Department Environmental Microbiology

Yinyin Ma (PhD student Umik)

Environmental Microbiology

Our research focuses on microbial life and activities in the environment. We strive to understand the basic rules and principles that govern the functioning of microbes and microbial communities, and then apply those principles to solve pressing applied problems.

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Selected Publications

Pathogens and Human Health: Article about the role of contaminated surfaces in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within communities and the effectiveness of hand hygiene and surface disinfection interventions. Article

Microbial Systems Ecology: Paper showing that bacteria compensate for the trade-off between reproduction and survival through evolving phenotypic heterogeneity in lag time. Article

Drinking Water Microbiology: Critical opinion on the possible role of COVID-19 lockdown stagnation on Legionella growth in building plumbing systems. Article

Microbial Community Assembly: Article showing that patterns of microbial spatial self-organization can diversify and acquire different properties. Article

Seminars

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News

Eawag in the year 2022

In close exchange with various universities in Switzerland and abroad, Eawag is committed to the education of undergraduate and doctoral students in natural, engineering and social sciences. In 2022, Eawag employees supervised 149 doctoral theses – such as that of Dorothee Kurz. In collaboration with ETH Zurich, the engineer in Joaquin Jimenez-Martinez’s research group is investigating how bacteria form biofilms in soils and groundwater aquifers. To do this, she works with simplified models that simulate the natural environment. (Photo: Eawag, Alessandro Della Bella)
May 11, 2023 –

The aquatic research institute Eawag has published its latest annual report and looks back on the year 2022. Water is at the heart of the most important environmental issues.

The aquatic research institute Eawag has published its latest annual report and looks back on the year 2022. Water is at the heart of the most important environmental issues.
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Selected Research Projects

Application of Wastewater-based Epidemiology to SARS-CoV-2 Detection

SARS-CoV2 in Wastewater
We combine computational, experimental and clinical approaches to develop a clearer view of microbiomes.

NCCR Microbiomes
Inhalation of legionella bacteria – which thrive in warm water – can cause illness: in a new project, an Eawag-led multidisciplinary research team is investigating how the risks associated with these bacteria can best be managed.

Legionella control efforts intensified in Switzerland – “LeCo” project
Fate of antibiotic resistance during microbial range expansion

Antibiotic resistance during range expansion

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