Research focus

My research focuses on environmental geosciences, with an emphasis on understanding biogeochemical nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems, particularly at the interface between the water column and sediments. By investigating nutrient dynamics and sediment–water interactions, I aim to better understand the processes that regulate ecosystem functioning and water quality under changing environmental conditions.

A central component of my research is Lake Stechlin, a deep, oligotrophic lake in northeastern Germany that serves as a long-term ecological observatory for climate change research. Over the past five decades, Lake Stechlin has experienced surface water warming of more than 1.5 °C, earlier onset of thermal stratification, and shorter periods of ice cover. These climate-driven changes influence nutrient availability, oxygen dynamics, biogeochemical turnover rates, and ecosystem structure. Using Lake Stechlin as a natural laboratory, my work contributes to understanding how climate change alters freshwater biogeochemical processes and the resilience of lake ecosystems.


Short curriculum
Since 2023-2026:
Post-Doc at the Department of Geobiobology

Since 2023-2026:
PhD candidate University of Göttingen / University of Tübingen, Germany
Topic: Linking Redox-Cycling to Hydrogeology: Sedimentological Controls on the Capacity of Aquifers to Reduce Nitrate and other Dissolved Electron Acceptors.
(collaboration between the Universities of Göttingen, Kassel, Tübingen and Vienna)

2020–2022:
Graduate student (M.Sc.), Geosciences, University of Göttingen, Germany
MSc Thesis: “Seasonal and spatial dynamics of hydrogeochemical parameters of Lake Stechlin (Brandenburg) under the influence of increasing eutrophication”
(collaboration with the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin)

2016–2020:
Undergraduate student (B.Sc.), Geosciences, University of Göttingen, Germany
BSc Thesis: “Assessing fingerprints of early Archean life in barite and chert of the ca. 3.5 Ga Dresser Formation, Western Australia – a geobiological approach”

Current teaching
• B.Geo.111, LV 3: Introduction to the Chemical Analysis of Solids & Fluids
• M.EES.211: Case Studies in Environmental Geosciences
• B.Geo.104, TM 2: Reconstructing the Earth System Through Space and Time
• B.ÖSM.105, LV 2: Mapping course Hildesheimer Wald
• Supervision of bachelor theses

Analytical skills
• Elemental (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur) analyses (Elementar Vario Cube, Elementar Analysesysteme)
• Organic / inorganic carbon quantification in soils & sediments (Elementar SoliTOC Cube, Elementar Analysegeräte; RC612 multi-phase carbon analyzer, LECO)
• Ion analyses of water samples via ion chromatography (IC 820, Metrohm)
• Elemental analyses of thin sections via micro-XRF (Tornado M4, Bruker)

Community Services
• Social Media Management of the Department of Geobiology
• Supervision of bachelor- and master students

Publications