Dr Carsten Reuse.
Microalgae are among the oldest organisms on earth and played a decisive role in the formation of our oxygen-rich atmosphere. Thanks to their ability to photosynthesise, they contributed significantly to oxygen production and thus laid the foundations for life as we know it today. Their ecological importance is still immense today: microalgae are not only an important component of aquatic ecosystems, they also form the basis of the marine food chain. They bind CO₂ and produce around 50 % of global oxygen, making them an indispensable component in the fight against climate change. They produce a variety of pigments such as chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins, which are not only essential for their photosynthesis, but are also used in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, microalgae are a rich source of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, which are of great health benefit to human nutrition. The high efficiency with which algae produce biomass under a wide range of conditions makes them promising candidates for the sustainable production of bio-based raw materials and food supplements.
Dr Carsten Reuse is a dedicated biologist and entrepreneur who is currently working on founding the innovative start-up ALGAEPLANT. The focus is on the establishment of microalgae for the industrial production of high-quality ingredients. In his role as one of the founders, Dr Reuse is actively involved in building a dynamic
team, developing business strategies, creating financial plans and writing third-party funding applications.
The Meet the Scientist format offers a look behind the scenes of science. Get to know researchers personally, ask them your questions and find out more about the background, challenges and goals of their work. Meet the Scientist at phaeno, find out more about the research project, ask questions about everyday working life, in the lab and at your desk. Experience science up close.
Meet the Scientist is a co-operation with Volkswagen Group.
In his doctoral thesis at the Technical University of Braunschweig, he investigated the metabolism of microalgae under different environmental conditions. His work focussed on the ability of these organisms to cope with environmental changes and their potential use in biotechnology and environmental technology. One
particular research interest was the question of how microalgae cope with changing environmental conditions, such as those occurring in the course of climate change.
In addition to the preparations for founding a company, he is currently conducting research at the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) in the field of agroforestry. His scientific interest here is in sustainable agriculture, in particular the integration of agroforestry systems and their impact on yield and biodiversity.
In addition to his academic work, Dr Reuse has contributed to several high-ranking scientific publications. His research ranges from the regulation of macrophage metabolism in the tumour microenvironment to innovative tools for the analysis of metabolic fluxes, live cell imaging and microbial
interactions. His work has been published in renowned journals such as Nature Communications, EMBO Reports and Theranostics
