Survey
Research Group Prof. Christine Alewell, Environmental Geosciences
Research Group Prof. Bruno Baur, Conservation Biology
Research Group Plant Physiology, Botany
Research Group Prof. Christian de Capitani, Mineralogy and Petrography
Research Group Prof. Dieter Ebert, Zoology
Research Group Prof. Patricia Holm, Man-Society-Environment
Research Group Prof. Ansgar Kahmen, Sustainable Landuse
Research Group Prof. Nikolaus J. Kuhn, Physical Geography and Environmental Change
Research Group Prof. Jean-Marie Le Tensorer, IPNA: Prähist.& Natw. Archäologie
Research Group Prof. Moritz Lehmann, Biogeochemistry
Research Group Biogeography
Research Group Prof. Eberhard Parlow, Meteorology Climatology, Remote Sensing
Research Group Prof. Walter Salzburger, Zoology
Research Group Prof. Jörg Schibler, IPNA: Prähist.& Naturwissensch. Archäologie
Research Group Prof. Rita Schneider-Sliwa, Geography/ Urban- and Regional Studies
Research Group Prof. Patrick Tschopp, Zoology
Research Group Prof. Andreas Wetzel, Geology - Paleontology
Research Group Prof. Yvonne Willi, Botany, Plant Ecology
Work Group Prof. Peter Huggenberger, Angewandte und Umweltgeologie
Work Group PD Lukas Schärer, Zoology
Evolution and Environmental Change / Zoology
Research Group Ebert; Zoology
Group Leader: Prof. Dieter Ebert
Secretary: Yasmin Picton
Vesalianum, Vesalgasse 1
4051 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 03 61
Our research addresses the ecological and genetical mechanism of fast evolutionary processes. The main focus of the group are the evolution, genetics and ecology of host-parasite and host-mutualist interactions. Research topics include local adaptation, coevolution, evolution in metapopulations, the evolution of microbiota, the evolution of sex, trait mapping and genetic architecture. Most of our research use waterfleas of the genus Daphnia as a study system. We conduct most of our field research in Southern Finland.
Research Group Salzburger; Zoology
Group Leader: Prof. Walter Salzburger
Secretary: Brigitte Aeschbach
Vesalianum, Vesalgasse 1
4051 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 03 00
More than 150 years after the publication of Charles R. Darwin's The Origin, the identification of the processes governing the emergence of novel species remains a fundamental question to biology. How is it possible that two or more biological entities – species – can emerge from one entity, and continue to be distinct even when coexisting in nature? What are the external factors and environmental conditions that promote this process? What are the molecular mechanisms that underlie it? And why is diversity so unequally distributed across the tree of life, with some groups of organisms having diversified in a seemingly explosive manner, while others have remained virtually unvaried over millions of years? Our research focuses on exactly these questions. More specifically, we are interested in the question of how variation in the DNA translates into organismal diversity and in the identification of the patterns and molecular mechanisms that underlie adaptation, evolutionary innovation, and diversification. The main model systems in our lab are the adaptive radiations of cichlid fishes in East Africa, of Antarctic notothenioid fishes, and of three-spine sticklebacks.
Work Group Lukas Schärer
Group Leader: PD Lukas Schärer
Secretary: Yasmin Picton
Vesalianum, Vesalgasse1
4051 Basel
Telephone: +41 61 207 03 66
Our research investigates the evolutionary biology of sexual reproduction in simultaneously hermaphroditic animals, which, being male and female at the same time, face some intriguing and unexpected challenges in their sexual lives. One involves the decision about how much to invest in their own male and female side, representing a question about the economy of reproduction. Another deals with conflicts of interest between the mating partners about how to mate, expected to be particularly severe in simultaneous hermaphrodites. We study these phenomena in a small and highly transparent free-living flatworm, Macrostomum lignano, which lives on the beaches of the Northern Adriatic Sea.
