My research focuses on the roles played by soil fungi in organic matter decomposition to understand their impact on forest productivity and soil carbon sequestration. Employing techniques from microbial ecology and microbiology, such as metabarcoding, genomics, and transcriptomics, I aim to link decomposition processes with key fungal taxa and their interactions with other microbial domains (bacteria and protists) and plants. Additionally, I use hybrid techniques like metatranscriptomics, stable isotope probing, and soil microfluidic chips to bridge field and lab findings. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance forest management practices, conservation strategies, and biogeochemical models of forest carbon and nutrient cycles.

For more information about my research activities, you can follow me on Twitter (@FranFungi) or visit my website at https://sites.google.com/view/franfungi. If you're interested in pursuing a bachelor's or master's thesis, please feel free to reach out. We can discuss potential projects that align with your interests and my ongoing research.