Christiane Funk is fascinated by the superpower of microalgae

The greatest superpower of microalgae is that they are highly efficient in absorbing carbon  dioxide and converting it into biomass. Futhermore, they can thrive in harsh environments and even break down pollutants. Microalgae also produce compounds that can be used as food, animal feed, or medicine – and their biomass can be transformed into biodegradable plastics.

“They don't need expensive growth media or fertilisers. They can grow in any kinds of water, such as saltwater or wastewater. They really have the potential to help us move towards a sustainable future and thus tackle our climate challenges. I think that's fantastic!”

Christiane Funk's enthusiasm is unmistakable. She loves microalgae – and her work as a researcher.

Dreamt of being a veterinarian

Originally from Germany, Christiane Funk initially wanted to become a veterinarian. But the high entry requirements meant she couldn't get into the programme straight away, so she studied biology while she waited to be accepted. She soon discovered that the subject fascinated her so much that she decided to continue. She realised she preferred working with plants rather than animals, and went on to study botany. That led her to plant physiology and, more specifically, photosynthesis.

Both Christiane Funk and her husband Wolfgang Schröder conduct research on photosynthesis in plants, and they were both offered positions at Umeå University in 2002. The university's strong research infrastructure and the Umeå Plant Science Centre played a major role in their decision to stay in Umeå.

“There are many experts in a wide range of fields that relate to my research. I can always discuss with them – and that is very important and very stimulating.”

Thanks to collaborations with other researchers, Christiane Funk became interested in microalgae.

Microalgae are single-celled organisms that, like plants, can convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy and biomass. Globally, they are widely cultivated for the production of health products rich in protein, vitamins and antioxidants. They are also used, to purify and reuse wastewater – although mostly in warm countries with lots of sunshine.

Researching cold-tolerant algae

Christiane Funk and her colleagues are investigating how microalgae can be used for wastewater treatment at northern latitudes. Because of the cold climate, they use Nordic microalgae – native species that can better tolerate these conditions.

We can clearly show that our Nordic microalgae are just as effective as conventional wastewater treatment – and in many respects, actually better.

What also makes Christiane Funk's research unique is that, thanks to industrial partners, the experiments are conducted with societal relevance and not just in lab environments.

The results so far have been very promising.

“We can clearly show that our Nordic microalgae are just as effective as conventional wastewater treatment – and in many respects, actually better. They absorb pharmaceutical residues better and remove nitrogen and phosphate from wastewater, which traditional methods don’t do very well.

Remove heavy metals from wastewater

At present, the team is focusing on how microalgae remove heavy metals from water.

“It's amazing what they can do! We’ve made contact with people in the mining industry here in northern Sweden, and they are very interested in working with us to see how microalgae can be used to remove heavy metals from their wastewaters.”

Microalgal biomass grown in wastewater cannot be used for food or feed. For a while, the Umeå researchers were frustrated about how to use the biomass produced by the algae. But in the project 'Waste-2-Plastic', they have found a possible solution: the microalgae can be used to create sustainable bioplastics.

“The project is progressing as planned. What's exciting is that our industrial partners are genuinely interested in the results,” says Christiane Funk.

Our goal is to drastically reduce the price of PHA.

The biomass of microalgae is used to feed specific bacteria that produce PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate). PHA can be used just like conventional plastics – but it’s biodegradable.

Today, bioplastics account for only one percent of all plastic production, mainly due to high production costs. However, the biomass from microalgae can provide the necessary nutrients for bacteria at a fraction of the cost.

“Our goal is to drastically reduce the price of PHA.”

Exposed to extreme conditions

In 2025, Christiane Funk is spending time in the Netherlands researching biotechnological solutions for more efficient biomass extraction. Microalgae have thick cell walls and are generally very tough – something Christiane Funk likes, as it means she can expose them to various extreme conditions.

Isn't it the same with other plants?

“No, they die quite easily,” she says, laughing.

How about at home, do you have green fingers?

“No! I have lots of plants, but they’re not very happy.”

Solving problems is a strong driving force for Christiane Funk, even in basic research where there’s often no clear, visible end goal. She describes herself as a fox terrier who never gives up.

But seeing her research make a real-world impact makes the work even more motivating.

“Sustainability is very important to me. I believe everyone needs to understand that when it comes to sustainability, we can't just wait for politicians to legislate – we all need to take part and do something,” she says.