The groups in the departments of microbiology (M) and genetics (G)  work with fungi, bacteria and archaea. The topics are interactions of fungi with plants, developmental and cellular biology of bacteria, physiology and biochemistry of microorganisms, as well as adaptation and gene regulation as response to various environmental conditions. In research and teaching, there is a close cooperation with the Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology. All microbiologically and genetically oriented groups are integrated into the LOEWE-Centre for "Synthetic Microbiology" (SynMikro)

• Prof. Dr. Michael Bölker (G)

• Prof. Dr. Erhard Bremer (M)

• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Buckel (M/MPI)

• Prof. Dr. Johann Heider (M)

• Prof. Dr. Regine Kahmann (G/MPI)

• Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Mösch (G)

• Prof. Dr. Lotte Sogaard-Andersen (M/MPI)

• Prof. Dr. Martin Thanbichler (M/MPI)

• Prof. Dr. Rudolf K. Thauer (Emeritus M/MPI)