Konstanze Steiner

Konstanze Steiner

Molecular Scientist – Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology

Role at Cawthron

Konstanze is a Research Scientist in the Seafood Safety and Microalgae Team with the Coastal and Freshwater Group.

Konstanze contributes to a range of projects by applying and developing molecular tools, like genetic identification, metabarcoding and next generation sequencing. She utilises these tools for characterization of algae cultures, detection of cyanobacterial toxin genes in water samples, and identification of invasive species.

Konstanze is also working on identifying digestive tract bacteria in King Salmon and detecting oyster parasites for projects aimed at improving New Zealand’s aquaculture.

Technical skills, experience and interests

  • Molecular techniques, next generation sequencing, DNA metabarcoding, transcriptomics
  • Human cell and algae culture
  • Triggers, ecophysiological role and genetics of algal toxins 
  • Toxin kinetics and dynamics in the target organism
  • Ecology of shellfish, fish and algae (especially Alexandrium and Cyanobacteria species)
  • Cyanobacteria ecology and toxin production.

Qualifications

  • Dr. rer. nat. – PhD equivalent (Environmental Toxicology). University of Konstanz, 2014
  • Diploma – MSc equivalent (Biology). Georg-August-University of Gottingen, Germany, 2009
      Konstanze Steiner