Dr Özge Eyice

Building a Career in Climate Microbiology at Birmingham

When Dr Özge Eyice was deciding where to take the next step in her research career, the University of Birmingham stood out. “I knew Birmingham had an outstanding reputation in microbiology research - both medical and environmental,” she says. “The Anniversary Fellowship offered a fantastic opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading universities and to have my work recognised.”

The Anniversary Fellowship scheme supports researchers of exceptional promise, giving them time, resources, and a collaborative environment to establish their research programmes. For Dr Eyice, this meant joining a thriving community of scientists working across diverse disciplines and addressing some of today’s most urgent global challenges.

Dr Eyice’s work focuses on one of the least understood but most important parts of the climate system: how microorganisms produce methane and transform sulfur compounds in natural and engineered environments.

“Methane is the second most powerful greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, but we still don’t fully understand how it’s formed in sediments,” she explains. “My research explores the microbiology underpinning methane production and the cycling of organic sulfur compounds - particularly dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) - in coastal sediments and peatlands.”

These sulfur compounds are abundant in marine and coastal ecosystems, where microbes break them down in ways that can lead to methane emissions. By studying these processes, Dr Eyice hopes to fill a key gap in climate science.

“I aim to uncover the microbial diversity and metabolic pathways driving these cycles,” she says. “That knowledge will help improve greenhouse gas budgets and inform future climate change mitigation strategies.”

Her research also extends to anaerobic digesters - industrial wastewater treatment reactors designed to generate methane as a renewable energy source. “These systems are increasingly used to turn municipal and industrial wastewater into energy,” she explains. “By understanding the microbial communities involved, we can make methane production more efficient and sustainable.”

Since joining Birmingham, Dr Eyice has found the research culture both welcoming and stimulating. “From my first day, I’ve found the environment supportive and highly collaborative,” she says. “I’ve already been invited to contribute to several projects and to supervise PhD students, which has been a fantastic experience.”

One of the Fellowship’s greatest strengths, she adds, is the opportunity to work across disciplines. “My work spans biogeography, microbiology and engineering, and I’ve been able to collaborate with brilliant academics across the Schools of Geography, Engineering and Biosciences. The infrastructure here is world-class, and the research support has been invaluable.”

These collaborations have also helped her build connections with industry, an area she’s eager to develop further. “I’m particularly excited about the industrial links I’ve established since joining Birmingham, which could soon bring new PhD students into different projects,” she says.

Dr Eyice’s research is gaining momentum. She has a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) proposal under review to investigate methane production in coastal sediments — work that could improve climate models and guide environmental policy.

Beyond scientific impact, she’s committed to training the next generation of researchers and expanding the university’s industrial partnerships in renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Eyice offers advice to researchers considering an Anniversary Fellowship. “Think globally and beyond your immediate research area,” she says. “It’s worth considering how your work could link with other schools across the University. Collaborations beyond your own discipline are key to making the most of this opportunity.”

For the University of Birmingham, researchers like Dr Eyice embody the Anniversary Fellowship’s mission: enabling scientists to push boundaries, build meaningful collaborations, and tackle urgent global challenges.

“Birmingham has given me the chance to pursue ambitious research while connecting with brilliant colleagues across disciplines,” she says. “It’s an inspiring place to work and to grow as a scientist.”