Jaap Bloem is a microbial ecologist with broad experience in problem-oriented research on questions related to biodiversity, soil quality, sustainable agriculture and nature restoration. He has authored/co-authored over 80 publications. He has experience in development and application of microbial indicators of soil quality, e.g. in the Netherlands Soil Monitoring Network and EU Cost Action 831. His lab focuses on microbial indicators which are related to ecosystem functions and services (carbon and nitrogen cycling, soil fertility, soil structure, greenhouse gas emissions) and to sustainable management with minimum losses of carbon and nitrogen.

Key qualifications include:

• Biomass, activity and diversity of bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
• Advanced microbial techniques: confocal laser scanning microscopy, image analysis, molecular DNA based methods.
• Development and application of microbial indicators of soil quality. Soil quality monitoring.
• Ecological risks of contamination, effects of remediation, effects of soil management.
• Nutrient cycling.
• Sustainable agriculture.
• Nature restoration.
• Ecosystem stability.
• Ecogenomics.
• Ecosystem services.