Prof. Gabriele Berg

Biography and Expertise of Prof. Gabriele Berg

4681855127000Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Gabriele Berg Graz University of Technology, AUSTRIA Institute of Environmental Biotechnology (Head)Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy University of Potsdam, GERMANY  +433168738310  gabriele.berg@tugraz.at  www.ubt.tugraz.at https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriele_Berghttps://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TeMrTQQAAAAJ&hl=dePersonal Information Born: May 28th 1963 in Potsdam, German Nationality Married: with Dr. Christian Berg, two sons: Clemens and Lorenz; 5 grand childrenEducation and Professional Experience 1969-1981 School and High school – Hermann-von-Helmholtz Gymnasium Potsdam 1981-1986 Studies in Biology (Ecology) at the University of Rostock (Diploma)1986-1987 Research studies in Microbiology/Biotechnology at the University of Greifswald 1995, 2001 Dissertation, Habilitation/Venia legendi (Microbiology) at the University of Rostock2005- Professor of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology2021- Professor of Microbiome Management, ATB and University of Potsdam (20%)Selected Professional and University Service Reviewer activities for diverse international funding agencies and since 2022 ERC Evaluator Scientific advisory board of BioTechMed Graz (2017-2025), Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology (2015 – 2019), Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (2021-) Head of the strategic Field of Expertise “Human & Biotechnology” at TU Graz (2021-)Member of the Senat of the TU Graz (2009-2022) Board member of the ÖGMBT (2009-2014) Head of the Working group “Biological control of plant diseases” DPG (2004-2012) Editorial/reviewer appointments: ISME J (2005-2018); Microbiome, Environmental Microbiome, FEMS Microbial EcologyVice president of the ISME society https://isme-microbes.org/about/governance/board/Selected AwardsThe Science Prize of the Austrian Research Association (2025); Max Planck Fellow (2025), Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Knight`s Cross) Styria (2022), Mind the Gap Award TU Graz (2023, 2020), Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark (2021), BioTechMed Award (2020), Fast Forward Award Styria (2016), ÖGUT Umweltpreis (2011), Science2Business Award Austria (2011), Business Award Rostocker Kreis (2005), Heisenberg Fellowship of the DFG (2003)Highly Cited Researcher 2018-2020 in cross fields, 2024, 2025 in Microbiology (Clarivate Analytics); this list recognizes world-class researchers selected for their exceptional research performance (rank top 1% by citations)Publications: >300; Patents: 7; Citations: 55621; h-index: 122Innovative teaching approachesMOOC (Massive Open Online Course): Microbiome & Health https://imoox.at/course/microbiomeComputer game Tiny Microbiome Tales: https://microbiome.gamelabgraz.at/Research highlightsGabriele Berg research interests are focused on understanding functioning of microbial communities in terrestrial inter-connected environments as well as translation of these results into new biotechnological and microbiome management concepts for health issues. Her main contributions include many key facts related to the plant microbiome; in addition, she is one of the international drivers of the interdisciplinary field of microbiome biotechnology. Ground-breaking discoveries on the plant microbiota include:Beneficial plant-associated endophytes are vertically transmitted by spores and seeds (Bragina et al. ISME 2012; Berg & Raaijmakers ISME 2018, Bergna et al. Phytobiomes 2018, Adam et al. Plant & Soil 2018; Abdelfattah et al. Trends Microbiol. 2023). First discovery of vertical microbiota transmission for mosses and seed plantsThe genotype-specific plant microbiome was shaped by plant-microbiota coevolution (Smalla et al. AEM 2001; Berg et al. AEM 2002; Cardinale et al. EM 2015). Evidence for specificity of the entire microbiota by fingerprints and functional analysisBog ecosystems as a playground for plant-microbe coevolution (Opelt et al. ISME 2007; Obermeier et al. ISME 2021; Wicaksono et al. Microbiome 2021) First indication for different microbiota assembly strategies in bryophytes and vascular plantsArchaea are functional components of plant microbiomes (Taffner et al. mSphere 2018). First evidence for plant beneficial functions in archaea by metagenome analysesApples harbour 100 million diverse bacteria (Wassermann et al. Front Microbiol. 2019). Game-changing for the public, and belongs to the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by AltmetricSingle key stone bacterial species can cause plant health – soterobionts (Matsumoto et al. Nat Plants 2019; Cernava & Berg EM 2022). A new concept for microbial key stone species mediating health – the opposite of a pathogen existsThe plant microbiota signature of the Anthropocene is a future challenge (Berg & Cernava Microbiome 2022). First summary of the negative man-made impact The inter-connected plant microbiome and the human health are the current focus:The plant rhizosphere is a reservoir for emerging human pathogenic bacteria (Berg et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1999; Berg et al. EM 2005; Oberauner et al. Sci Rep. 2013). First evidence for health care associated infections from plant bacteria Man-made antimicrobial resistance in built environments (Mahnert et al. Nat Comm. 2019). Loss of microbial diversity correlates with an increase in antimicrobial resistance – important evidence, which has too little attention in everyday life.Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss (Peixoto et al. Nat Microbiol. 2022). First concept spanning plants, wildlife, and entire ecosystemsThe edible microbiome is an important component of the human exposome and crucial for gut health (Wicaksono et al. Gut Microbe 2023, 2025)Microbiome-based solutions:Launching the IUCN Microbial Conservation Specialist Group as a global safeguard for microbial biodiversity. Gilbert et al. Nat Microbiol. 2025 Microbiome protectionBerg, G., & Müller, H. (2022). POLYMERIC PARTICLES CONTAINING MICROORGANISMS. (Patent Nr. UA 126082). Formulation of Gram-negative bacteria and consortiaThe patents 1) Novel decontamination strategies for clean rooms and surfaces (EP 09 180 492.2), 2) Novel proteases and polyesterases (PCT/EP2008/058546), and 3) Pyrazines are efficient compounds to control microorganisms (EP 10 196 672.9) reflect microbiome-based innovations INITIO© – Innovative Seed Treatment by KWS, SALAVIDA© by Sourcon-PadenaMicrobiome-based products for plant health in the global market