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Dr. Stephanie Spahr is a Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany, where she leads the Organic Contaminants research group within the Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry. Previously, she served as a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Tübingen's Center for Applied Geoscience (2019-2021) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-2019). Dr. Spahr earned her PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in 2016. Her doctoral research focused on the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine during water disinfection with chloramine. She completed her MSc in Geoecology at the University of Tübingen in 2012, with thesis work on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of benzotriazoles conducted at Eawag, and her BSc in Geoecology/Ecosystem Management at the same institution in 2010. Dr. Spahr's research focuses on trace organic contaminants in aquatic systems, with particular expertise in transformation processes of contaminants in natural and engineered systems, advanced oxidation processes for water treatment, urban blue-green infrastructure, and compound-specific isotope analysis. Her work bridges environmental chemistry, engineering, and ecology to address water quality challenges in urban and natural water systems. She employs advanced analytical techniques to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for water treatment and environmental protection. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biochar-based water treatment technologies, particularly for stormwater management. She investigates how biochar amendments can remove trace organic contaminants from urban runoff, with recent work examining persulfate activation mechanisms, the role of chloride in reactive species formation, and the performance of engineered media filters under dynamic conditions. Her research also extends to understanding contaminant transport in rivers, the ecological impacts of pollutants, and developing analytical methods for environmental monitoring. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemical processes with ecological outcomes. Outstanding Review Paper Award 2023 in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Selected for the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2023 Selected mentee in the Leibniz Mentoring Programme 2022-2023 Best poster award (1st prize) at the Wasser 2022 of the Water Chemistry Society Selected fellow in the Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership 2020-2022 (Robert Bosch Stiftung) Selected fellow in the Athene Program for early female career researchers at the University of Tübingen, 2020-2021 As a Research Group Leader, Dr. Spahr supervises multiple research projects including 'POllution in UrbaN ponds, eco-evolutionary Dynamics, and Ecosystem Resilience (POUNDER)', 'Dynamic hyporheic zone', 'NYMPHE', and the 'Incident-related special investigation programme for the environmental disaster in the Oder River'. She serves on the Executive Board of the German Water Chemistry Society and heads its Expert Committee on 'Oxidative Processes'. Her collaborative work spans numerous institutions across Germany and internationally, addressing critical water quality challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Spahr leads the Organic Contaminants research group at IGB Berlin, which focuses on understanding the fate and treatment of organic pollutants in water systems. Her team employs advanced analytical techniques including compound-specific isotope analysis to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways. The group collaborates extensively with other departments at IGB and with international partners on projects addressing urban water challenges and ecological impacts of pollution. Current research emphasizes innovative water treatment technologies, particularly biochar-based systems for stormwater management, and investigating the complex interactions between contaminants, aquatic ecosystems, and human activities.

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Quality
• Contaminant Hydrology
• +7 more

Dr. Benedikt Aumeier is a Research Fellow and head of the working group "Advanced Water Treatment" at the Chair of Urban Water Management, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design at the Technical University of Munich since 2023. Previously, he served as a Post-Doc and Working Group Leader at the Institute of Urban Water Management, RWTH Aachen University from 2020-2023. Dr. Aumeier holds a Dr.-Ing. from the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (2020), an M.Sc. in Management and Technology of Water and Wastewater from the University of Duisburg-Essen (2011-2013), and a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (2007-2011). His research focuses on advanced water treatment processes for direct and indirect water reuse, drinking water treatment, and wastewater treatment. Key areas include adsorption/sorption, membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, and disinfection. He investigates competitive adsorption in aqueous media, novel sorbent regeneration methods, membrane fouling countermeasures, and process modeling. His work addresses removal of persistent and mobile organic contaminants including PFAS, as well as microorganism elimination. Dr. Aumeier's publications demonstrate a strong trend toward addressing emerging water quality challenges, particularly concerning persistent organic pollutants and advanced treatment technologies. His research spans fundamental studies on adsorption mechanisms to practical applications for water reuse and decentralized treatment systems, with increasing focus on PFAS removal and compliance with regulatory frameworks. Mitglied im Fachausschuss "Persistente-Mobile-Toxische (PMT) Stoffe" der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) Mitarbeit an DWA M1200 Teil 2 "Wasserwiederverwendung für landwirtschaftliche und urbane Zwecke in Deutschland" At TUM, Dr. Aumeier teaches courses including "Natural processing methods," "Advanced Water Treatment Engineering and Reuse," and "Industrial wastewater treatment and reuse," demonstrating his commitment to educating the next generation of water professionals. He leads the "Advanced Water Treatment" working group, which focuses on developing and applying innovative water treatment technologies to address contemporary water quality challenges under changing climate conditions.

