Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Jule Thober is a Scientific Manager at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ , leading Topic 5 "Landscapes of the Future" in the Helmholtz Program and managing the Integration Platform "Robust Pictures of the Future". She contributes to cross-disciplinary research in Smart Models / Monitoring and Computational Hydrosystems , focusing on agent-based models, sustainable land management, and climate risk analysis. Roles : Scientific Manager (2022–), Postdoc (2017–2021), PhD Student (2013–2016) Projects : Copernicus Contract Ulysses 2, LandYOUs Game Development Research Interests center on socio-environmental systems, integrating agent-based models with ecological economics. Her work explores decision-making under climate uncertainty, land use policy, and resilience of pastoral systems through computational methods. Publication Trends (15 most recent) span ecological complexity, environmental informatics, and computational hydrosystems. Key themes include agent-based land use models , climate risk mitigation , and participatory decision support tools . Collaborations involve UFZ departments, international institutions, and interdisciplinary teams in Germany and abroad. She contributes to Helmholtz POF IV programs and EU-funded initiatives like 4DHydro.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Dr. Matthias Cuntz is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Computational Hydrosystems within the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. He leads the Regional Ecophysiology group and focuses on integrating stable isotopes, remote sensing, and computational modeling to study terrestrial ecosystems. Research Interests: Energy, water, and trace gas exchange in ecosystems; stable isotope applications; global water-carbon cycle modeling; eddy-covariance flux analysis; sap flow dynamics. Key Projects: Involved in TERENO (Terrestrial Environmental Observatories) and ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) for long-term ecological monitoring. Recent Publications address soil freeze-thaw processes, Amazon forest carbon dynamics, hydrological model calibration, and isotopic partitioning of evapotranspiration. His work spans computational hydrology, remote sensing validation, and uncertainty quantification in environmental models. Contact: Email: matthias.cuntz@ufz.de Personal Webpage: www.macu.de
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Ehsan Modiri is a researcher at the Department of Hydrosystem Modelling , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany. His work focuses on climate change impacts on hydrological systems, drought monitoring, and environmental modeling using advanced computational frameworks. Affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Department: Hydrosystem Modelling Research Themes: Climate Change, Droughts, Hydrological Forecasting, Water Resource Management Research Interests: Modiri specializes in understanding hydrological responses to climate change, particularly in drought dynamics and soil moisture variability. His work bridges observational data with sophisticated modeling frameworks to improve predictability of water balance components under warming scenarios. Scientific Contributions: Recent publications highlight his role in developing high-resolution drought simulations, evaluating hydrological model performance, and analyzing groundwater responses to global warming. He participates in large-scale European hydrological projects and collaborates on climate-hydrology integration initiatives.
PD Dr. habil. Thomas Wöhling serves as a Senior Research Scientist and Team Leader for Stochastic Modelling of Hydrosystems at the Chair of Hydrology, Dresden University of Technology's Faculty of Environmental Sciences. His research spans integrated environmental systems modeling with particular expertise in surface water-groundwater interactions, braided river systems, and vadose zone processes. Previously, he held research positions at Water and Earth System Sciences Competence Cluster in Tübingen (2010-2015) and Lincoln Environmental Research in New Zealand (2006-2010). Dr. Wöhling completed his Dipl.-Hydrol. (1999) and PhD in Hydrology (2005) at Dresden University of Technology, followed by habilitation in Stochastic Hydrology (2021). His educational background includes extensive research at the Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology at TU Dresden (1999-2005) where he developed foundational expertise in hydrological modeling. Wöhling's research focuses on integrated modeling of coupled environmental systems , particularly flow and contaminant transport in surface water-groundwater systems, nutrient and energy fluxes in soil-plant-atmosphere systems, and distributed hydrological modeling. His work emphasizes stochastic modeling and uncertainty analysis , with significant contributions to inverse modeling, model calibration, multiobjective optimization, and Bayesian model averaging techniques. He has pioneered methods for evaluating monitoring network worth and data utility for environmental models. His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to hydrological science, with recent work (2023-2025) focusing on machine learning applications in hydrology, advanced statistical inversion techniques, and complex karst system modeling. Key trends include integration of physics-based and data-driven approaches, improved uncertainty quantification methods, and applications to climate change impacts on water resources. His work bridges theoretical advances with practical applications in New Zealand's braided rivers and European hydrological systems. STAHY Best Paper Award (2018) ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Best Reviewer Awards (2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2018) ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Best Paper Awards (2008, 2009) Dr. Wöhling leads the Stochastic Modelling of Hydrosystems team and has secured funding for numerous projects including Klimakonform, ISOSIM, VAMOS II, and the International Research Training Group 'Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling.' His work combines novel monitoring techniques with modeling and optimal sensor placement to improve prediction reliability for river-groundwater exchange fluxes. He collaborates extensively with international partners, particularly in New Zealand through the Lincoln Agritech's Braided Rivers program. His laboratory work focuses on combining traditional hydrological measurements with advanced computational techniques, including deep learning applications for soil surface hydrology and time-windowed Bayesian analysis for predictive modeling. The team maintains strong connections with field sites in Germany's Saxon region and New Zealand's Canterbury Plains, facilitating integrated theoretical and empirical research approaches.