Research Interests

Microbial life in extreme habitats

• in space and on Mars
• in coal and oil
• in hyperaridic deserts

Pathogens in surface waters

Biofilms and EPS

• mechanisms of resistance
• desiccation tolerance
• visualization of biofilms

Detection of bacterial viability

• viability markers
• VBNC

Academic Positions

Postdoc in the research group of Prof. Rainer U. Meckenstock (since 04/2016)

Researcher at the Biofilm-Centre, Aquatic Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen (since 05/2011)

Research Assistant at the Biofilm-Centre, Aquatic Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen
(01/2009 - 04/2009; 01/2010 - 03/2010; 01/2011 - 04/2011)

Research Assistant at IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasser Beratungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Mülheim a.d. Ruhr
(05/2009 - 12/2009)

Education

PhD in the research group of Prof. Hans-Curt Flemming, University of Duisburg-Essen
Dissertation: "Differential tolerance of biofilms and planktonic cells of Deinococcus geothermalis to desiccation and to simulated space and Mars conditions" (magna cum laude)

Master of Science "Water Science"
Master thesis: "Detection of Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water and plankton from a freshwater lake using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction",
executed at the University of Duisburg-Essen,
decorated with the Sachtleben-Award (1. prize).

Bachelor of Science "Water Science"
Bachelor thesis: "Diversification of Choanoflagellates - Structure and Functional Role of Extracellular Structures",
executed at the University of Birmingham, England,
decorated with the Axel Semrau Bachelor Prize for excellent Bachelor theses.

Teaching

Organisation and management of the practical course 'Microbiology' for Bachelor students of the curriculum 'Water Science'.

Publications

Frösler, J., Panitz, C., Wingender, J., Flemming, H.-C., Rettberg, P. (2017): Survival of Deinococcus geothermalis in biofilms under desiccation and simulated space and Martian conditions. Astrobiology, 17(5): 431-447.

Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Panitz, C., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P., Flemming, H.-C. (2014): The desiccation and UV tolerance of biofilms and planktonic cells of Deinococcus geothermalis. Wasser 2014. Kurzreferate der Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft, Haltern, 431-436.

Frösler, J., Leadbeater, B.S.C. (2009): Role of the Cytoskeleton in Choanoflagellate Lorica Assembly. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 56(2), 167-173.

Conference Presentations

Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Flemming, H.-C., Panitz, C., Rettberg, P. (2015): Das Überleben von Deinococcus geothermalis unter Weltraum- und Mars-ähnlichen Bedingungen - Toleranz gegenüber Austrocknung, Vakuum, Mars-Atmosphäre und Temperaturextremen. DLR Symposium „Forschung unter Weltraumbedingungen“, 28.-30. Oktober 2015, Bonn, Deutschland.

Panitz, C., Rettberg, P., Rabbow, E., Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Flemming, H.-C, Reitz, G.. (2014): Different stress responses of Deinococcus geothermalis exposed as biofilms or planktonic cells. EANA 2014, 12.-16. Oktober 2014, Edinburgh, Großbritannien.

Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Panitz, C., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P., Flemming, H.-C. (2014): Survival of Deinococcus geothermalis under simulated space and Martian conditions. EANA 2014, 12.-16. Oktober 2014, Edinburgh, Großbritannien.

Rettberg, P., Panitz, C., Frösler, J., Flemming, H.-C., Reitz, G. (2014): Biofilms in space. International Astronautical Federation, 29. September – 3. Oktober 2014, Toronto, Kanada.

Panitz, C., Reitz, G., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J., Frösler, J. (2014): Biofilms and planktonic cells of Deinococcus geothermalis in extreme environments. COSPAR, 2.-10. August 2014, Moskau, Russland.

Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Panitz, C., Rabbow, E., Rettberg, P., Flemming, H.-C. (2014): The desiccation and UV tolerance of biofilms and planktonic cells of Deinococcus geothermalis. Wasser 2014, 26. Mai 2014, Haltern am See, Deutschland.

Frösler, J., Wingender, J., Flemming, H.-C. (2014): The choice of growth medium affects Deinococcus geothermalis biofilm morphology and EPS composition. Biofilms VI, 11. Mai 2014, Wien, Österreich.

Panitz, C., Rettberg, P., Frösler, J., Flemming, H.-C., Rabbow, E., Reitz, G. (2013): BOSS on EXPOSE-R2 - Comparative Investigations on Biofilm and Planktonic cells of Deinococcus geothermalis as Mission Preparation Tests. European Planetary Science Congress, 8.-13. September 2013, London, Großbritannien.

Frösler, J., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. (2013): The influence of extracellular polymeric substances on the tolerance of Deinococcus geothermalis to the environmental conditions of space and Mars. EANA 2013, 21. Juli 2013, Stettin, Polen.

Frösler, J., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. (2013): Influence of extracellular polymeric substances on the tolerance of Deinococcus geothermalis to space and Mars environments. EANA 2013, 21. Juli 2013, Stettin, Polen.

Frösler, J. (2013): Deinococcus geothermalis – a model organism for the astrobiology experiment BOSS. Astrobiology Workshop, 10. Juni 2013, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.

Meeßen, J., de Vera, J.-P., Frösler, J., Rettberg, P. (2013): BIOMEX and BOSS: A Tool for Studies on Habitability of Planets, Panspermia and Space Exploration. HGF-Evaluierung: Review for the Programme Space. 18. April 2013, Köln, Deutschland.

Frösler, J., Marko, A., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. (2012): The influence of extracellular polymeric substances on the survival of desiccated biofilms of Deinococcus geothermalis. Biofilms V, 10. Dezember 2012, Paris, Frankreich.

Frösler, J., Marko, A., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. (2012): Influence of extracellular polymeric substances on the desiccation tolerance of Deinococcus geothermalis biofilms. EANA 2012, 15. Oktober 2012, Stockholm, Schweden.

Frösler, J. (2012): Biofilms in Space: The Experiment BOSS on the EXPOSE R-2 Mission. IWG EXPOSE project meeting, 23.-25. Januar 2012, Köln, Deutschland.

Frösler, J. (2012): Biofilme im Weltraum: Das BOSS-Projekt. Neujahrskolloquium der Fakultät für Chemie der Universität Duisburg-Essen, 11. Januar 2012, Essen, Deutschland.

Tewes, M., Frösler, J., Petry-Hansen, H., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. (2011): Association of Hygienically Relevant Bacteria With Freshwater Plankton. Jahrestagung der Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie, 3.-6. April 2011, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.