• Water Treatment
• Adsorption/Sorption
• Membrane Filtration
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Nadine Göppert is a University Professor (W3) of Hydrogeology at the Institute of Geological Sciences , Freie Universität Berlin , Germany. She previously served as an Akademische Rätin and Senior Scientist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 2011–2024, and held research positions at the Weizmann Institute of Science (2009–2011) and University of Karlsruhe (2008–2009). Her academic background includes a Dr. rer. nat. (2008) and Diploma in Geology (2002) from the University of Karlsruhe. Education Doctorate in Hydrogeology (2008), University of Karlsruhe Diploma in Geology (2002), University of Karlsruhe Her research focuses on karst hydrology , groundwater tracing , particle transport dynamics , and water quality monitoring in alpine and subtropical karst systems. Recent publications analyze tracer experiments , microplastic transport , and hydrochemical variability across diverse karst environments. Her teaching portfolio includes Applied Hydrogeology , Field Methods , and Laboratory Techniques for students in Geosciences and Water Engineering. She has supervised numerous theses on topics like karst groundwater dynamics and fluorescence-based water quality analysis .

• Hydrogeology
• Karst Hydrology
• Groundwater Protection
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Vogel is the Head of the Department of Soil System Science at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Halle, Germany. His research focuses on understanding soils as complex systems, emphasizing their porous structure and its role in facilitating water, gas, and matter fluxes, as well as biological processes. He leads interdisciplinary projects integrating experimental and computational approaches to model soil functions under climate and land-use changes. He holds the Emil-Ramann-Medaille 2022 and the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award 2022 for contributions to soil science. His work spans soil structure dynamics, denitrification processes, nanoparticle transport, and systemic modeling of soil functions via frameworks like BODIUM. Collaborations include TERENO observatories and the Soil Structure Library (open-access CT data repository). Key affiliations include the UFZ’s Ecosystems of the Future research community and the Soil System Science Team. His research addresses sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, and climate change impacts, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications since 2000.

• Soil Science
• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• +3 more

Dr. Ina Säumel is a scientific collaborator at the Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt University of Berlin. Her work bridges urban ecology, biodiversity conservation, and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability through participatory approaches. Research Focus : Urban sustainability transitions, nature-based solutions, medicinal plants, and climate change adaptation. Key Projects : Edible City Solutions, biochar conversion from agro-residues, and biodiversity assessments in urban cemeteries. Geographic Scope : Uruguay, Andes, South Tyrol, and Berlin. Emphasis on post-industrial and water-sensitive cities. Her recent publications highlight interdisciplinary methods in co-creation, land-use impacts on metacommunity structures, and health-promoting urban green spaces. Contact: ina.saeumel@hu-berlin.de

• Urban Ecology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture
• +5 more

Dr. Markus Venohr is a Senior Scientist and Research Group Leader at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany, where he leads the River System Modelling research group within Department 1 (Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry). He holds a PhD from Humboldt-University Berlin and has been with IGB since completing his doctorate, first as a Post-doc (2006-2008) and then as a Senior Scientist since 2009. Dr. Venohr received his PhD from Humboldt-University Berlin (2001-2005), following studies in Geography, Meteorology and Oceanography at Christian-Albrechts University Kiel (1996-2000), and initial Geography studies at Ruhr-University Bochum (1994-1996). His research focuses on nutrient fluxes from land to sea , nutrient transport and transformation , biotic-abiotic coupling , river system modelling , climate change and management adaptation , and recreation ecology . Dr. Venohr specializes in understanding how human activities impact freshwater systems, particularly through nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban sources, and develops models to assess and predict these impacts. His work bridges the gap between scientific research and practical water management solutions. Dr. Venohr's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on nutrient modeling (particularly the AGRUM-DE framework), water quality assessment across scales from Berlin waterways to the Danube basin, and the impacts of human activities on freshwater ecosystems. His research increasingly addresses urban pollution sources, recreation ecology impacts, and climate adaptation strategies, with significant international collaborations evident in his work on topics ranging from the Kakhovka Dam destruction to nicotine contamination in surface waters. AQUATAG (2019-2022): Water-based recreational activities analysis BAUM (2015-2018): Climate adaptation measures in Brandenburg MARS (2014-2018): Multiple stressors in aquatic ecosystems OSCAR (2017-2020): Riparian buffer strips optimization RESI (2015-2018): Ecosystem services of rivers and floodplains He leads the River System Modelling group at IGB, which develops and applies advanced modeling approaches including MONERIS and AGRUM-DE to understand human impacts on freshwater systems. The group works closely with water management authorities across Germany and Europe to translate scientific findings into practical management solutions, particularly regarding nutrient pollution reduction and climate adaptation strategies.

