معرفی
Matthias C. Rillig is a distinguished Professor of Plant Ecology at the Free University of Berlin, where he has held a Chair (W3) position since 2008. He also serves as Director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) since 2013. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including the University of Montana and collaborations with Stanford University. Dr. Rillig's work bridges fundamental ecological research with pressing environmental challenges.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in Ecology (1997) from San Diego State University/University of California Davis, with Dr. Michael F. Allen as advisor
- Non-graduating studies in Botany (Honors) at University of Edinburgh (1992-1993)
- Vordiplom in Biology from Universität Kaiserslautern (1991)
Dr. Rillig's research focuses on the intersection of soil ecology, global change biology, and emerging environmental threats. His work particularly emphasizes:
- Soil biodiversity and its role in ecosystem functioning
- Mycorrhizal networks and fungal ecology in terrestrial systems
- Microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments, a pioneering research area he helped establish
- Climate change impacts on soil-plant interactions
- Global change biology examining multiple stressors on ecosystems
His publication record demonstrates strategic focus on high-impact environmental issues, particularly the emerging threat of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems. Dr. Rillig's work consistently appears in top-tier journals including Science, Nature, and PNAS, showing his leadership in translating fundamental ecological research into policy-relevant science. His research reveals critical connections between soil microbial communities, ecosystem resilience, and anthropogenic stressors.
Dr. Rillig's scientific recognition includes:
- Member of the German National Academy of Science - Leopoldina (2021)
- Elected Fellow of the Ecological Society of America (2019)
- Clarivate Analytics 'Highly Cited Researcher' for five consecutive years (2017-2021)
- ERC Advanced Grant recipient (2016)
- Dahlem Research School Award for Excellent Supervision of doctoral students (2016)
- Full Member of iDiv – German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (2012)
As an advisor, Dr. Rillig has demonstrated exceptional mentorship, recognized by the Dahlem Research School Award for Excellent Supervision. His research program is supported by prestigious funding including an ERC Advanced Grant, enabling ambitious investigations into soil ecology and global change. Through his leadership at BBIB, he fosters interdisciplinary collaboration addressing biodiversity challenges across multiple scales.
Dr. Rillig maintains an active research laboratory focused on experimental ecology, particularly examining soil-plant-microbe interactions under global change conditions. His team employs innovative approaches to study microplastic impacts, mycorrhizal networks, and soil biodiversity dynamics, contributing significantly to the scientific understanding of terrestrial ecosystems facing multiple anthropogenic stressors.
