EDGE

Assoc.-Prof. Dr. Michael Zumstein

Associate Professor for Biotransformation 
Head of the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biodegradation of Water-Soluble Polymers

 

☎ +43 1 4277 53372
✉ michael.zumstein(at)univie.ac.at
⚲ Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II), Room 2C477, 1090 Vienna


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CeMESS/Ludwig Schedl

Our group investigates the biotransformation and biodegradation of anthropogenic organic chemicals in natural and engineered environments. We combine techniques from environmental analytical chemistry and molecular biology to obtain a fundamental understanding of the activity, specificity, and identity of key enzymes and microorganisms involved in these processes. 

A current research focus lies on the biodegradation of polymeric components in home and personal care products in wastewater and freshwater environments. Other chemical classes of interest are pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Generally, we investigate how chemical structure and environmental biotic and abiotic factors affect biodegradation. These process-level insights guide the development and selection of biodegradable alternatives to conventional chemicals.
 

Public Outreach

Group Members

Marko Kojic


Postdoc

Patrick Schacksen


Postdoc

Maximilian Eiser


PhD Student

Richard Gruseck


PhD Student

Gwen Jezequel


PhD Student

Siraz Kader


PhD Student

Anika Mikes


PhD Student

Madeline O'Connor


PhD Student

Felix Machold


Master's Student

Samuel Knapp


Technician

Publications

Meibom J, Wichmann N, Astorch-Cardona A, Zumstein M, Kohn T. Proteolytic Activity and Substrate Specificity of Lake Geneva. Environmental Science & Technology. 2025 Dec 16;59(51):27811-27823. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c06582

Kintzi A, Göldner V, Daturpalli S, Battagliarin G, Künkel A, Hofmann T et al. Combining respirometry and HPLC-HRMS to elucidate the biodegradation of polyethylene glycol and its derivatives. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2025 Sept 1;242:111639. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111639

Wichmann N, Meibom J, Kohn T, Zumstein M. Conserved specificity of extracellular wastewater peptidases revealed by multiplex substrate profiling by mass spectrometry. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 2025 Aug;23(4):953-959. 100210. doi: 10.1007/s10311-025-01834-7

Gruseck R, Hofmann T, Zumstein M. Flavonoid Stability and Biotransformation in Agricultural Soils: Effects of Hydroxylation, Methoxylation, and Glycosylation. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2025 Jun 11;73(23):14245-14252. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c02814

Kintzi A, Daturpalli S, Battagliarin G, Zumstein M. Biologischer Abbau von wasserlöslichen Polymeren in Abwassersystemen: Effekt von ausgewählten Protokollvariationen. Vom Wasser - das Journal. 2025 Mar 12;123(1):10-11. doi: 10.1002/vomw.202500003

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Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health

Michael Zumstein is part of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence (CoE)

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