Research interest

As a part of the project Algal Dynamics And Productivity through Time (ADAPT), I plan to combine organic geochemical proxies with sedaDNA analyses to investigate algal population dynamics in response to known anthropogenic forcings (1), examine algal community divergence over the course of the Holocene (2), and study the occurrence of harmful algal blooms in geologically similar temperate lakes from geographically different regions (3). The generated knowledge about past algal population dynamics will hopefully contribute to improve predictions of upcoming changes in algal communities triggered by the ongoing climate change and further human activities, and potentially enhance the development of mitigation strategies to maintain biochemical cycling, water quality, and food web stability.

Educational background and work experience

Since Dec 2022: PhD Candidate in the Organic Geochemistry group of Prof. Dr. Nemiah Ladd, University Basel (CH)

Dec 2020 – Sept 2021: Research assistant in the research group Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred-Wegener-Institute (DE)

Sep 2019 – Jan 2020: Erasmus Semester, University of Montpellier (FR)

Apr 2018 – Mar 2022: MSc in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation, University of Potsdam (DE), Thesis: Paleogenetic reconstruction of past biodiversity changes using sedimentary ancient DNA from Lake Tiefer See (NE Germany)

Apr 2018 – Oct 2018: Research assistant in the research group Botany, Humboldt University of Berlin (DE)

Apr 2017 – Oct 2017: Research assistant in the research group Physiology of Microorganisms, Humboldt University of Berlin (DE)

Oct 2014 – Jan 2018: BSc in Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin (DE), Thesis: Studies on the substrate specificity of three solute binding proteins of Lactobacillus casei BL23