Hans-Peter Grossart is a microbial ecologist specializing in aquatic biodiversity and the ecological roles of microorganisms in freshwater and marine systems. Since 2010, he has been a W2 Professor for Biodiversity and Microbial Ecology at the University of Potsdam and Head of the Aquatic Microbial Ecology Group at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). He has also contributed to the scientific community through roles such as Speaker of Aquatic Biodiversity at IGB (2008–2022) and member of the German Science Foundation Review Board for Water Research (since 2023), as well as serving on the ASLO board and leading its Early Career Research Committee.
He completed his PhD in Limnology at the University of Constance (1995), following a Diploma in 1991. His early career included postdoctoral research at the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory (Israel) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (USA), and an assistant professorship at the University of Oldenburg (ICBM), focusing on biogeological processes.
His research focuses on microbial interactions, combining genomic and physiological approaches. A key contribution is the development of the Linked Genomic Clusters (LGC) concept to study interactions among bacteria and other organisms, including processes such as vitamin production, hormone signaling, and iron transport. He also investigates the ecology and evolution of cyanobacteria, particularly their microbiomes and roles in harmful algal blooms under climate change.
In addition, his work explores aquatic fungi (e.g., Chytrids, Cryptomycota) and their roles in ecosystem functioning and biotechnology. Using OMICS and cultivation-based methods, he applies trait-based approaches to understand multi-trophic microbial food webs, eco-evolutionary feedbacks, and how biodiversity shapes ecosystem dynamics in natural and applied systems.
