Helmut Hillebrand

Prof. Dr. Helmut Hillebrand is a Professor of Plankton Ecology at the University of Oldenburg and Director at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), a collaboration between the University of Oldenburg and the Alfred Wegener Institute. His research focuses on biodiversity mechanisms, ecological stability, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, particularly phytoplankton communities.

Education: PhD in Biology (1996-1999, University of Kiel), postdoctoral fellowships at Uppsala University (2001-2002) and Erken Laboratory (1999-2001). Academic career includes positions as Associate Professor at Cologne (2004-2008) and Assistant Professor at Kiel (2002-2004).

Research interests include ecological stoichiometry, ecosystem functioning, and the effects of environmental change on marine biodiversity. Projects include DFG Research Unit FOR 2716 (DynaCom) and EU Horizon 2020 ACTNOW. He uses experimental approaches like planktotrons to study phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions under climate change scenarios.

Key contributions address biodiversity time series biases, phytoplankton cell size dynamics, and critical perspectives on tipping point concepts in biodiversity policy. His work bridges empirical research with synthesis and data analysis to inform ecological theory and conservation strategies.