The Institute consists of five departments with their respective research groups and heads:
Biogeochemistry
The Biogeochemistry Department, headed by Ralf Conrad, is focused on the microbial metabolism and biogeochemical matter cycling in soil. Soil microbial metabolism plays an important role in the global cycling of matter and — through the formation of atmospheric trace gases such as methane and nitrous oxide — also influences the climate on Earth. The department examines the role of soil microorganisms in carbon and nitrogen cycling, particularly in chemically well-defined processes such as the production and consumption of methane, the oxidation of ammonia, or denitrification. There are four research leaders in charge of six research groups and two project groups: Research Groups Ralf Conrad
The Ecophysiology Department, headed by Lotte Søgaard-Andersen, focuses on understanding how intracellular signalling networks are wired to allow bacteria to adapt and differentiate in response to changes in the environment or in response to self-generated signals. Specifically, the department has two aims. Firstly, they aim to understand how bacteria process information to generate appropriate output responses. Secondly, they aim to understand how molecular machines involved in motility and secretion function and how their activity is regulated. Ecophysiology currently has three research groups led by the following in parenthesis:
Bacterial secretion systems
The intracellular organization and differentiation of bacteria
Bacterial development & differentiation
Organismic Interactions
The Organismic Interactions Department, headed by Regine Kahmann, is focused on the biology of phytopathogenic fungi and in particular the mechanisms that underlie morphological differentiation and communication of these fungi with their plant hosts. Furthermore, the department is focused on the mechanisms that enable fungi to colonize plants successfully and on the processes accounting for variations in host preference and fungal lifestyles. There are three research groups:
Molecular phytopathology
Establishment of compatibility in biotrophic interactions
The Department of Systems and Synthetic Microbiology, headed by Victor Sourjik, aims to elucidate general principles of evolutionary optimization of cellular networks and implement these principles in the design of novel networks in microorganisms. Having a single research group, microbial networks is also led by Sourjik.
Synthetic Biochemistry and Metabolism
The Department of Synthetic Biochemistry and Metabolism is headed by Tobias J. Erb.
MPI-Marburg is scheduled to expand with a new , in collaboration with the Max Planck Society and the University of Marburg. The new department will serve as a research centre for SYNMIKRO with about 100 scientific positions expected to be made available. A grant of about 21 million Euro has been allocated for the period of 2010-12 alone.
IMPRS-Mic
The Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology operates the International Max Planck Research School for Environmental, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology program, in collaboration with the Philipps University of Marburg. The degrees are conferred by the University, as is the case for all other IMPRS programs in the MPG. Apart from the University, the MPI has close collaborations with research centres in the city and overseas. More specific information on their collaborations can be found on their page.
