New Impetus for RNA research: Habilitation of Dr. Kathrin Fröhlich
We are delighted to congratulate Dr Kathrin Fröhlich – group leader at the Institute of Microbiology and a key researcher within Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" – on successfully completing her habilitation. Her work strengthens the scientific basis for understanding the complex interactions within microbial communities.
In her habilitation thesis, titled 'Coordination of Bacterial Gene Expression by Regulatory RNAs', Dr Fröhlich explores the molecular mechanisms that enable bacteria to control their gene activity and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Using the alphaproteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus and the human-pathogenic gammaproteobacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae as model organisms, she explored the functions and mechanisms of regulatory RNA molecules. Combining microbiological, molecular and biochemical methods has provided important new insights into bacterial RNA biology, further strengthening the international visibility of RNA research in Jena.
"Now that I have successfully completed my habilitation, I am eager to use the positive energy I have gained to further develop my RNA research and pursue new ideas. I would especially like to thank my team, whose dedication and cooperation were essential to the success of our work," says Dr Fröhlich.
Dr Fröhlich is not only a scientist of exceptional ability, but has also been deeply committed to academic teaching, the promotion of young scientists, and science outreach in schools for many years. This year, she was honoured with the Research Award from the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM), which highlights the importance of her work in furthering our understanding of microbial life.
We warmly congratulate her on this significant academic achievement and wish her continued success and inspiration in her future research.
Find out more about Dr Kathrin Fröhlich's research:
The emergency switch: How bacteria react to hunger at lightning speed