In search of highly conductive materials from electric cable bacteria - with Prof. Dr. Ir. Filip Meysman and Dr. Daniel Modafferi
Conventional flexible electronics made from metals or synthetic polymers generally have a large carbon footprint, contain toxic components and are difficult to recycle. Achieving sustainability and circularity in electronics represents hence a grand social challenge. Biology could inspire green synthetic and engineering routes for electronic materials, but the low conductivity of known biological materials presents an important fundamental roadblock.
A recent discovery shows that certain multicellular bacteria (called “cable bacteria”) can produce highly conductive wires, which are a million-fold more conductive than known biomaterials. These fibers are highly flexible, stretch for centimeters long and reach an astonishingly high electric conductivity of >100 S/cm, which is comparable or even better than synthetic conductive polymers.
The cable bacteria have a unique cellular structure, but the exact biomolecules surrounding the conductive nanoribbons are only partially identified. To address this challenge, we require novel and inventive bioprocessing and bioseparation techniques.
In this project, the student will apply a top-down approach to characterizing the surrounding structure of the conductive nanoribbons in cable bacteria. They will apply separation techniques and advanced microscopy techniques (AFM, Raman) to resolve the structure of the extract, and use electrical characterization to assess the conductivity of the extracted fibers. The student will gain practical experience in biochemistry and molecular biology.
We offer: The possibility to perform an MSc project in an international research group performing frontline interdisciplinary research on a fascinating and new topic in microbial biotechnology.
Keywords: Microbial electricity, cable bacteria, bioprocessing, electrical characterization.
Requirements: A motivated MSc student with a keen interest in microbial electricity, biochemistry and biophysics.
Who are the neighbors of electrogenic cable bacteria? - with Prof. Dr. Ir. Filip Meysman and Dr. Ir. Anwar Hiralal
Over a decade ago, remarkable filamentous microorganisms were discovered that can conduct electricity over centimeter-scale distances (Pfeffer et al., 2012). These organisms are called cable bacteria, and they use their extraordinary electron transport to fuel their own metabolism and growth: they oxidize sulfide in deep layers of sulfidic sediments and use the released electrons to reduce oxygen in the upper sediment surface. This long-distance electron transport is enabled by a network of highly conductive fibers embedded in the cell envelope (Meysman et al., 2019).
But cable bacteria do not live alone. Their spatially separated metabolism has a profound effect on the local sediment biogeochemistry (Risgaard-Petersen et al., 2012). Recent research has shown that diverse bacteria involved in sulfur and iron cycling gather around cable bacteria when they are electrically active (Bjerg et al., 2023). In addition, there is evidence that cable bacteria can create electrical connections with the outside world (Meysman et al., 2019). Could other microorganisms interact with cable bacteria’s electrical network, creating new metabolic opportunities? We recently obtained a remarkable metagenomic dataset from a “clonal cable bacteria culture” (Hiralal et al., 2025): a microbial community dominated by a single cable bacteria strain, containing more than 35 complete genomes, including potentially novel species. This offers a unique opportunity to explore the unknown diversity and metabolism of the microbial community surrounding cable bacteria.
In this project, you will use state-of-the-art bioinformatic tools to characterize this community. You will identify and analyze novel species, their metabolic pathways, and compare genomes to discover genes that could be involved in inter-species electron transport. Depending on the project's direction, you may also analyze RNA-sequencing data to investigate which genes are expressed under anoxic conditions. You will gain practical experience in computational biology, while working on a cutting-edge topic on the intersection between microbial ecology and biotechnology.
We offer: The possibility to perform an MSc project in an international research group performing frontline research on a fascinating and new topic in microbiology.
Keywords: Cable bacteria, metagenomics, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, community analysis
Requirements: A motivated MSc student with an interest in microbial ecology and computational biology. Previous bioinformatics experience is welcome; curiosity, analytical thinking and a willingness to learn and apply computational tools are more important.
How did electric cable bacteria evolve? - with Prof. Dr. Ir. Filip Meysman and Dr. Ir. Anwar Hiralal
Over a decade ago, remarkable filamentous microorganisms were discovered that can conduct electricity over centimeter-scale distances (Pfeffer et al., 2012). These organisms are called cable bacteria, and they use their extraordinary electron transport to fuel their own metabolism and growth: they oxidize sulfide in deep layers of sulfidic sediments and use the released electrons to reduce oxygen in the upper sediment surface. This long-distance electron transport is enabled by a network of highly conductive fibers embedded in the cell envelope (Meysman et al., 2019).
