Research Axis IMAGE

In the IMAGE research axis, we study how microbial communities interact, self-organize (in space and time), and contribute to ecological processes and industrial needs. Our goal is to understand and engineer microbiomes to deliver environmental services such as wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and pathogen control. 

We work with both complex ecosystems (mixed cultures, organic residues) and simplified models (co-cultures, synthetic consortia), combining microbial ecology, biotechnology, and process engineering. Our research activities are organized into four complementary themes: 
 

• Controlling microbiomes for ecosystem services: We develop strategies to steer microbial activity in bioprocesses, including co-cultures of microalgae and bacteria, bioelectrochemical systems, fermentation, anaerobic digestion and photogranules, focusing on productivity and robustness. 
• Tracking microbial and genetic fluxes: We investigate how microbial communities and specific genes, such as antibiotic resistance, spread through treatment systems and the environment, with special attention to biofilms and in the context of reuse of treated wastewater. 
• Ensuring functional stability: We explore how ecosystem functions can be preserved and propagated across scales and between systems, aiming to improve the reproducibility and reliability of microbial bioprocesses. 
• Decoding how spatial structure affects microbial interactions: We examine how spatial organization affects microbial cooperation, competition, and resilience, from biofilm architecture to granule stratification. 

Our work combines high-throughput molecular tools, innovative experimental set-up, and computational modeling. We collaborate widely with national and international partners and contribute to developing sustainable environmental biotechnologies aligned with circular economy goals. 

Contact : Kim Milferstedt