• Nutrient fluxes
• River system modelling
• Water quality management
• +5 more

Dr. Pouyan Ahmadi is a Researcher in the Department of Hydrogeology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, focusing on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), microplastic transport, and multiphase flow in porous media. He holds a PhD in Hydrogeology (2023) and M.Sc. in Reservoir Engineering (2017) from institutions including UFZ and Shiraz University. His research addresses environmental challenges such as microplastic distribution in lakes and the hyporheic zone, supported by projects like the TRACER PhD college and Helmholtz International Research School. Education: 2024–current: Researcher, UFZ Hydrogeology 2019–2023: PhD in Hydrogeology, UFZ & University of Bayreuth 2017–2018: Reservoir Engineer, Shiraz University 2014–2017: M.Sc., Reservoir Engineering, Shiraz University Research interests span CFD modeling, microplastic fate, and rock-fluid interactions. His work contributes to initiatives like the Sonderforschungsbereich 1357 on microplastics, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental sustainability.

• Hydrogeology
• Environmental Science
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• +3 more

PD Dr. habil. Thomas Wöhling serves as a Senior Research Scientist and Team Leader for Stochastic Modelling of Hydrosystems at the Chair of Hydrology, Dresden University of Technology's Faculty of Environmental Sciences. His research spans integrated environmental systems modeling with particular expertise in surface water-groundwater interactions, braided river systems, and vadose zone processes. Previously, he held research positions at Water and Earth System Sciences Competence Cluster in Tübingen (2010-2015) and Lincoln Environmental Research in New Zealand (2006-2010). Dr. Wöhling completed his Dipl.-Hydrol. (1999) and PhD in Hydrology (2005) at Dresden University of Technology, followed by habilitation in Stochastic Hydrology (2021). His educational background includes extensive research at the Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology at TU Dresden (1999-2005) where he developed foundational expertise in hydrological modeling. Wöhling's research focuses on integrated modeling of coupled environmental systems , particularly flow and contaminant transport in surface water-groundwater systems, nutrient and energy fluxes in soil-plant-atmosphere systems, and distributed hydrological modeling. His work emphasizes stochastic modeling and uncertainty analysis , with significant contributions to inverse modeling, model calibration, multiobjective optimization, and Bayesian model averaging techniques. He has pioneered methods for evaluating monitoring network worth and data utility for environmental models. His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to hydrological science, with recent work (2023-2025) focusing on machine learning applications in hydrology, advanced statistical inversion techniques, and complex karst system modeling. Key trends include integration of physics-based and data-driven approaches, improved uncertainty quantification methods, and applications to climate change impacts on water resources. His work bridges theoretical advances with practical applications in New Zealand's braided rivers and European hydrological systems. STAHY Best Paper Award (2018) ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Best Reviewer Awards (2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2018) ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Best Paper Awards (2008, 2009) Dr. Wöhling leads the Stochastic Modelling of Hydrosystems team and has secured funding for numerous projects including Klimakonform, ISOSIM, VAMOS II, and the International Research Training Group 'Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling.' His work combines novel monitoring techniques with modeling and optimal sensor placement to improve prediction reliability for river-groundwater exchange fluxes. He collaborates extensively with international partners, particularly in New Zealand through the Lincoln Agritech's Braided Rivers program. His laboratory work focuses on combining traditional hydrological measurements with advanced computational techniques, including deep learning applications for soil surface hydrology and time-windowed Bayesian analysis for predictive modeling. The team maintains strong connections with field sites in Germany's Saxon region and New Zealand's Canterbury Plains, facilitating integrated theoretical and empirical research approaches.

