I am a microbial ecologist broadly interested in how microorganisms interact with each other and their environment. I was always fascinated by the complexity and diversity of the microbial world, particularly in the aquatic realm. Perhaps therefore, I focus my research on cyanobacteria, the most ancient phytoplankton and the creators of an oxygen-rich atmosphere as we know it. More recently, my findings drove my attention towards a neglected group of fungi, capable of infecting cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton. I explore the interaction between these parasites and their hosts and how this affects ecological and evolutionary processes.