Vortragende:
Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Tetyana Milojevic
FELMI, TU Graz
Zeit:
Freitag, 20.03.2026
Beginn: 09:15 Uhr
Nanoscale investigations of complex microbial interactions with terrestrial and extraterrestrial minerals: implications for life on Earth and beyond
Abstract:
Mineral processing microorganisms play important roles in environmental history, redox cycling of elements, shaping of rock records, and formation of ore deposits. My research program addresses microbial interactions with terrestrial minerals and astromaterials, Mars-relevant biosignatures, mineral-microbial interactions in extreme environments, and microbial metal extraction capacities for bioleaching/biomining operations. During these investigations, an efficient combined approach of microbiology, wet chemistry and STEM based nanoanalysis has been developed. STEM coupled to various nanospectroscopy techniques with enhanced spatial resolution can be used to record microbial micro- and nano-structures and reveal unprecedented events at the microbial-mineral interface, thereby solving exciting geobiological questions.