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Dr. Emily Solly is a Researcher in the Department of Computational Hydrosystems at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ (Leipzig, Germany) since September 2023. She holds a PhD in Chemistry and Geosciences from Friedrich Schiller University Jena (2014) and has previously held postdoctoral and fellow positions at ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute WSL, and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry. Education : PhD (2014), Chemistry and Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena MSc (2010), Environmental Sciences and Management, University of Torino BSc (2008), Natural Sciences, University of Torino (Biology, Ecology) Research Interests : Soil biogeochemistry and terrestrial ecosystem ecology Carbon and nutrient balance in forest ecosystems Root-soil interface processes under environmental change Impact of drought on plant-soil-microbial interactions Isotope-based tracking of carbon/nitrogen transformations Soil organic carbon storage mechanisms Awards & Funding : Ambizione Fellowship (SNSF) Roles & Collaborations : Topical Editor for the journal SOIL Co-Editor of Special Issue on Global Change Effects on Terrestrial Biogeochemistry at the Plant-Soil Interface (Biogeosciences, 2022) Contributor to the collaborative project Standardized Monitoring of Growth Responses of Central European Forest Tree Species to Climatic Extremes (MW³) Member of the Computational Hydrosystems working group at UFZ
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Dr. Alraune Zech is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth Science, Utrecht University , and a Guest Scientist at the Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ . Her work focuses on Hydrogeology and Groundwater Modeling , particularly in quantifying Aquifer Heterogeneity and Transport Theory . Education: Diploma in Mathematics, University of Leipzig (2009) PhD in Environmental System Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (2013) Research Interests: Alraune investigates transport experiments , field-scale dispersion , and statistical aquifer parameter estimation from pumping tests. Her projects include groundwater simulations in the Thuringian Basin and revisiting transport theories with modern tools. Publications highlight her contributions to macrodispersivity estimation , geostatistical toolboxes , and heterogeneous aquifer modeling . Recent works in Groundwater and Advances in Water Resources emphasize practical applications and theoretical advancements. Collaborations include projects with the UFZ, Utrecht University, and international institutions. She has contributed to interdisciplinary efforts in groundwater-surface water coupling and contaminant transport analysis .
Olaf A. Cirpka is a Full Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Tübingen, Germany, within the Faculty of Science's Department of Geosciences. He holds a Diploma in Geoecology (University of Karlsruhe, 1992) and a Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (University of Stuttgart, 1997). His career includes postdoctoral research at Stanford University (1998–2000), adjunct roles there until 2009, and leadership roles such as Head of the Emmy-Noether Junior Research Group (2000–2004) and Subsurface Hydrology Workgroup at Eawag (2004–2008). He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (2015) and served as Spokesperson for the Research Training Group 1829 (2012–2021). Research Interests: His work focuses on subsurface hydrology, reactive transport modeling, biogeochemical processes in aquifers, and climate impacts on groundwater systems. He integrates numerical modeling, field experiments, and geophysical methods to address challenges in contaminant fate, hyporheic zone dynamics, and sustainable groundwater management. Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize innovative methods for quantifying subsurface processes (e.g., VTraFlux, electrical conductivity tracers), climate-driven groundwater changes, and microbial-driven biogeochemical reactions. His work bridges experimental hydrology with computational tools to advance understanding of complex environmental systems. Awards & Grants: AGU Fellowship (2015) highlights his scientific contributions. He has led numerous research initiatives, including the Advect As project on arsenic dynamics and the Research Training Group on integrated hydrosystem modeling. Grants and collaborations span interdisciplinary environmental research. Labs & Teams: Directs the Hydrogeology group at Tübingen and collaborates with international institutions like Stanford, ETH Zürich, and Eawag. His research integrates field campaigns, lab experiments, and numerical simulations to address real-world hydrogeological challenges.