Project information: Soil fungi are key drivers of biogeochemical cycles through their roles in organic matter decomposition and plant nutrition via mycorrhizal symbioses. Their impact is based on both their diverse lifestyles and their interactions and competition for space and resources. These interactions can strongly affect decomposition rates and fluxes of carbon in soils, as well as plant productivity. However, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying soil fungal interactions, and how they are shaped by environmental conditions, remain poorly understood. Since climate change-induced shifts in vegetation affect the composition of fungal communities in the soil, understanding these mechanisms is essential for predicting future decomposition dynamics and soil carbon release.
Objectives: This master’s level project (30–45 ECTS) will explore interactions between fungal species, focusing on how secreted bioactive compounds shape the outcomes of fungal confrontations. The aim is to examine catalogs of fungal compounds secreted during confrontation for biologically active metabolites, isolate them, and analyze their effects at the mycelium and single hyphae levels.
Your role:
- Co-culture different fungal species and extract their secreted metabolites.
- Use high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate fungal extracts into fractions and ultimately (few) single compounds.
- Perform bioactivity tests on fungal agar plate cultures as well as in special microfluidic chips which allow microscopic observations of single hyphae.
This project offers the opportunity to apply molecular and biochemical methods to key questions in soil microbiology and potentially contribute to discovery of novel biochemical compounds. You will apply basic microbiological techniques as well as more specialized analytical methods and explore new approaches such as bioactivity testing in microfluidic chips. Your interests and ideas are welcome and can contribute to the direction of the project.
Required knowledge: Basic laboratory skills, preferably with experience working in sterile conditions. Strong interest in soil microbiology and fungi and biochemical lab techniques.
Start date: Any time from mid-March 2026 onwards
Interested? Contact us: Valentina Wolf (PhD candidate): valentina.wolf@biol.lu.se, Valentina Wolf – Lund University; Main supervisor: Milda Pucetaite, Milda Pucetaite – Lund University