Per Juel Hansen Lab
Physiology and function biology of marine plankton
I am generally interested in physiology and function biology (ecology) of planktonic organisms, community structure and function of microbial communities in marine environments.
My research group is currently working on
- Toxic algae associated with fish kills. We work with natural product chemists to discover new algal toxins associated with fish kills, and with fish physiologists on the mechanisms behind fish kills and possible immunological reactions of fish towards algal toxins. Finally, we study the costs and benefits of toxin production of marine phytoplankton,
- Mixotrophy, which is the ability of organisms to simultaneous photosynthesize and eat. When we talk about plankton organisms, we usually distinguish between phytoplankton ('plants') and zooplankton ('animals'). However, we now know that many plankton organisms are in fact mixotrophs. We study the functional biology and physiology in both 'algae' that eat as well as 'animals' that utilize chloroplasts, which they steal from their algal prey.
- Anthropogenic effects on the marine food web. We study how anthropogenic activity (acidification, global warming and eutrophication) affects the marine food web.
- Ocean Acidification and the ocean carbon cycle at large - proof of concept of new strategies. Velux Foundation. A collaboration between IOC, University of Gothenburg and Plymouth Marine Laboratories and Marine Biological Section, UCPH (2024-2026)
- Adaptive significance of toxin production in marine bloom-forming microalgae – implications for food web dynamics. Independent Research Fund, Denmark DFF-1 Project (2023-2026)
- MarineBasisDisko. A marine climate programme in Disko Bay, Greenland. Part of the Greenland Environmental Monitoring programme (GEM) (MarineBasisDisko, Ministry of the Environment, 2018-present
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Name: |
Per Juel Hansen |
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Nationality: |
Danish |
Education and professional career:
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Since 2013 |
Full Professor, Marine biological Section, University of Copenhagen |
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1996-2013 |
Associate Professor, Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen |
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1993-1996 |
Assistant Professor, Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen |
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1992-1993 |
Research fellow, National Environmental Research Institute |
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1992 |
PhD, University of Copenhagen, February 20th |
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1988 |
Master of Science, University of Copenhagen, September 23th |
Administrative experiences:
Section Head of the Marine Biological Section (2013-15, 2021-2023). Member of the Arctic Station Council (2013-present), Member of the board of Marine Biological Section (2012-2016; 2019-present), Member of the Board of Marine Biological Laboratory (2003-2005; 2005-2007). Member of the National Council of Oceanology (2003-present). Manager of 4 Natural Research Council framework programmes, 1 Strategic Research Council project, and 1 Willum Kann Rasmussen project as well as PI on > 10 national grants (FNU, Carlsberg, VKR, DANIDA) and 5 international grants: 3 EU grants (MixITiN, BIOHAB, NTAP), 1 IAEA grant, and 1 Leverhulme Foundation grant. I have been on >20 PhD evaluation committees in DK, Sweden, Norway, France and Italy and on 14 evaluation committees for hiring permanent faculty at Danish and foreign Universities (incl. Germany and USA).
Teaching and supervision experience: I teach a number of undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Copenhagen. I have been a teacher on 12 PhD courses in DK and abroad. I have (co-)supervised 40 Master students, 19 PhD students and 10 postdocs. Currently, I am currently the supervisor of 2 postdocs and supervisor/co-supervisor of one PhD student. Production of MS and PhD candidates in the period From 2010 to October 2024, 22 of MSc students and and 16 PhDs have successfully completed their training with me.
Research interests: I am generally interested in functional biology of planktonic organisms, structure and function of microbial communities in marine environments, particle selection, growth and food uptake of heterotrophic and mixotrophic protists. Recently, I have studied the effects of low and elevated pH on planktonic organisms and macro algae, on inorganic carbon limitation of marine phytoplankton and macroalgae, and on symbiosis among protists. I have a long-lasting interest in the biology of toxic algae, particularly toxin production and the adaptive significance of toxin production of marine phytoplankton. Currently (October 2024), I work on: 1) The effects of fish-killing algae and their toxins in fish and mussels and on the regulation of toxin production and excretion, and 2) Mixotrophy and acquired phototrophy among marine protists. 3) Artic marine food webs – effects of climate change
International relations: I have collaborated extensively with a number of international research groups from the US, France, UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Belgium and Australia. I have taken part in a number of international projects and have included international researchers in major national projects. Recent projects include the HABFISH/SAFEFISH projects, the AQ-mix project (DFF-2 project), HABTOX (DFF-1 Project), and the EU-ITN project, MixITiN.
