Unlocking the untapped potential of marine microbial dark matter
Marine oligotrophic microorganisms represent one of the most enigmatic and underexplored frontiers in microbial ecology. Thriving in nutrient-depleted and chemically complex environments, these microorganisms have evolved extraordinary adaptive strategies over billions of years — accumulating rare genetic repertoires, unique metabolic capabilities, and sophisticated interaction networks that remain largely uncharacterized. We believe the next generation of environmental biotechnological solutions lies hidden within these microbial communities, waiting to be discovered.
The MOM Research Group, established in 2025 at CMET under the FED-Twin initiative and fully supported by Belspo, is dedicated to deciphering this complexity and translating fundamental microbial knowledge into impactful, real-world applications. Led by PI Prof. Dr. Kankana Kundu, MOM operates at the exciting interface of marine microbial ecology, environmental biotechnology, and computational biology, with a unique and strategic collaboration with the Belgian Navy through the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences — providing privileged access to rare and underexplored marine environments.
Our Research Approach
We explore the marine microbiome across diverse environmental settings, investigating microbial interactions at scales ranging from molecular networks to whole ecosystem dynamics — bridging the gap from kingdoms to ecosystems. Our research is cross-disciplinary by design, integrating:
- Multi-omics profiling (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, metabolomics) to capture the full functional and taxonomic complexity of marine microbial communities
- Synthetic microbiology to reconstruct and engineer microbial functions identified from environmental datasets
- Protein and microbial interaction network analysis to map the intricate biochemical and ecological relationships within marine microbiomes
- AI/ML-guided modelling to predict microbial community dynamics and ecosystem responses under changing environmental conditions
This integrative framework allows us to move beyond descriptive microbial ecology towards mechanistic, predictive, and ultimately applicable science.
Our Mission — Science for Impact
A central focus of MOM is harnessing the unique functional potential of marine oligotrophic microorganisms for targeted biotechnological applications, with a particular emphasis on bioremediation. We investigate pollutant pathways across interconnected aquatic systems and develop novel, microbiome-driven technologies, directly contributing to the EU’s Zero Pollution Ambition and broader environmental sustainability goals.
With dedicated PhD researchers, MOM has embarked on an ambitious journey to unravel the complexity of the marine microbial world — one that has quietly shaped Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem resilience for billions of years.
Join Us
MOM actively welcomes collaborative partnerships with researchers, institutions, and industry partners across marine biology, environmental microbiology, computational biology, biotechnology, and environmental engineering. If you share our passion for marine microbial science and its transformative potential, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch: Kankana.kundu@ugent.be