Danny Ionescu () is an aquatic microbial ecologist leading a research group in the department of Environmental Microbiomics at the Technische Universität Berlin.Ionescu. Group Ionescu - Tu Berlin. (n.d.). https://www.tu.berlin/en/umb/research/working-groups/group-ionescu His primary research focus centers around the biology of giant bacteriaIonescu, Danny & Bizic, Mina. (2019). Giant Bacteria. 10.1002/9780470015902.a0020371.pub2. and microbial life in the Dead Sea.
Education and career
Between 2000 and 2003, Ionescu earned a BSc degree in Marine Sciences and Marine Environmental Sciences from the School of Marine Sciences at the Ruppin Academic Center in Israel.http://www.igb-berlin.de. Danny Ionescu | IGB. [online] Available at: https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/profile/danny-ionescu [Accessed 1 Feb. 2024]
His academic journey continued with a master's degree between 2003 and 2005, conducted under the guidance of Prof. Aharon Oren at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Prof. Karlheinz Altendorf and Dr. Andre Lipski at the University of Osnabrueck in Germany. His Master's thesis, titled "Characterization of an endoevaporitic microbial community in the Eilat salterns by fatty acid analysis and stable isotope labeling", reflected his research focus during this period.
Ph.D. and postdoctoral research
In 2005, Ionescu embarked on a Ph.D. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as part of the peace project "Bridging the Rift", in collaboration with Prof. Muna Hindiyeh and Prof. Mohhamad Wedyan. His doctoral thesis was titled "Cyanobacterial Biogeography and Nitrogen Fixation: Lessons from environmental and model organisms".The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2011) IONESCU, DANNY - PhD Thesis. Available at: http://www.research-students.huji.ac.il/en/ionescu-0 (Accessed: 01 February 2024). Cyanobacterial Biogeography and Nitrogen Fixation: Lessons form Environmental and Model Organisms
During his first postdoctoral research, starting in 2009, at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Ionescu led the first scientific diving exploration of the Dead Sea. The expedition revealed abundant microbial life forms in and around underwater freshwater springs.American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. "Dead Sea researchers discover freshwater springs and numerous micro-organisms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 September 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927112546.htm>. The underwater scenery of the Dead Sea as documented by Ionescu and Dr. Christian Lott of the Hydra Institute was featured in several documentary movies.Watch extreme! - from Valley Deep to mountain high online (no date) Prime Video. Available at: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Extreme---From-Valley-Deep-to-Mountain-High/0KEO7MIWB3USSG9HPIGE0YWYRO (Accessed: 01 February 2024).
His work at the Max Planck Institute included studies on the interaction between minerals and microbial cells, conducted Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in SwedenIonescu, D. et al. (2015) 'Diversity of iron oxidizing and reducing bacteria in flow reactors in the ÄSPÖ Hard Rock Laboratory', Geomicrobiology Journal, 32(3–4), pp. 207–220. doi:10.1080/01490451.2014.884196. and on the island of Kiritimati, as part of the collaborative researcher group FOR571.
Between 2014 and 2024, Ionescu conducted his research at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), where his research focused on the genomics and ecology of giant bacteria, specifically the genus Achromatium. Notably, in 2017, Ionescu discovered that the multiple chromosomes harbored by these large bacteria are not identical, highlighting their adaptability to different environments.
In 2021, Ionescu has received the independent research grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to further explore these topics.
Academic contributions
Ionescu has made significant contributions to the field of aquatic microbial ecology. A comprehensive list of his publications can be found on his ORCID and Google Scholar pages.
Additionally, Ionescu actively participates in the scientific community. He serves on the Managing Board of the open access research platform PCI Genomics and contributes as a recommender for PCI Microbiology. Moreover, he holds positions as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and editorial board member of Scientific Reports.http://www.nature.com. Editors | Scientific Reports. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/srep/about/editors#microbiology [Accessed 1 Feb. 2024].
Personal life
Born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1976, Ionescu and his family immigrated to Israel in 1984. He is married to Dr. Mina Bizic, also a scientist, and the couple has two children.vimeo.com. #02 - Aquatic ecologist Dr. Mina Bizic (IGB): exploring life in water and dealing with dual careers in science. [online] Available at: https://vimeo.com/470103616 [Accessed 1 Feb. 2024]. Ionescu's brother, Ariel Ionescu, is a Neurobiologist, and his brother-in-law, David Bizic, is an opera singer.https://www.facebook.com/danny.ionescu/about_family_and_relationships
Ionescu is a certified SSI Gold level diving instructorSSI Certificate Gold 500 Diver. My.divessi.com. (n.d.). https://my.divessi.com/code/thickbox/ccard_db_query.php?ccard_uid=797001Y4292798091053-IL Blackburn, Nicky, and Karin Kloosterman. "Dead Sea Divers Discover New Forms of Life." ISRAEL21c, 12 Sept. 2012, www.israel21c.org/dead-sea-divers-discover-new-forms-of-life. Accessed 4 Feb. 2024.
References
External links
Danny Ionescu's profile on the website of Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Danny Ionescu's's publications at Google Scholar Danny Ionescu's publications at PubMed Danny Ionescu's publications at ORCID