Romina Schuster

Romina Schuster is a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), affiliated with the Helgoland Marine Station’s Ecological Chemistry department. Her work focuses on studying chemical processes in marine ecosystems, particularly the biological effects of pollutants such as explosives (e.g., TNT) on marine organisms like mussels and fish. She investigates contaminant uptake, biotransformation, and depuration in species such as Mytilus edulis and Limanda limanda, with field studies at munitions-impacted sites in the North and Baltic Seas. Her research integrates laboratory exposure experiments with field assessments to evaluate ecological risks from historical pollution sources like shipwrecks.

Key research areas include environmental toxicology of legacy contaminants, biogeochemical cycles in marine systems, and chemical ecology. She collaborates on projects addressing climate change impacts and pollution mitigation strategies. Publications highlight her contributions to understanding TNT effects on marine species and the development of biomarker tools for ecological health assessment.