Rolf Krebs

Prof. Dr. Rolf Krebs serves as Head of the Institute of Natural Resource Sciences at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Life Sciences and Facility Management. His institutional affiliation includes leadership over soil and water research teams, with a current advisory role at Lucky Shrimp AG (2022-2026). Previously, he directed soil protection for Canton St. Gallen (1998-2002) and led inorganic chemistry in water/soil protection at Canton Bern (2002-2005), establishing his expertise in environmental management across Swiss cantonal and academic sectors.

His educational foundation includes a PhD in Environmental Sciences (1992-1996) and Dipl.nat. ETH in Environmental Sciences (1987-1992), both from ETH Zurich. Professional development is evidenced by ZHAW certifications: CAS Management for Leaders (2016) and CAS Leadership advanced (2015), reflecting administrative specialization beyond core environmental science training.

Research centers on hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) for sewage sludge valorization, with emphasis on phosphorus recovery, pathogen removal, and energy-efficient waste treatment. Complementary work explores heavy metal behavior in soils, alpine environmental processes, and soil formation dynamics over geological timescales. His HTC innovations bridge waste management with agricultural resource recovery, targeting circular economy solutions.

Article trends reveal a strategic pivot toward sustainable sanitation since 2013: 10 of 15 recent publications focus on HTC applications for sewage sludge, waste whey, and fecal treatment. Key journals include Energies and Applied Sciences, highlighting interdisciplinary work combining chemical engineering, soil science, and public health. Earlier studies (2012-2010) established his legacy in heavy metal contamination and alpine soil evolution.

No scientific awards, fellowships, or medals are documented in the provided text.

As institute head, Krebs leads research teams but no advisees are explicitly named. His project involvement (e.g., hydrothermal carbonization for fecal waste treatment) implies grant management, though specific funding sources aren't cited. The Lucky Shrimp AG advisory role indicates industry collaboration beyond academia.

The Institute of Natural Resource Sciences houses laboratories for soil chemistry, water analysis, and waste processing. His hydrothermal carbonization research utilizes industrial-scale test reactors, while historical work involved cantonal environmental monitoring teams in Bern and St. Gallen for soil protection and water quality assessment.