M. Sc. Katja Seebass | RD 3 Marine Ecology | RU Experimental Ecology

Doctoral Researcher | Environmental Physiology | Topic 6

Research Focus

My research investigates the impact of environmental stress on the common sea star (Asterias rubens) in the Kiel Fjord. By combining field monitoring, mesocosm experiments and infection trials, I explore how prolonged heat stress affects immune function and microbiome stability, potentially increasing vulnerability to disease. Key aspects of my work include:

• Stress-Induced Immune Suppression: Examining how environmental stressors, such as temperature fluctuations weaken the immune system of A. rubens, increasing susceptibility to pathogens.
• Microbiome Dynamics and Dysbiosis: Investigating shifts in microbiome composition under stress conditions in both field and experimental settings and their role in host health and disease susceptibility.
• Physiological Responses to Environmental Change: Assessing how A. rubens responds to changing environmental conditions by analyzing physiological parameters

Projects

PhD Thesis:” Warming and Extreme Events: Impacts of Climate Change and Heatwaves on the Immune Competence and Microbiome of Asterias rubens”;funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), Running (Funding period 10/2023 – 09/2026)

Outreach: “Amazingly Diverse – Discover the Baltic Sea from small to large”, colouring book for school children ages

Vita

October 2023 - Present	PhD Student Environmental Physiology Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany Warming and Extreme Events: Effects of Heatwaves on the Immune Competence and Microbiome of A. rubens.”  Supervisor Prof. Dr. Frank Melzner
October 2020 - August 2023	Master of Science Biological Oceanography Christian-Albrechts-University & GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany Thesis in the group “Environmental Physiology” at GEOMAR Kiel, “Sea star at the limit: short-term heat stress affects coelomocytes and cellular metabolism in the common sea star A. rubens.” Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Frank Melzner, Dr. Jahangir Vajedsamiei
October 2016 -February 2020	Bachelor of Science Biological Lifesciences University of Osnabrück, Germany Thesis in the group “Benthic Ecology” at GEOMAR Kiel, “The role of recovery phases in mitigating the negative effect of marine heatwaves on the sea star A. rubens.”, Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Christian Pansch, Prof. Dr. rer. nat Günther Purschke

Publications