Master student Anastasiia Grekovaand and Helmholtz AI principal investigator Lara Urban have received an UE-INTERACT grant for a project to study glacier microbiomes at the Hintereis Research Station. Lara Urban’s research group studies the beneficial impact of genomics, portable technology, and machine learning on environmental health and nature conservation within a One Health approach. In this project, they will bring portable nanopore sequencing to investigate the microbial community of the Hintereis glacier and determine the likelihood of zoonotic diseases emerging due to the melting of the glaciers.

About INTERACT

INTERACT is an international network of scientists working on Arctic research and cooperation in Europe. The EU-INTERACT grant supports projects focused on the environment, including its ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate, providing access to research facilities and resources as well as engaging international cooperation. It also provides funding for research on human interactions with the Arctic, including social and cultural aspects.

Find out more about Lara Urban’s research group.

(Picture from INTERACT)