Ilse Schwarzinger

Ilse Schwarzinger is a Senior Scientist and currently serves as Vice Rector for Human Resources, Organization and Digitalization at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She is affiliated with the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity. Her academic career spans decades of research and teaching in freshwater ecology, bioassessment, and biomonitoring, with a strong emphasis on benthic invertebrates as indicators of ecological status.

Education:

• Diploma in Hydrobiology (1994)
• Doctoral Degree (2002)

Her research interests include freshwater ecosystem assessment, the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), ecological status classification, and the development of bioassessment tools such as ECOPROF. She has led numerous national and international research projects focused on river monitoring, particularly in the Danube Basin and transboundary contexts like the Hindu Kush-Himalayan and Mekong regions.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on benthic invertebrates as bioindicators, ecological assessment methodologies, and the challenges of implementing environmental directives in diverse river systems. Her work spans applied field studies, software development for ecological assessment, and policy-relevant reporting, particularly in support of sustainable hydropower planning and transboundary water management.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Ilse Schwarzinger has supervised at least one doctoral thesis and has contributed to academic service as a reviewer for journals such as Hydrobiologia and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. She also served as secretary of SIL Austria (Societas Internationalis Limnologie Austria) from 2012 to 2017. She has led multiple research projects funded by federal ministries, the European Commission, and international organizations, often focusing on capacity building and sustainable water resource management.

She is actively involved in laboratory and field-based research through the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, contributing to long-term monitoring programs and the development of standardized assessment protocols for freshwater ecosystems.