Stephan Mertes

Stephan Mertes is a Research Fellow at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany, working within the Department of Atmospheric Microphysics and the Clouds working group. His research focuses on aerosol-cloud interactions, droplet and ice particle formation in real atmospheric clouds, and cloud processing of aerosol particles using airborne and ground-based measurement techniques.

He holds a Doctorate in Physics from the University of Bonn (1992), preceded by diploma studies in Physics there (1981-1988). Prior academic roles include Research Associate (1991-1992) and Research Assistant (1988-1991) at the Institute of Atmospheric Chemistry, Research Centre Jülich.

Mertes' research centers on atmospheric microphysics, investigating how aerosols influence cloud formation and evolution through complex physical processes. His work combines field measurements with laboratory analysis to understand climate-relevant interactions between particulate matter and cloud systems, emphasizing real-world atmospheric conditions over theoretical models.

His scientific contributions have been recognized through:

• Excellence in Refereeing award from Geophysical Research Letters
• EREA best paper award 2018 for ML-CIRRUS research

Currently leading projects including (AC)³ [ACLOUD, HALO-AC3], HALO [CIRRUS-HL], and PARAMOUNT, Mertes has maintained continuous research activity since 1992 with 20+ completed projects spanning EU, DFG, and BMBF funding. As a full member of Collaborative Research Center (AC)³ since 2016, he contributes to Germany's coordinated atmospheric research infrastructure while mentoring through TROPOS' field measurement programs.