Martin Elsner

Prof. Martin Elsner is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich, where he holds the Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry. He directs the Institute of Hydrochemistry and is affiliated with the Center for Political Studies. His research focuses on developing advanced analytical methods to investigate chemical and microbial processes in environmental systems, with particular emphasis on water quality assessment, pollutant transformation, and isotope analysis.

His educational background includes a PhD in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich (2003) and postdoctoral research at EAWAG and the University of Toronto. Prior to joining TUM in 2017, he led a research group at Helmholtz Zentrum München (2006-2017) and completed his habilitation at the University of Tübingen (2011).

Research interests include:

• Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) for environmental forensics
• Microplastic and aerosol characterization
• Pathogen detection using innovative bioanalytical methods
• Biodegradation mechanisms of chemical pollutants
• Water chemistry and quality management

His publications primarily focus on environmental chemistry, isotope fractionation, and pollutant degradation, with recent work examining biodegradation limits and micropollutant dynamics. Trends include applications of isotope techniques to environmental processes and development of novel analytical approaches.

Scientific awards include:

• Member of the Young European Academy of Sciences
• ERC Consolidator Grant
• Water Chemistry Prize of the German Chemical Society

He leads a multidisciplinary research team at the Institute of Hydrochemistry investigating chemical fate in complex systems, and has established international collaborations to advance environmental management strategies.