معرفی
Nemiah Ladd is an SNF Eccellenza Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel. His research focuses on organic geochemistry, specifically using molecular fossils (lipids) to reconstruct past environmental conditions such as rainfall, eutrophication, and human land-use. He leads projects like ADAPT (Algal Dynamics and Productivity through Time) and B2 WALD (Biosphere 2 Water Atmosphere and Life Dynamics), applying interdisciplinary approaches to study climate-human-environment interactions. Ladd emphasizes hands-on teaching, leveraging his MSc in education and extensive experience across educational levels. His work bridges empirical calibrations, experimental proxy testing, and sedimentary analysis, with a focus on Swiss lakes, tropical Pacific islands, and mangrove ecosystems.
Research Interests: Paleoclimatology, environmental proxies, algal dynamics, isotopic analysis of lipids, human-induced environmental changes, and tropical hydroclimate interactions. Projects include eutrophication studies in Swiss lakes, biomarker analysis of early human activity in Remote Oceania, and drought impacts in experimental tropical rainforests.
Key Projects:
- ADAPT: Investigates algal responses to human and natural changes in Swiss lakes via chemical fossils and sedimentary DNA.
- B2 WALD: Explores drought effects on water-carbon cycling in Biosphere 2, involving 70+ international participants.
- Mangrove Proxies: Develops salinity/rainfall proxies using mangrove lipid isotopes, validated through field and greenhouse studies.
Teaching Philosophy: Advocates experiential learning, fostering inclusive environments for diverse student backgrounds. Taught at high school to Masters' levels, integrating fieldwork and lab-based projects.
Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions like Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) and ETH Zurich, leading multidisciplinary teams on projects funded by SNF, NSF, and ETH grants.