Research Group Tschopp, Zoology
Leader: Prof. Patrick Tschopp
Secretary: Yasmin Picton
Vesalianum, Vesalgasse 1
4051 Basel
Phone +41 (0)61 267 03 61
Our research interests focus on two main questions: How is phenotypic diversity generated during vertebrate embryogenesis? And how can developmental processes be modified to drive morphological evolution? We are particularly interested in investigating how the evolution of gene regulation is underlying these phenomena.
As a model system, we are studying the development of the vertebrate skeleton with its associated neuromuscular system, using experimental embryology, functional genomics, cell culture, bioinformatics and modelling.
Ecology and Plant Systems / Botany
Botanical Garden Basel
Botanical Garden of the University
(Botanical Garden at the Spalentor)
Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Telephone +41 (0)61 / 207 35 19 or207 35 05
Manager: Bruno Erny
Swiss Orchid Foundation
Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz
The Swiss Orchid Foundation which was established in 2001 takes care of the Orchid Herbarium and the library of Dr Jany Renz, given to the University of Basel as a legacy. The digitalised Orchid herbarium samples form the ever-expanding image database “Wold Orchid Iconography” which is publicly available on the website of the foundation.
Research Group Baur; Conservation Biology
Group Leader: Prof. Bruno Baur
Secretary: Evelyn Meyer
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 61 207 08 31
Research Group Plant Physiology
Research Group Kahmen; Sustainable Landuse
Group Leader: Prof. Ansgar Kahmen
Secretary: Maura Ellenberger
Totengässlein 3
4051 Basel
Telefon +41 61 207 35 00
The Sustainable Landuse Group investigates the physiological processes in plants that determine the fluxes of water, nitrogen and carbon in ecosystems. The goal of our work is to understand how plants function in the context of their environment and to reveal how plants shape the provision of ecosystem goods and services in natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Research Group Willi; Plant Ecology
Leitung: Prof. Yvonne Willi
Sekretariat: Franziska Grob
Hebelstrasse 1
4056 Basel
Telefon +41 (0)61 207 23 11
Biogeochemistry and Global Cycles of Matter / Geosciences
- Analytisches Zentrallabor für Umwelt- und Geochemie AZUG
Das Analytische Zentrallabor für Umwelt- und Geochemie (AZUG) ist eine Einrichtung am Departement für Umweltwissenschaften der Universität Basel. Das Labor fasst verschiedene Bereiche der instrumentellen Analytik zu einer Organisationseinheit zusammen. Das AZUG ist eine Serviceeinrichtung für Angehörige des Departements Umweltwissenschaften. Darüber hinaus werden auch Dienstleistungen für andere Institutionen der Universität Basel erbracht.
- Environmental Geosciences / Biogeochemistry:
Lab for stable isotopes and organic geochemistry
Environmental Geosciences / biogeochemistry
Research Group Alewell; Environmental Geosciences
Group Leader: Prof. Christine Alewell
Secretary: Daniela Kandl
Bernoullistrasse 30
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 04 80
Research Group De Capitani; Mineralogy and Petrography
Group Leader: Prof. Christian de Capitani
Secretary: Eleniana Petitjean
Bernoullistrasse 30
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 35 91
Research Group Kuhn; Physical Geography and Environmental Change
Physical Geography and Environmental Change
Group Leader: Prof. Nikolaus J. Kuhn
Secretary: Sandra Stofer
Klingelbergstrasse 27
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 07 19
Research Group Lehmann; Biogeochemistry
Aquatic and Isotope Biogeochemistry
Group Leader: Prof. Moritz Lehmann
Secretary: Karin Liesenfeld
Bernoullistrasse 30
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 04 80
Our research focuses on biogeochemical processes and their isotope-geochemical signatures in aquatic systems and sedimentary environments. Combining laboratory and field studies and employing multiple mass-spectrometic, geochemical and molecular techniques we are particularly interested in the controls on the biological cycling/transformation of nitrogenous compounds (and their isotopologues), methane and organic matter in modern lakes and the ocean as well as the use of organic-geochemical indicators to reconstruct environmental conditions in the past.
