My main research interest is the biodegradation of organic contaminants, particularly pesticides, explosives, and hydrocarbons. Our research aims to describe degradation pathways, identify the enzymes involved in these processes, and determine the environmental conditions that promote biodegradation. This knowledge is applied to optimize the bioremediation of contaminated sites.

I am also interested in nutrient removal and the emissions of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from urban rivers, as well as in the influence of agronomic practices on soil microbial communities and the effects of microbial community changes on soil fertility and ecosystem services.

In our research, we use analytical chemistry to quantify contaminant concentrations and identify degradation products. In addition, we apply molecular biology and metagenomic approaches to characterize the composition and metabolic potential of microbial communities and to use this information to improve bioremediation and environmental management processes. Finally, some of our studies are dedicated to understanding how commonly used protocols for characterizing microbial communities can introduce biases in our perception of microbial community composition and structure.