معرفی
Matthias Wiggenhauser is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich. His research focuses on biogeochemical processes controlling trace metal (e.g., Zn, Cd) dynamics in soils and plants, with emphasis on anthropogenic impacts and isotope tracing techniques. He holds a PhD in Plant Nutrition from ETH Zurich (2014-2018) and has held postdoctoral positions at ETH Zurich and the University of Grenoble-Alpes. His work integrates experimental approaches like NanoSIMS, LA-ICP-TOFMS, and stable isotope labeling to study metal mobility, plant uptake mechanisms, and agricultural contamination risks.
Research Interests
Wiggenhauser investigates trace metal distribution in soil microarchitecture, cadmium translocation pathways in cacao and rice, and the impact of fertilizers on metal leaching. His studies often combine isotopic analyses with spectroscopic techniques to elucidate biogeochemical processes. Recent work addresses phloem-mediated Cd transport in seedlings and Zn isotope fractionation under microbial disturbances.
Key Contributions
- Quantified Cd preferential hotspots in soil using nanoscale imaging.
- Demonstrated phloem-based Cd reallocation in cacao trees.
- Developed in vitro fossilization for plant tissue elemental quantification.
- Showed Cd leaching rates are climate-dependent but minor compared to fertilizer inputs.
Grants & Collaborations
Funded projects include the OMAO4Wheat initiative and collaborations with institutions like CNRS (France) and University of Bern. His work bridges environmental chemistry, plant physiology, and agricultural sustainability.