• Integrated environmental systems modeling
• Surface water-groundwater interactions
• Braided river systems
• +9 more

Claus Haslauer serves as Scientific Director at the Institute for Modelling Water and Environmental Systems and the Groundwater and Contaminated Site Remediation Test Facility (VEGAS) at the University of Stuttgart. He holds the academic rank of Professor within the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specifically in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management. Haslauer has been affiliated with the institute since January 2019 and maintains an active research and teaching profile. His research interests focus on groundwater modeling, contaminant transport processes, environmental remediation technologies, hydrogeology, and soil engineering. Haslauer's work particularly emphasizes PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) research, investigating immobilization techniques, leaching behavior, and remediation strategies for these persistent contaminants. His methodological approaches include experimental testing at various scales (batch, column, lysimeter), numerical modeling, and field applications of remediation technologies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward addressing complex environmental contamination challenges, particularly PFAS contamination in soil and groundwater systems. His research employs multi-scale experimental approaches combined with advanced modeling techniques to understand contaminant behavior and develop effective remediation strategies. The work spans fundamental hydrogeological processes to practical field applications, with significant emphasis on translating laboratory findings to real-world remediation scenarios. Haslauer teaches courses including Soil Engineering, Soil Experiments, Environmental Analytical Techniques, Statistics for Engineers, Environmental Measuring and Monitoring Technologies, Groundwater and Soil Remediation, and Hydrogeology Field Practice. His teaching integrates theoretical concepts with practical laboratory and field experiences, reflecting his research focus on experimental approaches to understanding subsurface processes.

• Groundwater Modeling
• Contaminant Transport
• Environmental Remediation
• +4 more

Dr. Alraune Zech is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth Science, Utrecht University , and a Guest Scientist at the Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ . Her work focuses on Hydrogeology and Groundwater Modeling , particularly in quantifying Aquifer Heterogeneity and Transport Theory . Education: Diploma in Mathematics, University of Leipzig (2009) PhD in Environmental System Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (2013) Research Interests: Alraune investigates transport experiments , field-scale dispersion , and statistical aquifer parameter estimation from pumping tests. Her projects include groundwater simulations in the Thuringian Basin and revisiting transport theories with modern tools. Publications highlight her contributions to macrodispersivity estimation , geostatistical toolboxes , and heterogeneous aquifer modeling . Recent works in Groundwater and Advances in Water Resources emphasize practical applications and theoretical advancements. Collaborations include projects with the UFZ, Utrecht University, and international institutions. She has contributed to interdisciplinary efforts in groundwater-surface water coupling and contaminant transport analysis .

• Hydrogeology
• Groundwater Modeling
• Aquifer Heterogeneity
• +5 more

Prof. Johannes Barth, Ph.D. is a Professor and Chair of Applied Geology at the GeoZentrum Nordbayern (GeoCenter Northern Bavaria) within the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). His office is located in Room O1.106 at Schlossgarten 5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. With an extensive publication record spanning from 1997 to 2025, Prof. Barth has established himself as a leading researcher in hydrogeology and isotope geochemistry. Prof. Barth's research focuses on hydrogeology, isotope geochemistry, and environmental systems . His work investigates groundwater systems, carbon cycling in aquatic environments, and the application of stable isotopes to understand water-rock interactions. He has conducted significant research on karst aquifers, particularly in Sri Lanka, examining issues related to seawater intrusion, groundwater quality, and connections to public health concerns like Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). His research often bridges fundamental geochemical processes with practical environmental and health applications. Analysis of Prof. Barth's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on tropical hydrogeology, isotope applications, and environmental health . His work demonstrates expertise in using stable isotopes (particularly oxygen and carbon) to trace water sources, understand biogeochemical processes, and address water quality issues. There's a notable emphasis on Sri Lankan groundwater systems and their connections to human health, as well as broader investigations of carbon cycling in freshwater ecosystems and lakes. Prof. Barth actively collaborates with researchers across multiple disciplines and countries, particularly with Sri Lankan scientists studying groundwater-related health issues. His work bridges geoscience with public health through the "One Health" approach, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of modern environmental research.