How did these enigmatic organisms evolve? Known cable bacteria belong to a monophyletic group comprising two genera, Candidatus Electrothrix and Candidatus Electronema (Trojan et al., 2016). Yet recent surveys have revealed a substantial undescribed diversity outside these two genera (Ley et al., 2025), including two uncharacterised lineages that branch near the base of the cable bacteria monophyly (Geelhoed et al., 2023; Hiralal et al., 2025). Thus, these lineages may represent the earliest-diverging extant lineages, potentially providing important insights into the evolution of cable bacteria. Yet before we can characterize them, we need to cultivate these organisms, as we have done in the past for other cable bacteria lineages (Hiralal et al., 2024; Hiralal et al., 2025).
In this project, you will cultivate and characterize one of these previously undescribed cable bacteria lineages. You will investigate its growth and monitor the development of the culture using: (1) geochemical analyses such as sulfide, oxygen and pH microsensor measurements; (2) molecular methods such as DNA extraction, qPCR and amplicon sequencing. Depending on the progress of cultivation, you may also explore the organism’s genomic potential through metagenome assembly and characterize the novel cable bacteria using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and conductivity measurements. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of microbial ecology and biotechnology.
We offer: The possibility to perform an MSc project in an international research group performing frontline research on a fascinating and new topic in microbiology.
Keywords: Cable bacteria, microbial electricity, evolution, cultivation, microbial ecology.
Requirements: A motivated MSc student with a keen interest in microbial ecology and a background in molecular biology.
New culturing approaches for cable bacteria - with Prof. Dr. Ir. Filip Meysman and Dr. Ir. Jeanine Geelhoed
Long filamentous bacteria, called “cable bacteria”, inhabit marine sediments and generate electric currents over centimeter-scale distances (Meysman, 2018). Cable bacteria have evolved a unique conductive machinery to efficiently transport electrons (Meysman et al., 2026). Currents are guided through fibres embedded in the cell envelope that connect all cells. These protein fibres display an extraordinary conductivity for a biological material (Meysman et al., 2019; 2026), and thus have a high potential for biotechnological applications.
An important bottleneck to study cable bacteria is their complex, redox-gradient lifestyle, which hampers biomass collection and precludes the application of well-established microbiological tools. Currently, we culture cable bacteria in natural sediment, which is a very complex substrate and also changes over time.
In this project, you will develop new cultivation approaches for more controlled and reproducible cultivation of cable bacteria using defined substrates. Research activities will involve growth incubations, microsensor measurements of sulfide, O2, pH, and geochemical analyses. Furthermore, the composition of the microbial community will be analysed by DNA extraction and sequencing.
We offer: The possibility to perform an MSc project in an international research group performing frontline research on a fascinating and new topic in microbial biotechnology .
Keywords: Microbial electricity, cable bacteria, cultivation, microbial community composition.
Requirements: A motivated MSc student with an interest in microbiology, geochemistry and microbial ecology.
Pioneering Novel Methods for Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal - with Prof. Dr. Ir. Filip Meysman and Ir. Tom Huysmans
Global warming has now surpassed 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, emphasizing the urgent need for large-scale carbon dioxide removal alongside emission cuts. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is a promising strategy to boost the ocean’s natural capacity to store CO₂ while mitigating acidification. At the University of Antwerp’s Geobiology group, we develop innovative OAE approaches to stimulate natural alkalinity generation. Current projects include mesocosm experiments simulating seafloor processes, testing mussel shell dissolution, exploring enhanced pyrite burial, and evaluating novel materials for silicate weathering.
As an MSc student, you will join an international team conducting cutting-edge research on nature-based climate solutions. You will have the opportunity to design or contribute to diverse experiments testing Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) across different scales — from controlled laboratory incubations to large-scale field campaigns in marine environments. We are seeking a motivated MSc student with a strong interest in climate solutions and marine science. The ideal candidate has a proactive, problem-solving mindset and an enthusiasm for hands-on laboratory work.
We offer: The possibility to perform an MSc project in an international research group performing frontline research on a fascinating and new topic in earth system science .
Keywords: Climate mitigation, Carbon Dioxide Removal, marine sediments
Requirements: A motivated MSc student with a keen interest in marine ecosystems, climate research and geochemistry.
More info: hhttps://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/geobiology/research/coa/