University of Oslo, researching microbial biodiversity, evolution, and the interactions between microorganisms and their environments. My most recent work focuses on soil health and how microbiota influence fertility, carbon storage, and plant health in agriculture. Through interdisciplinary projects, I combine advanced DNA analyses, ecological theory, and applied biotechnology to develop new solutions for sustainable food production.
My research has evolved from investigating deep evolutionary relationships and biodiversity in protists to applied DNA-based ecology and soil health.
Microbial evolution and biodiversity
I have contributed to improving phylogenetic methods and DNA barcoding techniques to better understand the evolution of eukaryotic microbes, particularly in poorly studied protist lineages. My research has focused on major evolutionary transitions in the history of life, including the origins of animals and plants from unicellular ancestors. A key part of this work has involved investigating the evolution of cellular organelles, especially chloroplasts, through processes such as serial endosymbiosis. By combining single-cell genomics with environmental DNA sequencing, I have helped uncover deep evolutionary relationships and shed light on how complex cellular structures and lineages emerged from microbial life.
DNA-based ecology and bioinformatics
I have developed methods for high-resolution analysis of microbial communities using metagenomics, with applications in both basic research and environmental monitoring. In addition, I have applied and advanced single-cell genomics and single-cell transcriptomics to study the functional diversity and gene expression of individual microbial cells directly from environmental samples. These approaches provide unique insights into the ecological roles and evolutionary histories of microorganisms that are otherwise difficult to culture or classify.
Soil health and sustainable agriculture
I currently lead several research projects focused on how microbial communities influence soil health in agricultural systems, with a particular emphasis on fruit production—especially apples, cherries, and plums. Our work combines DNA sequencing, primarily through metagenomics, with advanced bioinformatics to identify and restore functional microbiota in soils suffering from microbial imbalance or "soil sickness."
These efforts are carried out in close collaboration with farmers, agricultural advisors, and public institutions, ensuring that our research is grounded in real-world challenges and supports practical solutions. By integrating cutting-edge microbiology with a strong emphasis on organic matter and microbial ecology, we have established one of Norway’s leading research environments for soil health—committed to advancing sustainable agriculture through scientific rigor and cross-sector collaboration.
Three Cells and Clay
This is an art-science collaboration with photographer Per Maning and architect Kristoffer Øyen that explores the biological and symbolic relationship between humans and soil, with clay as a central material. Far from being a peripheral activity, this project challenges and expands my scientific practice by offering new perspectives on the foundational questions of my research—what life is, how we relate to living environments, and how knowledge is created. Through cross-disciplinary dialogue and shared experimentation, the project provides insights into alternative research methods and interpretive frameworks that sharpen and deepen my scientific inquiries. It has become an integral part of how I think, develop, and communicate research on microbiota, soil, and the living world.
Ongoing research projects
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SICKSOIL – An interdisciplinary project at the University of Oslo investigating the causes of soil sickness in fruit production using DNA-based microbial analysis and .
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SOILHEALTH – A cross-disciplinary initiative bringing together researchers in biology, geosciences, health, and the humanities to explore the links between microbes, soil health, and ecological and human sustainability.
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Smartsoil Biotech – A commercial venture developing DNA-based diagnostics and microbial biosolutions to improve soil health and carbon storage in agriculture.
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Three Cells and Clay – An art-science collaboration with photographer Per Maning and architect Kristoffer Øyen exploring the biological and symbolic relationship between humans and soil/clay as living material.
Publications
View all publications on Google Scholar
Teaching
I teach courses in evolutionary biology, microbial biodiversity, and DNA-based ecology, and supervise MSc and PhD students on topics ranging from protist phylogeny to applied soil microbiology and bioinformatics.
Education
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2003 Dr. scient., Molecular evolution and phylogeny, Department of Biology, University of Oslo
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1999 Cand. scient., Biology, Section for General Genetics, University of Oslo
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1995 Cand. mag., Biology, University of Oslo
Previous academic positions
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2004–2006 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oslo and University of Oxford, UK
Outreach and collaboration
I am committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and engage in science communication through both academic and artistic channels. By working with farmers, biotech start-ups, and artists, I aim to create new understandings and applications of biological knowledge—ranging from fieldwork to photographic art and soil restoration. I also contribute to public science communication, including a recent feature in Apollon magazine highlighting how soil microbes shape plant health and ecosystem function.