Imke Grefe

Imke Grefe is an International Lecturer in Water or Earth Sciences at Lancaster University's Lancaster Environment Centre. She teaches undergraduate modules including Aquatic Biogeochemistry, Catchment Hydrology, and Hydrology: Water in the Environment at LUC@BJTU (Lancaster University China Centre at Beijing Jiaotong University).

Her research focuses on aquatic biogeochemistry with emphasis on microbially mediated nutrient cycling in freshwaters and oceans. Specifically, she investigates how hydrological connectivity impacts biogeochemical nutrient cycling in streams and lakes, using stable isotope signatures to identify sources and trace the fate of nitrogen in aquatic environments.

Her recent publication in PLOS Water examines atmospheric nitrate accumulation in headwater lakes and its role as a nutrient subsidy to downstream aquatic environments, reflecting her expertise in nitrogen cycling and freshwater systems.

Dr. Grefe supervises PhD students including Ellie Jordan and Katrina Woodfield, both listed as PhD students and Associate Lecturers at Lancaster University.

Her professional activities include editorial work for Global Biogeochemical Cycles journal and presentations on nitrogen biogeochemistry in stream-lake networks in the English Lake District, nitrate retention in oligotrophic mountain stream-lake networks, and connectivity controls on nitrate dynamics.