Research Group Biogeography
Group Leader ad interim: Stefanie von Fumetti
Secretary: Lea Mühlemann
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 61 207 08 00
Research Group Parlow; Meteorology, Climatology and remote Sensing
Meteorology, Climatology and Remote Sensing
Group Leader: Prof. Eberhard Parlow
Secretary: Josette Pfefferli-Stocky
Klingelbergstrasse 27
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 07 00
Research Group Wetzel; Geology, Paleontology
Geology and Paleontology
Group Leader: Prof. Andreas Wetzel
Secretary: Eleniana Petitjean
Bernoullistrasse 32
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 35 91
Work Group Huggenberger; Angewandte und Umweltgeologie
Angewandte und Umweltgeologie befasst sich mit der regionalen Geologie/Hydrologie. Ihr Leiter ist der Beauftragte der Universität für Kantonsgeologie.
Group Leader: Prof. Peter Huggenberger
Secretary: Silvia Leupin
Bernoullistrasse 32
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 34 45
Environment and Human Influence / Archeology, Human Geography, Man-Society-Environment
Environment and Human Influence
Research Group Holm; Man-Society-Environment
Group Leader: Prof. Patricia Holm
Secretary: Ute-Simone Spitzer
Vesalianum, Vesalgasse 1
4051 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 04 00
Aquatic ecology meets society
We investigate anthropogenic and natural effects on organisms in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Research topics include chemical inputs, sediment inputs, microplastics, climate change and water surges, and non-native organisms, with our main focus on fish. Using interdisciplinary approaches, we look at these issues from various angles and develop sustainable solutions.
Research Group Schibler; Prehistoric and Scientific Archeology (PNA)
Prehistoric and Scientific Archeology (PNA)
Group Leader: Prof. Jörg Schibler
Secretary: Brigitte Heiz Wyss und Viviane Kolter
Spalenring 145
4055 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 201 02 00
The research in prehistory and archaeological sciences encompasses various periods, spanning from the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages. Archaeological remains of human activities (e.g. stone/bone/antler artefacts, plant remains, etc.) are analysed with scientific methods. The results can then be used to shed light on people‘s way of living (e.g. nutrition, health and economy), and to reconstruct environments and ecology in the past. The main research fields in this group are archaeozoology, archaeobotany, archaeogenetics, anthropological archaeology and geoarchaeology. Stable isotopes from archaeological organic remains (e.g. animal bones and/or plant remains) are also being studied in collaboration with the Environmental Geology research group (led by Prof. Lehmann) of Basel University.
Research Group Le Tensorer; Prehistoric and Scientific Archeology (IPNA)
Prehistoric and Scientific Archeology (IPNA)
Group Leader: Prof. J.-M. Le Tensorer
Secretary: Brigitte Heiz Wyss und Viviane Kolter
Spalenring 145
4055 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 201 02 00
The research in prehistory and archaeological sciences encompasses various periods, spanning from the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages. Archaeological remains of human activities (e.g. stone/bone/antler artefacts, plant remains, etc.) are analysed with scientific methods. The results can then be used to shed light on people‘s way of living (e.g. nutrition, health and economy), and to reconstruct environments and ecology in the past.
The research focus in this group is human evolution and the development of stone artefacts in the Near East (in particular Syria) and Europe, from the Lower to the Middle Palaeolithic. Another important field of research within the group is the Swiss/Circum-Alpine region Neolithic, especially as far as the lacustrine settlements are concerned.
Research Group Schneider Sliwa; Geography/ Urban and Regional Studies
Geography/ Urban and Regional Studies
Group Leader: Prof. Rita Schneider-Sliwa
Secretary: Yvonne Gilgen
Klingelbergstrasse 27
4056 Basel
Telephone +41 (0)61 207 36 44