Group leader · Associate professor
Antton Alberdi
I lead a group of biologists and data scientists studying how animal–microbiota interactions shape ecological and evolutionary processes.
People / AlberdiLab
We are the
AlberdiLab
Our group brings together biologists, data scientists, laboratory specialists and students at the University of Copenhagen.
Our group in Copenhagen
Current group
Meet the people
doing the work.
Each person describes the research, methods and projects they contribute to below.
Assistant professor
Ostaizka Aizpurua
My research explores how animal–microbiota–environment interactions affect behaviour, ecology and evolution.
Data analyst
Iñaki Odriozola
I study microbial distributions and diversity through statistical modelling, including host–microbe and microbe–microbe interactions.
Laboratory specialist
Nanna Gaun
I perform DNA extractions and library building for the Earth Hologenome Initiative and related vertebrate microbiome projects.
Automation specialist
Jonas Lauritsen
I implement and optimise laboratory protocols for automation, drawing on a love of microbiology, learning and DIY projects.
Postdoc
Isolde van Riemsdijk
I study evolutionary interactions among two toad species, their microbiomes and the chytrid fungus.
Postdoc
Amalia Bogri
I develop and implement methods for micro-scale metagenomics.
Postdoc
Garazi Martin Bideguren
My work explores lizard gut microbiomes and the interactions between microbial communities and their hosts.
Postdoc
Jorge Langa
I apply hologenomics to conservation, including microbiome pre-conditioning of captive-bred animals before release.
PhD student
Adam Marques
Based at the University of Porto, I study how anthropogenic habitats affect the diet, microbiome and genome of fire salamanders.
PhD student
Elsa Brenner
I characterise gut microbiome differences in newts and salamanders to investigate environmental influences on microbial diversity and function.
PhD student
Lucas Padilha
I explore how the gut microbiota mediates evolutionary dietary shifts in Mediterranean wall lizards.
PhD student
Joana Fernandes
I investigate how dry-stone walls preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services, focusing on trophic interactions through metabarcoding.
PhD student
Nia Toshkova
I study the effects of climate change on bat hibernation and the molecular changes associated with prolonged winter inactivity.
PhD student
Zoe Horisberger
I develop large-scale untargeted imaging approaches to resolve host–microbiota interactions in space.
Master student
Lukas Fix
Research profile coming soon.
Master student
Irene Martinez
Research profile coming soon.
Alumni
Former members.
The group’s work is shaped by everyone who has spent time here.
Carlotta Pietroni
Postdoc & Laboratory Manager · 2021–2025 · Micro-scale multi-omics and the 3D’omics project.
Ella Lattenkamp
Project Manager · 2023–2025 · 3D’omics, the Earth Hologenome Initiative and group organisation.
Claudia Romeo
Postdoc · 2023–2025 · Gut microbial diversity and metagenomic plasticity in biological invasions.
Michael Miskelly
Postdoc · 2023–2025 · Intestinal organoids, gut-on-a-chip technology and Type 2 Diabetes.
Raphael Eisenhofer
Postdoc · 2021–2025 · Host–microbe co-evolution, animal health and wild mammals.
Kees Blijleven
Research Assistant · 2021–2024 · Gut-on-a-chip models across animal species.
Sofia Marcos
PhD Student · 2020–2024 · Hologenomics, animal production and chicken welfare.
David Nørgaard Essenbæk
MSc Student · 2024 · Evolutionary features of genome-reduced vertebrate-associated bacteria.
Luisa Nielsen
PhD Student · 2020–2024 · Behavioural hologenomics and the microbiota–gut–brain axis.
Johan Staffeldt
Student Assistant · 2024 · Animal trait data for evolutionary host–microbiota analysis.
Aoife Leonard
Postdoc · 2020–2024 · Vertebrate niches and gut microbiomes for the Earth Hologenome Initiative.
Amalia Toffano
Data Manager · 2022–2023 · 3D’omics data repositories and analysis pipelines.
Marta Contreras
Research Assistant · 2022–2023 · Molecular methods for three-dimensional animal–microbiota interactions.
Ana Verissimo
Project Manager · 2021–2023 · Project management and outreach for 3D’omics.
Amanda Bolt Botnen
PhD Student · 2019–2022 · Gut microbiomes of domestic and feral cats.
Adam Koziol
PhD Student · 2019–2022 · Gut microbiomes and adaptation to novel environments.
Lasse Nyholm Jessen
PhD Student · 2019–2022 · Hologenomics for endangered-species conservation.
Louisa Pless
Research Assistant · 2020–2022 · Laboratory work for HoloFood and the Earth Hologenome Initiative.
Martina Cardinali
MSc Student & Student Assistant · 2020–2021 · Laboratory automation and EHI development.
Núria Hermosilla
MSc Student & Student Assistant · 2020–2021 · Holoflow pipeline implementation.
Research stays
People who have visited our lab.
These researchers spent time with us in Copenhagen to learn methods, analyse data or develop work together.
- Laura Bullova2025 · Brno University
- Julio David Soto López2025 · Universidad de Salamanca
- Alba Hernangoméz Laderas2025 · University of the Basque Country
- Anna Maria Voukouna2025 · Democritus University of Thrace
- Claudia Tranquillo2024 · Insubria University
- Elsa Brenner2024 · University Centre of the Westfjords
- Jenny Merkesvik2024 · Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- Wanxin Lai2024 · Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- Jasper Ubirajara Chao2023 · Pennsylvania State University