Daniel Hunkeler

Prof. Daniel Hunkeler is a Full Professor of Hydrochemistry and Contaminants at the University of Neuchâtel's Faculty of Science, leading the Laboratory of Hydrochemistry and Contaminants within the Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermics. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Waterloo, Canada. His research focuses on chemical and microbial behavior in aquifers, employing advanced analytical techniques like compound-specific isotope analysis and tracing methods. Key areas include pesticide metabolite transport, PFAS fate, and interactions between hydrological and biogeochemical processes in drained organic soils.

Recent projects investigate:

• Pesticide metabolite persistence in soil-groundwater systems
• PFAS migration from soil to groundwater
• Nitrate leaching dynamics in agricultural settings
• Microbial activity at river-aquifer interfaces

Teaching responsibilities include courses in hydrogeochemistry, contaminant hydrogeology, and tracer applications at both bachelor's and master's levels. He directs the University of Neuchâtel's 20-year-old continuing education program on contaminated site management and advises governmental agencies on groundwater policy. Professional roles include vice-directorship of the Swiss Society for Hydrogeology and membership in water quality commissions.

Research outputs emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, combining field monitoring with modeling to address water quality challenges. Publications from 2023-2025 highlight innovations in noble gas tracers, microbial cytometric analysis, and climate change impacts on groundwater systems.