I am Gerben de Zwaan, a microbiologist enthusiastic about evolution, yet-to-be cultured microbes, microbial symbiosis and anything microscopy. I work as a PhD candidate in Thijs Ettema's Microbial Evolution group, within the Laboratory of Microbiology at Wageningen University and Research in my home country, the Netherlands.

Gerben de Zwaan

About me

As a PhD candidate in Thijs Ettema's Microbial Evolution lab, my research focuses on anaerobic (targeted) cultivation, cell extraction, live cell and high resolution (correlative) imaging of uncultured archaea from marine sediments. By characterising these archaea, namely Asgard archaea, Thermoplasmatota and DPANN archaea, we hope to get a better understanding of their life style, cell biology, symbiotic interactions and evolutionary transitions.

Academic Journey

Research

Education

PhD Candidate (2022 - Present)

Microbial Evolution Lab, Laboratory of Microbiology at Wageningen University and Research.
Promoter: prof.dr.ir. TJG (Thijs) Ettema

Co-Promoter: dr.rer.nat Patricia Geesink

BSc Life Sciences (2014 - 2018)

MSc Biotechnology (2019 - 2022)

Life sciences at University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, with specialisation in Biomolecular Research.

  • Internship in Steinmetz group, Sars International center (Bergen, Norway)

  • Internship at Burgering group, UMC Utrecht.

Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at Wageningen University.

  • Thesis at Cell biology and Immunology at Wageningen University and Research

  • Internship at NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (Texel, Den Burg)

Internship (2021/2022)

Title: Development and Optimization of FISH tools to target microbial symbiotic systems
Spang and Villanueva lab, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
Supervisors: dr. Joshua N. Hamm, dr. Kerstin Fiege, Prof. dr. Anja Spang, Prof. dr. Laura Villanueva & dr. rer. nat. Patricia Geesink (External)

More details on:

Publications and recognition

  • Panagiotou, K., Geesink, P., Köstlbacher, S., de Zwaan, G.H, & T.J.G Ettema. Diversity, ecology, cell biology and evolution of the Asgard archaea. Nat Rev Microbiol 24, 377–391 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-026-01288-w

Publication(s)

Recognition

  • Mike Jetten Award
    Awarded in 2023 at the KNVM Spring meeting for the best MSc Thesis in Microbiology

  • KNVM Poster Prize
    for the best poster in Environmental Microbiology at the KNVM Scientific Spring Meeting.

Teaching and supervision

As part of a PhD trajectory in Wageningen we take part in teaching courses and supervise Master/Bachelor Theses.

Thesis students

Teaching

  • Basics of metagenomics as part of the Microbial Physiology course - yearly since 2023.

  • Rens Groeneveld - MSc thesis in Biotechnology

  • Tong Yu - MSc thesis in Biotechnology --> PhD candidate at the Groningen Microbiome Hub

  • Alina Kim Steiner - MSc thesis in Biotechnology --> PhD candidate in the MicEvo group, Wageningen

  • Zhi Min Cai - MSc thesis in Biotechnology

  • Ivan Jager - BSc thesis in Biology