Assist.-Prof. Dr. Anouk Willemsen

Viruses are major but often overlooked players in ecological interactions. They are ubiquitous in nature, infecting organisms across all domains of life. Viruses have evolved many different shapes, sizes and types of genome organisation, which allows them to thrive in different environments. Research in Anouk Willemsen’s group focuses on the evolutionary genetics and genomics of microbes, especially the ability of viruses to adapt (or not) to changes in their environments.

Anouk’s group employs a range of molecular and microbiology techniques, experimental evolution, sequencing, genomics, phylogenetics and bioinformatics. Anouk has received two Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants and an ERC Starting Grant (2021) to investigate the role of mobile genetic elements in the ecology and evolution of giant viruses. She is the co-lead of an FWF project focused on studying giant viruses in the wild.