• Hydrogeology
• Isotope Geochemistry
• Environmental Geology
• +5 more

Rodoshi Ahmed is a Researcher at the Chair of Urban Water Management, Technical University of Munich (TUM), since 2025. His work focuses on water treatment technologies, urban water systems, and environmental engineering, with a particular emphasis on pollution control and sustainable water management. Education: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (BUET, 2014-2018), M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (TUM, 2023-2025) Prior roles: Student assistant at TUM's Geotechnical Center (2022-2023), lecturer at Stamford University Bangladesh (2021), and student assistant at BUET (2019-2020) His research interests include: Water Treatment Urban Water Management Environmental Engineering Pollution Control Sustainable Water Systems Civil Engineering Rodoshi's recent publications address environmental impacts of industrial relocation and pollution from common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in Bangladesh. He is associated with the Chair of Urban Water Management under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg E. Drewes, which explores topics like water reuse, urban water resilience, and contaminant removal processes.

• Water Treatment
• Urban Water Management
• Environmental Engineering
• +3 more

Dr. Thomas Demmel is a Researcher at the Hydrogeology Department of RWTH Aachen University , where he has worked since 2006. He serves as Deputy Head of the Hydrogeology Teaching and Research Area and coordinates the "groundwater modelling" working group. Research Areas Geogenic and anthropogenic groundwater contamination Hydrogeological and numerical groundwater modeling Transport dynamics of contaminants (uranium, nitrate, heavy metals) Contaminant retention in aquifers Key Projects 2023-ongoing: Modeling water balance and Rhenania tailings pile 2017-2022: Remediation studies at Bergehalde Beythal 2016-2020: Preferential flow paths in loess soils 2012-2014: Uranium contamination in Southern Bavaria

• Hydrogeology
• Groundwater Contamination
• Numerical Modeling
• +4 more

Olaf A. Cirpka is a Full Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Tübingen, Germany, within the Faculty of Science's Department of Geosciences. He holds a Diploma in Geoecology (University of Karlsruhe, 1992) and a Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (University of Stuttgart, 1997). His career includes postdoctoral research at Stanford University (1998–2000), adjunct roles there until 2009, and leadership roles such as Head of the Emmy-Noether Junior Research Group (2000–2004) and Subsurface Hydrology Workgroup at Eawag (2004–2008). He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (2015) and served as Spokesperson for the Research Training Group 1829 (2012–2021). Research Interests: His work focuses on subsurface hydrology, reactive transport modeling, biogeochemical processes in aquifers, and climate impacts on groundwater systems. He integrates numerical modeling, field experiments, and geophysical methods to address challenges in contaminant fate, hyporheic zone dynamics, and sustainable groundwater management. Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize innovative methods for quantifying subsurface processes (e.g., VTraFlux, electrical conductivity tracers), climate-driven groundwater changes, and microbial-driven biogeochemical reactions. His work bridges experimental hydrology with computational tools to advance understanding of complex environmental systems. Awards & Grants: AGU Fellowship (2015) highlights his scientific contributions. He has led numerous research initiatives, including the Advect As project on arsenic dynamics and the Research Training Group on integrated hydrosystem modeling. Grants and collaborations span interdisciplinary environmental research. Labs & Teams: Directs the Hydrogeology group at Tübingen and collaborates with international institutions like Stanford, ETH Zürich, and Eawag. His research integrates field campaigns, lab experiments, and numerical simulations to address real-world hydrogeological challenges.

• Hydrogeology
• Environmental Geosciences
• Subsurface Hydrology
• +6 more

Vinícius Falchi Bernardo is a Researcher in the Department of Hydrogeology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. His work focuses on groundwater management, reactive transport modeling, and site restoration, particularly in contaminated aquifer systems. He holds a BSc in Geology from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP, Brazil) and an MSc in Environmental Remediation involving nanometric zero-valent iron (nZVI) applications. Professional experience includes roles as a geologist at firms like Golder Associates and Arcadis, alongside consultancy in hydrogeology. His research integrates numerical modeling with field data to address challenges in aquifer remediation and hydrogeochemical processes. Key projects include the NitratLurch initiative, exploring microbial nitrate purification in pore aquifers. He contributes to interdisciplinary teams within the UFZ’s Hydrogeology group, collaborating on catchment-scale hydrology and water resources sustainability.

• Groundwater Management
• Hydrogeochemistry
• Aquifer Remediation
• +3 more