Draft:Manuel Liebeke

Manuel Liebeke (born 1981) is a German scientist and professor known for his contributions to the field of microbial metabolomics. As of 2023, he is a full professor at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (University of Kiel) in Germany. His research focuses on the chemical interactions between microorganisms and their environments, with an emphasis on metabolic processes and microbial ecology. Since 2024 he holds an Schleswig-Holstein Excellence Chair .

Career

Early Career

After obtaining his Ph.D. at the University of Greifwald, Liebeke worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London (Systems Medicine, Prof. Jeremy Nicholson). In 2013 Liebeke joined the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen. During this time, his research focus became host-microbe interactions. His postdoctoral work contributed significantly to the understanding of metabolic exchanges in marine microbial communities.

Professorship at the University of Kiel

In 2023, Liebeke was appointed as a professor for metabolomics at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. At Kiel, he leads a research group within the Institute of human nutrition and food science, focusing on metabolomics. His team employs advanced analytical techniques, including mass spectrometry and spatial metabolomics, to study the metabolic networks of microorganisms in diverse environments.

Research and Contributions

Liebeke's research aims to uncover the complex interactions between microorganisms and their hosts. His notable contributions include:

• Metabolic Profiling of Microbes: Liebeke has extensively studied the metabolic processes of microorganisms, revealing insights into their roles in nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning.
• Development of Analytical Methods: He has contributed to the advancement of analytical techniques in metabolomics, particularly in mass spectrometry, facilitating more precise and comprehensive metabolic analyses.
• Spatial metabolomics of microbiomes: Liebeke's work using high resolution spatial metabolomics has shed light on the chemical communication and interactions between microbial species, enhancing the understanding of microbial ecology and the impact of microbes on their environments.

Honours and Awards

• 2021 - Otto Monstedt stipend for a guest professorship at Danish Technical University Copenhagen

• 2010 - Alfried-Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach PhD scholarship

• 2006 - Apotheker-Paul-Marshall scholarship for diploma thesis (stipend)

Publications

Liebeke has published numerous articles in high ranking scientific journals, including Science, Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, PNAS, Analytical Chemistry, and Environmental Microbiology (see his google scholar profile)

Youtube

• 10 Interviews – Discussing the Future of Kiel Life Science
• Technologies in Systems Microbiology - mSystems Thinking Series