I am an aquatic ecologist specialising in freshwater ecosystem functioning, with a focus on microbial decomposers, particularly aquatic hyphomycetes. My research addresses how global change related stressors influence biodiversity and the processes underlying organic matter decomposition in freshwater systems. I am especially interested in variation within (intraspecific) and between (interspecific) species, as well as species interactions, and how these together shape ecosystem resilience and the functional consequences of biodiversity loss. My work also explores the conservation and potential biotechnological applications of aquatic hyphomycetes, aiming to bridge fundamental ecological research with applied environmental solutions.