Katja Heister

Dr. Katja Heister serves as Department Head of the GeoLab at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences since September 2015. She is responsible for the operation of the GeoLab, including supervision of daily operational processes and development of long-term vision in collaboration with scientists and stakeholders. She works alongside operational manager Bernadette Marchand as part of the lab management team.

Dr. Heister's research focuses on soil science and biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on mineral-organic matter interactions, soil structure development, and contaminant behavior in soil environments. Her work integrates soil physics, chemistry, and microbiology to understand fundamental soil processes using artificial soil systems as experimental models. She has made significant contributions to understanding how clay minerals influence carbon and nitrogen cycling, microbial community development, and pollutant fate in soils.

Analysis of Dr. Heister's publication record from 2014-2019 reveals consistent research themes in soil biogeochemistry, with particular focus on artificial soil systems, mineral-organic matter interactions, and contaminant remediation. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining advanced analytical techniques with ecological and geochemical principles to address fundamental questions in soil science.

As Department Head of GeoLab, Dr. Heister oversees laboratory operations and strategic development while maintaining active research collaborations. She works closely with scientists across disciplines to advance soil science research methodologies and applications.