Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology
 Official logo
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| Abbreviation | MPI-Marburg |
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| Formation | 1991 |
| Type | Scientific institute |
| Purpose | Research on terrestrial microorganisms |
| Headquarters | Marburg, Hessen, Germany |
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Key people
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Rudolf K. Thauer, founder Ralf Conrad, managing director |
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Parent organization
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Max Planck Society |
| Website | (English) |
The Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology (German: Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie) is a research institute for terrestrial microbiology in Marburg, Germany. It was founded in 1991 by Rudolf K. Thauer and is one of 80 institutes in the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft). Its sister institute is the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, which was founded a year later in 1992 in Bremen.
There are currently around 19 research groups at the institute. The research at MPI-Marburg broadly focuses on understanding the functioning of microorganisms at the molecular, cellular and community levels. In particular, the focus is the mechanisms of cellular and community adaptation of bacteria in response to changes in the environment.
The Institute consists of three departments with their respective research groups and heads:
The Biogeochemistry Department, headed by Ralf Conrad, is focused on the microbial metabolism and biogeochemical matter cycling in soil. Soil microbial metabolism plays an important role in the global cycling of matter and — through the formation of atmospheric trace gases such as methane and nitrous oxide — also influences the climate on Earth. The department examines the role of soil microorganisms in carbon and nitrogen cycling, particularly in chemically well-defined processes such as the production and consumption of methane, the oxidation of ammonia, or denitrification. There are four research leaders in charge of six research groups and two project groups:
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