Marine microbiology

At the foundation of the ocean's food web are phytoplankton, bacteria, protozoa (single-celled amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates), and viruses. Individually, these microorganisms are tiny, but together they account for most of the biodiversity, most of the biological activity, and most of the biomass in the ocean. They are also the driving force behind the processes that dominate the interactions between the ocean's chemistry and biology.

Marine microbiology field work and laboratory
Marine microbiology field work and laboratory work. Top left: Electron microscopy image of coccolithophores from seawater filtration, photo UiB. Bottom left: Cultures of microalgae, photo UiB. Top right: seawater filtration on a research cruise, photo UiB. Bottom right: Field work - sampling from a boat, photo UiB. Middle: Two persons transferring algal cultures in a laboratory, photo Warholm Film AS. Photo: UiB, Warholm Film AS, Lise Øvreås UiB

Affiliation

About the research group

Our research focuses on microorganisms, including microalgae, bacteria, archaea, and viruses, and the ecological roles they play in natural ecosystems. We combine research cruises, field studies, and laboratory experiments to investigate microbial processes in the environment. By analyzing environmental samples and conducting experiments both in the field and in the laboratory, we seek to understand how microbial communities function and respond to change. A major focus of our work is the Arctic, where rapid environmental changes are reshaping ecosystems. To address these questions, we use a wide range of approaches, including microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematical modeling. 

Master projects

Are you fascinated by microorganisms? Are you interested in ecology, enjoy laboratory work, and want to acquire knowledge and practical skills that open up a wide range of career opportunities? If so, you should consider a Master's thesis in microbiology.

As a Master's student, you will have the opportunity to learn a variety of laboratory techniques and work on research questions related to our ongoing projects. We offer thesis projects suitable for both Master's students in Biology and Molecular Biology.

Possible Master's Thesis Topics

  • Marine viral ecology and evolution
  • Microbial diversity in different environments
  • Computational microbial ecology
  • Genomic analyses of microorganisms
  • Characterization of microalgae and viruses
  • Microbial processes in the Arctic tundra 

Supervisors/Contact Persons 

Course Requirements

Students who wish to write a Master's thesis in Biology (Microbiology) must complete the following courses:

  • BIO214 – General Microbiology
  • BIO217 – Microbial Ecology 
  • BIO219 – Molecular Microbiology   

Twenty credits within the Master's programme are elective and should be selected in consultation with the thesis supervisor. 

Students who wish to write a Master's thesis in Molecular Biology (Microbiology) must complete the compulsory courses required by the programme. In addition, we recommend, in consultation with the thesis supervisor, selecting 10-20 credits from the courses listed above (BIO214, BIO217, BIO219). 

Projects

Completed master projects

Linking Methane Fluxes and Oxidation Rates to Methane Oxidizing Bacteria in a Changing Arctic Soil Community

Vincent Belde Master of Science in Biology – Microbiology Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen June 2025

Supervisors Lise Øvreås (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen) Helene Barthelemy (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen) Simone Lang (Department of Arctic Biology, UNIS) Joseph Gaudard (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen)

 

Sewage-based surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus spp. 

Nadja Junghardt, Master of Science in Biology – Microbiology Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Spring 2023

Supervisors: Nachiket P. Marathe, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen

Lise Øvreås, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen

Didrik Hjertaker Grevskkott, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen

 

Exploring the Condition of Fish Welfare and Microbial Dynamics in Egget® – a Novel Closed Aquaculture System at Sea - “Eggsploring Egget”

Andrea Christine Opshaug, Master of Science in Biology – Microbiology Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen October 2023

Supervisors: Karin Pittman, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen

Lise Øvreås, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen

Siri Vike (Ovum AS)

 

Planctomycetes as a Source for Cytotoxic Activity Towards Cancer Cells

Anne Lunde Master of Science in Biology – Microbiology Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Spring 2021

Supervised by: Prof. Lise Øvreås, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen Prof. Lars Herfindal, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen 

People

Group manager

Lise Øvreås Professor in Geomicrobiology, Professor II at The University Centre in Svalbard AS (UNIS)

Group members

Ruth-Anne Sandaa Professor

Gunnar Bratbak Emeritus

Jorun Karin Egge Emerita

Håkon Dahle Professor

Selina Våge Associate Professor

Tatiana Margko Tsagkaraki Researcher

Oliver Müller Researcher

Marius Rydningen Langvad Researcher

Elzbieta Anna Petelenz Senior engineer

Birte Töpper Senior engineer

Hilde Marie Kristiansen Stabell Head engineer

Jesslyn Tjendra PhD candidate

Kaavya Venkateswaran PhD candidate