Research interests

I am an aspiring geochemist deeply passionate and curious about how trace elements and their isotopic ratio, organic molecules and their isotopic ratio of H, C, O, S, N, Si can help us understand system wide natural processes of planets and help us reconstruct the past evolution of our planet, all at the intersection between the biosphere and the geosphere. 

My ongoing research is part of the ECO-ICE project with main collaborators between the University of Basel and Bern. For this project, I will use a suite of biomarkers extracted from sediments core around the Alps mountains to reconstruct the spatial and temporal occurrence of temperate tree refugia during the last glacial maximum (LGM), and develop and understanding of the necessary conditions for these refugia to exist. In particular, I am using hydrogen isotopes of plant wax n-alkanes and fatty acids, as well as brGDGT distributions to reconstruct hydroclimate and past temperatures. I am stimulated by the close collaboration with the other ECO-ICE contributors and their expertise in other techniques (e.g. palynology, sed-DNA, modelling), which will jointly contribute to a rich reconstruction of the LGM environment. 

Research and Business background 

2026-2030: PhD student in Organic Geochemistry at the Organic Geochemistry group of Prof. Dr. Nemiah Ladd, University of Basel (CH). ECO-ICE project.

2024-2026: Innovation and Venture Specialist, Karger Publishers Basel (CH)

2023 to 2024: Working student and Researcher, Sustainable Engineering at Bystronic Laser AG, Bern (CH)

2021 to 2023: Double Degree Master in Management and Innovation (MiM, M.Sc) at HEC Paris (FR) and Technical University of Munich (DE). Industry Thesis Prof. Dr. Joachim Henkel, Prof Dr. Dane Pflueger: The evolution of performance management systems in R&D for decarbonization targets. 

2020 to 2021: Research Assistant - Organic Geochemistry at Sedimentology group of Prof. Dr. Nathalie Dubois, ETHZ, EAWAG, Zürich (CH). Study of tropical sediments to find a biomarker for the water hyacinth. Spectrometry method development for fecal biomarkers.

May 2019 to November 2019 : Intern - Engineering Research at Bosch, Singapore (SG). Testing of an optoelectronic sensor technology for boundary conditions and failure modes in ISO Class 6 lab, building towards patents.

August 2018 to May 2019 Civilian - Organic Geochemistry at Biogeochemistry group of Prof. Dr. Carsten J. Schübert, EAWAG, Luzern (CH). Study of taxon-specific hydrogen isotope signals.

Jan 2018 to June 2018: Civilian - Biogeochemistry at Environmental Biology Lab of Prof. Dr. Rizlan Bernier-Latmani at EPFL, Lausanne (CH). Study of variety of Arsenic methylation in microorganisms.

2017 to 2019: Co-founder at Neobinol, Lausanne (CH)

2015 to 2017: Master in Biogeosciences (M.Sc), specialization in geomicrobiology at University of Lausanne (CH). Thesis Prof. Dr. Torsten Vennemann, Prof Dr. Eric Verrecchia: how is groundwater recharged in the Northern Kalahari and from which river ?

2012 to 2015: Bachelor in Environmental Sciences, option Geology (B.Sc) at University of Lausanne (CH)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Ladd, S. N., Nelson, D. B., Matthews, B., Dyer, S., Limberger, R., Klatt, A., Narwani, A., Dubois, N., & Schubert, C. J. (2025). Taxon-specific hydrogen isotope signals in cultures and mesocosms facilitate ecosystem and hydroclimate reconstruction. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 390, 199-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2024.12.002

• Viacava, K., Meibom, K. L., Ortega, D., Dyer, S., Gelb, A., Falquet, L., Minton, N. P., Mestrot, A., & Bernier-Latmani, R. (2020). Variability in Arsenic Methylation Efficiency across Aerobic and Anaerobic Microorganisms. Environmental Science & Technology, 54 (22), 14343-14351. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.0c03908