Sørensen, Megan
Tenure track professorship at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science
Steffen Koehler, Heinrich-Heine University
My research
The evolution of photosynthetic endosymbioses have driven critical evolutionary transitions, and continue to play crucial roles in modern ecosystems. Research in Megan Sørensen’s group leverages microbial eukaryote systems to study the evolution and ecology of these important associations. The group uses a diverse range of experimental and analytical techniques to probe how these partnerships are integrated at every level of their cellular biology, and how this enables coordination, and potential manipulation, between the partners.
The overall research aim is to advance our fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underpin the emergence and maintenance of endosymbioses, as well as the processes by which endosymbioses can, on occasion, evolve into organelles.
Curriculum vitae
- 2010-2013 Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK
- 2014-2015 Master’s degree by Research, University of York, UK
- 2015-2019 PhD, University of Sheffield, UK
- 2020-2022 Postdoctoral researcher, Stockholm & Uppsala University, Sweden
- 2022-2023 EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf
- 2023-2025 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf
- 2025-2025 Visiting researcher, Purdue University, USA
- 2025-2026 College for Life Sciences fellowship, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Institute for Advanced Study, Germany
- since May 2026 tenure track professorship in Microbial Eukaryotes, University of Vienna