Tobias Schnabel

Prof. Dr. Tobias Schnabel is Professor of Urban Water Resource Management at Hof University of Applied Sciences since 2022, leading the 'Water and Photonics' research group at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems and the 'Sector Coupling in Environmental Technology' group at the Institute for Hydrogen and Energy Technology. His academic background includes training as a state-certified CTA for environmental analysis, industrial engineering studies at Wilhelm Büchner University, and water/environment studies at Bauhaus University.

His educational path features:

• State-certified CTA for environmental analysis and microbiology
• Industrial engineering with energy technology focus at Wilhelm Büchner University
• Water and environment studies at Bauhaus University in Weimar
• Doctorate at MFPA Weimar under Prof. Jörg Londong in urban water management

Prof. Schnabel's research centers on trace analysis of organic micropollutants, photonic water treatment processes, water sensor technology, and Advanced Oxidation Processes. His work bridges fundamental catalyst science with practical engineering solutions for water treatment challenges. He investigates solar-driven photocatalytic systems, reactor optimization, and development of cost-effective testing methodologies using accessible technologies like Arduino platforms.

Analysis of his publication history reveals strong focus on photocatalytic water treatment technologies, particularly for micropollutant removal. His research demonstrates progression from fundamental catalyst characterization to practical reactor design, with significant contributions to chromium reduction using novel catalyst materials. Recent work emphasizes energy efficiency considerations, solar-driven systems, and low-cost monitoring solutions.

His scientific contributions have been recognized through:

• Second place in the poster competition of the Thuringian Materials Day (2018)
• Applied Photonics Award for best dissertation from Fraunhofer IOS Jena (2021)
• Semifinalist in the Ocean Optics grand program (2022)

Prof. Schnabel actively supervises student research across multiple thesis topics and leads several funded projects including CataVolt, UV-Phon, and RUBIN-Photech. His DLR project C.R.O.P.® develops recycling technologies for biological life support systems with applications for space exploration and terrestrial agriculture. His research bridges fundamental science with practical engineering solutions for environmental challenges.

His research groups focus on innovative water treatment solutions, particularly photocatalytic processes for micropollutant removal, chromium reduction, and solar-powered treatment systems. The teams maintain strong collaborations with MFPA Weimar, DLR, and industry partners, demonstrating the applied nature of their work.