Established in 2019 and led by Kirsten Küsel (Uni Jena and iDiv Member) since 2022, the “Balance of the Microverse” Cluster of Excellence studies how microbial interactions sustain life, uniquely transferring ecological concepts to medicine. The goal is to develop targeted interventions to address global health, environmental, and climate challenges. Building on major advances in identifying chemical mediators and developing advanced technologies, the next phase will integrate research from the molecular to the global scale to pinpoint factors influencing microbiome balance and resilience.
One research area explicitly explores microbiome diversity from local to global scales, mapping habitats, studying interactions between microbiomes, and analyzing global strategies. It aims to reveal the processes shaping communities, their impact on ecosystem balance, and shared genomic mechanisms.
Conceptual figure of the human microverse, illlustrating the interconnected human microbiomes linked to the micorbiomes of natural and constructed environments.
The new Microverse Center Jena, opening in 2026 on Jena’s Beutenberg Campus, will serve as a hub for research, collaboration, and innovation, hosting professorships, research groups, labs, and cluster management. Its sustainable design includes a wooden exterior, heat-storage tanks, and a photovoltaic green roof. It will also include flexible workspaces, a conference area, and communal spaces to foster scientific exchange.
In the coming months, several new positions within the Cluster will be advertised, inviting scientists at different career stages to join this dynamic research environment (see: Join the Cluster – Balance of the Microverse).
Contact: Kirsten Küsel, kirsten.kuesel@uni-jena.de
Shaping the Microverse takes many minds.