Objective Microorganisms are the greatest chemists of our planet. Almost every chemical reaction that is thermodynamically feasible is exploited by these organisms to sustain growth and survival. Together, the actions of microbes comprise the biogeochemical element cycles, a vastly complicated metabolic network that is the basis of all life. Since a few years the metagenomic exploration of this network has begun. Ten years from now next-generation massive parallel sequencing technology will enable the cost-effective near-complete molecular characterization of microbial communities. This development has great applied and fundamental potential. So far metagenomes were recorded for natural communities with poorly characterized natural history. Consequently, such metagenomes are very difficult to interpret. To move forward, it is essential to record metagenomes of microbial communities at precisely defined selective pressure. That is the key innovation of my ERC application. It is a simple step forwards, and a very challenging one. It will require a combination of skills in engineering, biochemistry, microbial ecology, physiology and bioinformatics. This combination is exactly what has propelled my previous research. My project focuses on communities involved in nitrate respiration. The turnover of nitrate plays a key role in all geochemical element cycling while its natural abundance is severely affected by human activity. The environmental fate of nitrate is currently unpredictable. My project will deliver fundamental molecular understanding over the workings of natural selection for nitrate respiring communities. It will express this understanding into useful, general metagenomic markers. This is a pioneering effort; it will serve as an example to the field and show how to capitalize on the most far-reaching innovation of our time. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologynatural scienceschemical sciences Keywords Applied Bioreactor Ecology Environmental Microbiology Metagenomics Nitrogen Cycle Thermodynamic Modeling Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS8 - ERC Starting Grant - Evolutionary, population and environmental biology Call for proposal ERC-2009-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV EU contribution € 1 278 000,00 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Heike Wojack (Ms.) Principal investigator Marc Strous (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany EU contribution € 1 278 000,00 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Heike Wojack (Ms.) Principal investigator Marc Strous (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITAET BIELEFELD Germany EU contribution € 422 000,00 Address UNIVERSITAETSSTRASSE 25 33615 Bielefeld See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Detmold Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Sebastian Kraus (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data