Ass.-Prof. Dr. Michael Zumstein

  

 

 

 

 

Assistant Professor for Biotransformation

☎ +43 1 4277 53372

✉ michael.zumstein@univie.ac.at

⚲ Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II), Room 2C477, 1090 Vienna

Michael Zumstein’s group investigates the biotransformation and biodegradation of anthropogenic organic chemicals in natural and engineered environments. The group combines techniques from environmental analytical chemistry and molecular biology to obtain a fundamental understanding of the activity, specificity, and identity of enzymes involved in these processes.

Regarding classes of chemicals, the current research focus is on polymers that are important for home and personal care, as well as on biomolecules (and derivatives thereof) that are promising alternatives to conventional pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Michael has received an Ambizione Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to investigate the biotransformation of peptide-based antibiotics in wastewater systems. He leads a research cooperation between the University of Vienna and BASF SE on the biodegradation of water-soluble polymers. The process-level insights obtained through the group’s research inform the development of biodegradable chemicals.

Links

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Join the Team

If you are interested in joining our team, explore our open positions and learn more about available PhD and postdoc stipends here.

Teaching

To view Michael Zumstein's teaching activities at the University of Vienna, visit u:find.

Projects

If all microbial life disappeared from Earth, our world would change dramatically. Microorganisms are essential for nutrient recycling, decomposing...
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Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) are used in numerous applications, including home and personal care products. After their use, WSPs are often released...
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The input of anthropogenic chemicals into environmental systems is a major concern. For example, the presence of antibiotics in wastewater and...
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Biopesticides are promising alternatives to synthetic pesticides – among other reasons also because they are expected to be biodegraded and thus of...
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 Group Members

 Publications

Showing entries 1 - 6 out of 12
Gruseck, R. J., Palatinszky, M., Wagner, M., Hofmann, T., & Zumstein, M. (Accepted/In press). Quantification of Guanidine in Environmental Samples using Benzoin Derivatization and LC-MS Analysis. MethodsX, 13, [102972]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102972
Palatinszky, M., Herbold, C. W., Sedlacek, C. J., Pühringer, D., Kitzinger, K., Giguere, A. T., Wasmund, K., Nielsen, P. H., Dueholm, M. K. D., Jehmlich, N., Gruseck, R., Legin, A., Kostan, J., Krasnici, N., Schreiner, C., Palmetzhofer, J., Hofmann, T., Zumstein, M., Djinović-Carugo, K., ... Wagner, M. (2024). Growth of complete ammonia oxidizers on guanidine. Nature, 633, 646-653. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07832-z
Kintzi, A., Daturpalli, S., Battagliarin, G., & Zumstein, M. (2024). Biodegradation of Water-Soluble Polymers by Wastewater Microorganisms: Challenging Laboratory Testing Protocols. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(34), 15246-15256. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c05808
Pfohl, P., Rueckel, M., Meyer, L., Battagliarin, G., Künkel, A., Hüffer, T., Zumstein, M., Hofmann, T., & Wohlleben, W. (2024). Influence of plastic shape on interim fragmentation of compostable materials during composting. Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 4, [7]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-024-00084-8
Wichmann, N., Gruseck, R., & Zumstein, M. (2024). Hydrolysis of Antimicrobial Peptides by Extracellular Peptidases in Wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(1), 717-726. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c06506
Sander, M., Weber, M., Lott, C., Zumstein, M., Künkel, A., & Battagliarin, G. (2023). Polymer Biodegradability 2.0: A Holistic View on Polymer Biodegradation in Natural and Engineered Environments. In Advances in Polymer Science (pp. 65-110). Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg. Advances in Polymer Science Vol. 239 https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2023_163