Harald Foerstendorf

Dr. Harald Foerstendorf serves as Group Leader of the "Analytics" group at the Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), a position held since 2022 following over two decades as a staff scientist at the institution. His research critically advances understanding of actinide and radionuclide behavior in environmental systems, with direct applications to nuclear waste disposal safety assessments and contamination remediation strategies.

His academic foundation includes a PhD in Chemistry (1997) and Diploma in Chemistry (1992), both from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, where his doctoral work employed FT-IR spectroscopy to investigate photoreactions in plant receptors.

• PhD in Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 1997
• Diploma in Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 1992

Foerstendorf's research centers on molecular-scale mechanisms of radionuclide interactions at environmental interfaces. He specializes in surface processes of actinides at liquid/solid boundaries, aqueous complexation with organic ligands, and in situ vibrational spectroscopy techniques. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with practical nuclear safety challenges, particularly in characterizing sorption dynamics on mineral surfaces relevant to repository systems.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2013) reveals consistent focus on actinide speciation using multi-technique approaches. Key trends include advanced spectroscopic characterization (ATR FT-IR, EXAFS) of neptunium/uranium sorption on oxides, thermodynamic modeling of ligand interactions, and investigation of redox-sensitive elements like technetium. The research demonstrates increasing integration of computational methods with experimental data to resolve complex speciation scenarios.

Research funding includes a German Research Foundation (DFG) grant (FO 619/1-1; 1-2) supporting fundamental studies from 2006-2009. While specific student advisees aren't documented in the source material, his leadership position implies mentorship of doctoral researchers within HZDR's structured doctoral programs.

• German Research Foundation (DFG) FO 619/1-1; 1-2 (05/2006-04/2009)

As head of the Analytics group within the Actinide Thermodynamics department, Foerstendorf directs a specialized team operating advanced spectroscopic facilities including ATR FT-IR and EXAFS capabilities. The group maintains extensive collaborations across European nuclear research institutions and participates in international projects addressing long-term safety of radioactive waste disposal systems.