Jörg Lewandowski

Dr. Jörg Lewandowski is a Privatdozent (Private Lecturer) at the Geographical Institute of Humboldt University Berlin and a full-time scientist and working group leader in the Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin. He has been affiliated with IGB since 2006 and with Humboldt University since 2015, where he leads research on groundwater-surface water interactions and related biogeochemical processes.

Dr. Lewandowski's research focuses on hydrodynamic transport and biogeochemical turnover processes at critical aquatic interfaces. His primary research areas include groundwater-river interactions in hyporheic zones and floodplain aquifers, groundwater-lake interactions, retention and transformation of organic trace substances in hyporheic zones, effects of bioturbation on transport processes in lake sediments, phosphorus retention in limnic sediments, and lake restoration techniques. His work combines field measurements, laboratory experiments, and modeling approaches to understand these complex ecohydrological systems.

Analysis of Dr. Lewandowski's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on advanced methodological approaches for studying groundwater-surface water interactions. His research increasingly employs electrical conductivity as a tracer, develops sophisticated modeling tools for hyporheic exchange, and investigates the impacts of dynamic flow conditions on biogeochemical processes. Recent work also examines the role of biological activity in enhancing ecohydrological interface functions and develops standardized methods for characterizing groundwater-lake interactions.

Dr. Lewandowski leads or has led several significant research projects including the long-term 'Hyporheic Zone' project (2006-2029), 'Groundwater – the disregarded component in lake water and nutrient budgets' (2010-2028), 'HypoTRAIN' (2015-2018), and the current 'Dynamic hyporheic zone' project (2023-2026). His work has been supported by various funding agencies including DFG (German Research Foundation) and has contributed to practical applications in water management and lake restoration.

His laboratory and research group at IGB specialize in advanced techniques for studying groundwater-surface water interfaces, including distributed temperature sensing, electrical conductivity monitoring, novel sampling approaches for pore water, and development of integrated modeling frameworks. The group collaborates extensively with national and international partners across multiple disciplines to advance understanding of critical zone processes in freshwater systems.