In an exciting development for 2024, our colleague Dr. Birte Seffert embarks on a nationwide tour to meet with the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Fellows across Germany. The Keeping Up with the Boost Fellows series aims to shine a spotlight on the journeys, challenges, and achievements of our Fellows. 

In this edition of her ongoing travels throughout Germany, our colleague Dr. Birte Seffert introduces Dr. Youssef El Mouali Benomar, a postdoc at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig. Youssef’s work is at the cutting edge of microbiology, focusing on unraveling the secrets of Segatella copri, a prevalent gut microbe with a dual role in health and disease.

While changes in our microbiome are linked to various diseases, the ability to pinpoint why and how specific microbes influence health remains elusive. Youssef is tackling this challenge by developing advanced genetic tools to decode the biology of S. copri. This research is vital because S. copri is one of the most abundant gut microbiome worldwide. Yet, studying S. copri isn’t straightforward—it’s a picky microbe! It’s highly oxygen-sensitive, requiring specialized labs and techniques for cultivation and genetic modification – which the HZI in Braunschweig can provide.

Progress and failure in research

After lunch with Youssef´s postdoc colleagues, Birte asked what he considers progress and failure in research. Youssef emphasized that progress isn’t necessarily about answering the initial research question; more about adding meaningful knowledge to the field.

»Defining experiments that genuinely move forward our understanding is key,«

he says, even if that means taking unexpected paths. He also sees failure as a natural and necessary part of science—a stepping stone toward refining experiments and moving forward.

Will we ever fully understand the human gut microbiome?

Youssef’s answer is a resounding yes! But it won’t be easy. He compares the microbiome to the immune system: incredibly complex, yet increasingly understood by breaking it into smaller, analyzable pieces. Future technologies, like single-cell bacterial analysis, hold the promise of transformative discoveries about the microbiome’s intricate players—bacteria, phages, and beyond.

What motivates Youssef?

“Being the first in the lab to discover something that no one has ever seen—that is a very rewarding feeling,” he shares.

With researchers like Youssef leading the way, we are curious about the future of microbiome science.

The KT Boost Fund is a joint program of GSO and the Klaus Tschira Foundation for postdoctoral researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. It offers flexible funding for risky and interdisciplinary research on the way to academic independence. Funding can be used to hire staff, buy equipment, or build collaborations – tailored to the research project.