Annette Menzel

Prof. Dr. Annette Menzel holds the Chair of Ecoclimatology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Life Sciences. She is a Carl von Linde Senior Fellow at TUM’s Institute for Advanced Study (2013–2016). Her research focuses on climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and human health, including extreme event analysis, phenology, and biodiversity responses. Menzel co-authored the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (2007), contributing to its Nobel Peace Prize-winning work. She earned a doctorate (summa cum laude, 1997) and habilitation (2002) in bioclimatology from LMU Munich, with prior forestry experience in Bavaria.

Education & Career:

• 2013–2016: Carl von Linde Senior Fellow, TUM-IAS
• 2007–present: Professor of Ecoclimatology, TUM
• 2002–2007: Private Lecturer & Acting Chair, TUM
• 1997: PhD (summa cum laude), LMU Munich
• 1992: State Forestry Service Examination, Bavaria
• 1985–1989: Diploma in Forestry, LMU Munich

Research Interests: Climate change impacts on ecosystems and human health, phenological shifts, extreme weather consequences, and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental monitoring (e.g., remote sensing, citizen science).
Her work bridges ecology, climatology, and public health, with a focus on actionable insights for policy and conservation.

Grants & Projects: Leads/Participates in numerous EU and national projects, including KLIMAGRAD (climate monitoring networks), BAYSICS (biodiversity-climate interactions), and IAS-CLIMVASION (climate migration studies). Collaborates internationally, including with institutions in Chile, Canada, and Australia.

Awards:

• Nobel Peace Prize (2007, IPCC)
• German Forestry Science Prize (2002)
• Academia Europaea Membership (2023)
• Lower Saxony Academy Membership (2025)

Labs/Teams: Manages the Ecoclimatology team at TUM, including researchers like Dr. Ismail Bekar and Dr. Nicole Estrella. Maintains infrastructure like the KLIMAGRAD meteorological network, phenological cameras, and UAV systems for ecosystem monitoring.