Edith C. Hammer
I’m a Senior Lecturer/Assoc Professor in Soil Microbial Ecology at Lund University. My research focusses on microbial processes that drive the nutrient cycles in soils and are the base for healthy soil functions, such as its enormous carbon storage. Our lab developed the soil chips, microfluidic micromodels that mimic soil pore space structure to soil ecology embedded in its spatial settings. With help of them we study microbial processes and interactions at cellular scale, including organic matter degradation and physical occlusion, trophic networks and microbial behavior – especially of fungi and protists.
Something also close to my heart is to increase awareness of the fragile soil ecosystem with its intricate biodiversity. I lead the branch for climate and C-cycle science of the Swedish strategic research environment BECC, the Section Soil Biology at the European Geosciences Union and a recent initiative for soil microbe outreach (Youtube channel “soilwatching”).
Fun facts about me:
What is your favourite microbe?
A: woa, difficult. Changing. At the moment I’d say: Noctiluca miliaris (“sea sparkle”), network forming amoebae like Dictyamoeba, and of course my first love Rhizosphagus irregularis
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A student.
Beach or forest?
A: On a lake, for example in a canoe. Anyway immersed IN THE MIDST of sth.
List 3 things that you’re good at:
A: Association chains, connect things, making angry people not angry
What was your favourite cartoon as a kid and why?
A: Krtek chemikem (the little mole as a chemist) and Asterix et le Coup du menhir – because of all the colourful exploding potions in both :)
What do you look like when you dance?
A: A bounceball with energy surplus