Publications: 156 scientific papers in international peer reviewed journals (40 of these since 2019), 5 book chapters with peer review, 37 reports, book reviews, and popular papers in Danish and English. Citation record (as of Oct 7, 2024) Google scholar: 13,707 citations; H-index 62, I-index 141. ORCID: 0000-0003-0228-9621.
Rewards/Prices:
- Receiver of the Seymour Hutner Price from the International Society of Protistology, August 2007, Rhode Island, USA.
- Receiver of the Arthur E. Schwarting award (together with Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen) for best paper published in 2016 in Journal of Natural Products from a senior author. The American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP), June 2017.
| Name | Title | |
| Clémence Boucher | Visiting PhD |
Post docs
Andreas Altenburger (2015-2018) SNM, Co-advisor
Ruth Anderson (2015-2018)
Miran Kim (2016)
Nikolai Gedsted Andersen (2012-2015)
Terje Berge (2011-2014)
Louise K.Poulsen (2008-2009)
Anne-Lise Middelboe (2003-2006)
Nina Lundholm (2003-2006)
Harry Havskum (2002-2004)
Alf Skovgaard (2000-2002)
PhD students
Anna Karoline Junker Jørgensen, PhD student (2020-2024), SNM, Co-advisor
Nikola Medic (2018-2021)
Fredrik Ryderheim (2019-2021), DTUaqua, co-advisor
Filomena Romano (2018-2021), UCPH-HRCM, Greece, co-advisor
Guilherme Ferreira (2018-2021), UCPH-CSIC, Spain, co-advisor
Maira Maselli (2018-2021)
Kistine Drumm (2015-2020)
Sofie Bjørnholt Binzer (2015-2019)
Hannah Blossom (2014-2018)
Lasse T. Nielsen (2008-2012)
Nikolaj Andersen (2008-2012)
Kristine Engel Arendt Hansen (2007-2011)
Terje Berge (2007-2011)
Lydia Garcia (2007-2011)
WorapornTarangkoon (2007-2010)
Morten Moldrup (2007-2010)
SureeSatapoomin (1999-2002)
Hans Henrik Jakobsen (1997-2000)
Alf Skovgaard (1996-1999)
MSc students
2022: Barbara Løwe Sørensen
2021: Emilie Frederikke Krongaard Henningsen, Christine Schultz Yde Eriksen, Melanie Desmaret Walli
2020: Erin Ann Hughes
2016: Pernille Rusterholz
2015: Marcell Elo Petersen, Trine Callesen, Nicolai Andreas Munk Fassel,
Sofie Bjørnholt Mogensen
2014: Marina Pancic, Frededrik Wolff Teglhus, Thomas Bech-Thomassen
2013: Christina Thoisen, Kirstine Drumm, Mette Liebst, Tine Bædkel
2012: Eleonora Bruno, Betinna Balling Andersen
2011: Julie Cornelius Grenvald, Hannah Blossom
2010: Rasmus Jakobsen
2009: Dorte Søgaard, Morten Kristensen
2008: Brian Christensen, Karen Riisgaard, Lasse T Nielsen
2006: Morten Smith, Lone Munk, Anders Jonsson, Terje Berge, Søren Parnas
2005: Mia Kristensen
2003: Kristine Engel Hansen
2002: Maria Fenger Pedersen
2000: Høgni Debes, Morten Hjorth
1998: Lisa Ejbye Smidth
1996: Hans Henrik Jakobsen
1995: Alf Skovgaard
Contact
Professor Per Juel Hansen
Marine Biology Section
Strandpromenaden 5
DK-3000 Helsingør, Denmark
Mail: PJHansen@bio.ku.dk
Phone: +45 35 32 19 85
Mobile: +45 26 78 21 17
Fax: +45 35 32 19 51
ORCID: 0000-0003-0228-9621