Jörg Overmann moves from Braunschweig to Munich

Prof. Dr. Jörg Olvermann. Picture credit: DSMZ

Professor Jörg Overmann has been Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH in Braunschweig since February 2010. In August, he will take up the Chair of Molecular Biodiversity Research at LMU Munich. He will also assume the newly created position of Director General of all state-owned natural science museums and collections in Bavaria. In addition to his position at the DSMZ, Prof. Overmann was a full professor of microbiology at Technische Universität Braunschweig.

Over the past 15 years, he has expanded the DSMZ by establishing five new departments, including the Research Department for Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, which he heads. He has also initiated the comprehensive digitisation of the institute’s information resources.

Overmann’s extensive scientific work focuses particularly on the biological diversity of microorganisms, ranging from deep-sea bacteria and their role in the carbon cycle, to the influence of bacterial communities on plant roots, amphibians, and fish.

Further information: DMZ