About research at the Michael Sars Centre

The Michael Sars Centre studies how marine animals work at the molecular and cellular level, and how they adapt to a changing ocean. Researchers use living marine organisms to answer basic questions about development, evolution, and nervous systems, from single cells to whole organisms. The Centre combines experimental biology with advanced imaging, genomics, and computation, and works closely with international partners.

Marine animals reveal how life copes with change. By studying simple organisms, researchers uncover basic biological principles that apply across species, including humans. The work explains how cells make decisions, how nervous systems evolved, and how environmental change affects biology at its most fundamental level. This knowledge underpins later advances in medicine, ecology, and biotechnology.

The centre’s research strategy focuses on studying life in context in a rapidly changing ocean, from molecules to ecosystems. Research connects molecular mechanisms to development, evolution, and environmental adaptation in marine organisms. The strategy evolves with new technologies and questions, while keeping basic discovery science at its core.

Research at the Michael Sars Centre is organized through independent research groups, each centred on a clear biological question and a marine model organism. Together, they cover development, evolution, cell biology, and neuroscience.

• The Christiaen Group studies how genes control development and cell behaviour in marine embryos, and how organisms adapt to ocean environments.
• The Chourrout Group uses the tunicate Oikopleura to understand how simple animals evolved from more complex ancestors.
• The Steinmetz Group investigates how growth, reproduction, and food availability are linked at the cellular level, using the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.
• The Chatzigeorgiou Group explores how nervous systems evolved and function in urochordates, using modern genetic and neurobiological tools.
• The Burkhardt Group examines the molecular origins of synapses and neurons by studying early-branching marine animals.
• The Lynagh Group studies how receptors for signalling molecules work and have evolved, using molecular phylogenetics, chemical biology, and electrophysiology.
• The Čapek Group connects developmental biology, evolution, and ecology in aquatic organisms.

The Centre hosts advanced animal facilities with a wide range of marine species, from sea anemones to microscopic tunicates. Researchers also use specialised equipment for high-end microscopy, single-cell sequencing preparation, microinjection, and genomic analysis. These facilities support both in-house and collaborative research.

The Michael Sars Centre is one of the first EMBL partner institutes and is tightly connected to international marine life science networks. Collaboration takes place through joint research projects, researcher exchange, training activities, and visiting scientist programmes. These partnerships shape both daily research and long-term scientific direction

• Apply to join a research group as a PhD candidate or researcher at the University of Bergen. 
• Visit the Centre as a guest student or visiting researcher through established visitor programmes.
• Connect with researchers to develop joint projects in marine biology, development, or neuroscience.
• Contact the Centre to identify experts for media, outreach, or scientific advice.