Colin Murrell is Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance and Professor in Environmental Microbiology at the University of East Anglia (UEA). The central theme of his research is the microbiology of major biogeochemical cycles, particularly bacteria that grow on one-carbon (C1) compounds. He has guided nearly 60 PhD students, supervised well over 100 postdoctoral fellows, research technicians and visiting researchers from more than 25 countries. He currently serves as SAB Member for the Max Planck Society and on the Governing Council of the John Innes Centre.