Leise Riber
Lektor
Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology
Thorvaldsensvej 40
1871 Frederiksberg C
Research interests
My main focus is on molecular microbiology, bacterial genetics as well as the biology and dynamics of mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids and bacteriophages (short; phages). In particular, I find it quite fascinating to learn more about how plasmids and phages interact with each other as well as with their bacterial hosts. A key element of this research involves the finding and characterization of novel molecular mechanisms underlying this complex, but highly exciting, network of defense and anti-defense interactions/strategies taking place between phages and their bacterial hosts. Phage epigenomics (i.e. detection of nucleotide modifications on phage genomes), as studied by long-read sequencing, has recently been integrated into this research.
In addition, I have a keen interest in isolating and characterizing novel phages from natural environments, in particular from the phyllosphere of wheat plants, a complex and highly diverse plant surface. Adding to our current understanding of how phages interact with- and impact on the microbial communities inhabiting this environment might help us to explore their potential as future biocontrol agents.
Previously, I have been engaged in finding novel strategies to limit the occurrence of plasmid-borne spread of antimicrobial resistance mediated through horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, I have been engaged in elucidating some of the molecular mechanisms that regulate initiation of bacterial chromosome replication using Escherichia coli as model organism. In particular, adding a more bacterial stress survival/response angle in the sense of bacterial persistence was of interest.
Education
2003-2007 Ph.D., (Molecular Microbiology). Roskilde University, Roskilde.
1996-2003 Cand. Polyt., (Chemistry, Biotechnology). Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby.
Employment
2024- Associate Professor, (Molecular Microbiology). University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen, Prof. Lars Hestbjerg Hansen Lab.
2020-2024 Assistant Professor, (Molecular Microbiology). University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen, Prof. Lars Hestbjerg Hansen Lab.
2016-2020 Assistant Professor, (Molecular Microbiology). BASP, University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, Copenhagen, Prof. Anders Løbner-Olesen Lab.
2012-2016 Assistant Professor, (Molecular Microbiology). University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, KU-SCIENCE, Copenhagen, Prof. Søren J. Sørensen Lab.
2010-2012 Post-doctoral Fellow, (Molecular Microbiology). University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, KU-SCIENCE, Copenhagen, Prof. Søren J. Sørensen Lab.
2008-2010 Post-doctoral Fellow, (Molecular Microbiology and Food Microbiology). National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DTU-FOOD, Mørkhøj.
2006-2007 Post-doctoral Fellow, (Molecular Microbiology). Roskilde University, Roskilde.
Academic Awards and Grants
2023-2026 Novo Nordisk Foundation, NNF; Granted 1.992.638 DKK for project entitled “DEFENSEBOOST: Boosting bacterial immunity through rational engineering of antiviral defense strategies”.
2019-2022 Lundbeck Foundation Experiment; Granted 1.983.129 DKK for project entitled “Identification of epigenetic markers promoting bacterial persistence as targets in drug discovery”.
2018-2019 A.P. Møller Lægefonden, Torben og Alice Frimodts Fond, Brødrene Hartmanns Fond, Aase og Ejnar Danielsens Fond, and Knud og Edith Eriksens Mindefond; In total granted 320.000 DKK for project entitled “Identification and characterization of novel antimicrobial compounds with replication inhibiting effect in S. aureus”.
2002 The Carlsbergs Mindelegat for Brygger J.C.Jacobsen Scholarship. Copenhagen.
Supervision/Teaching activities
2018-ongoing Appointed censor (‘Censorkorpset for Biologi’) for the BSc and MSc Biology education.
2014-2016 Course responsible; graduate course Emerging Molecular Techniques in Microbiology, UCPH.
2010-ongoing Teaching (lectures, lab exercises, group classes, exams) on various BSc and MSc courses.
2005-ongoing Supervision of 11 bachelor (BSc) and 12 master (MSc; 1 ongoing) students in molecular microbiology. Supervision of 4 international PhD students (1 ongoing) and 4 postdocs (1 ongoing).
Uddannelse
Cand polyt, PhD
ID: 17515397
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