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Roles & Affiliations: Dr. Emanuele Bevacqua is an Emmy Noether Group Leader and Deputy Head of the Compound Environmental Risks department at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. He leads research on compound climate extremes using advanced climate models and interdisciplinary approaches. Education: PhD in Physics (Climate Science) from the University of Graz (2018), MSc in Physics (Geophysics/Astrophysics) from the University of Calabria (2014), and BSc in Physics from the University of Calabria (2012). Research Focus: Investigates compound weather and climate extremes (e.g., floods, droughts, wildfires) in a changing climate. Uses large ensemble climate models, impact models (hydrological/renewable energy), and observational data to assess risks and societal/environmental impacts. Key areas include extreme event attribution, climate variability drivers, and uncertainties in future projections. Grants & Funding: Principal Investigator of the Emmy Noether Programme-funded ADVICE project (€1.5M, 2024–2029) and co-PI of SEESAW (€500k, 2025–2027). Previously led the COST Action DAMOCLES (€600k, 2018–2022). Labs/Teams: Heads the Compound Climate Extremes group and contributes to interdisciplinary teams like the Computational Hydrosystems and Environmental Informatics groups. Collaborates with global institutions on projects such as the European Drought Observatory and renewable energy resilience initiatives.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Friedrich Boeing is a Researcher at the Department of Hydrosystem Modeling in the Computational Hydrosystems unit of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research − UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. He is simultaneously pursuing his PhD at the University of Potsdam under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sabine Attinger, Prof. Dr. Thorsten Wagener, and Dr. Andreas Marx. PhD Candidate: University of Potsdam University: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research − UFZ Department: Hydrosystem Modeling His research focuses on drought quantification , water resource monitoring , and climate change impact assessment for Germany. He develops high-resolution drought indicators and leads knowledge transfer through the WIS-D project , collaborating with stakeholders across water sectors. Recent publications highlight his expertise in soil moisture dynamics , hydrological modeling , and climate-water interactions . His work appears in journals like Environmental Research Letters and Hydrology and Earth System Sciences . Key Projects: WIS-D, CLIMALERT, HOKLIM Collaborations: University of Potsdam, ICOS network, Zenodo data repository
Bernd Flemisch is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Stuttgart, affiliated with the Department of Hydromechanics and Modelling of Hydrosystems within the Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems. He holds a Dr. rer. nat. habil. (2013) and has been active in academic research since 2001. Education: 2001: M.Sc. in Mathematics, Iowa State University 2006: Doctoral Degree (Dr. rer. nat.), University of Stuttgart 2013: Habilitation (Dr. rer. nat. habil.), University of Stuttgart Research Interests: Flemisch specializes in discretization methods, solvers, and research software development for porous media flow. His work focuses on numerical simulation of multiphase systems, coupled flow processes, and adaptive multi-scale modeling. Key areas include computational geosciences, fluid mechanics, and energy storage solutions such as hydrogen and CO₂ sequestration. Professional Activities: Since 2024: Project leader in CRC 1667 and Base4NFDI/Jupyter4NFDI Since 2023: Dean of Studies for Civil Engineering at University of Stuttgart Leadership roles in NFDI4Ing (National Research Data Infrastructure for Engineering) Co-developer of open-source simulators like DuMuX and Frackit Lab & Teams: Engages in collaborative projects such as the FluidFlower CO₂ storage experiment and the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SC SimTech). His work emphasizes reproducible research and sustainable software practices.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Vittal Hari is a Researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. He contributes to the XEROS (eXtreme European Droughts) project, analyzing drought genesis and climate change impacts across Europe. His work bridges climate dynamics with hydrological modeling, focusing on Indian summer monsoon systems and their global teleconnections. Education : PhD in Environmental Engineering (IIT Bombay), M.Tech in Water Resources (NIT Karnataka), B.Tech in Civil Engineering (SJCE Mysore) Research Interests span: Drought characterization using long-term climate data Monsoon rainfall dynamics and large-scale atmospheric circulations Climate change impacts on hydro-meteorological extremes Computational hydrosystem modeling Compound environmental risks Publications (2022-2025) reveal a focus on: North Pacific influences on Indian heatwaves Atlantic Meridional Mode's role in monsoon prediction Multi-decadal drought trends in Europe Teleconnections between oceanic variability and precipitation extremes Climate change attribution in hydrological systems Urban heat island effect diagnostics Scientific Recognition : Fulbright-Kalam Fellowship (2018) for postdoctoral climate research at University of Iowa IITB Award for Excellence in Ph.D. Thesis (2015-2017) for monsoon-climate research Collaborative Work includes projects with international teams on: Operational drought forecasting systems Climate model evaluation (CMIP6) Hydrological ensemble modeling Global climate risk frameworks
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Dr. Andreas Marx is a leading researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), serving as Head of the German Drought Monitor and Director at the Central German Climate Office. His work bridges hydrological modeling, climate change impact assessment, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on drought, water resource management, and operational forecasting systems. His research spans regional climate change, hydrological modeling, drought monitoring, and environmental risk assessment . He develops tools like the German Drought Monitor and contributes to climate adaptation strategies for agriculture and water sectors. His projects often integrate remote sensing, data-driven models, and stakeholder needs for policy-relevant outcomes. The 15 most recent articles highlight trends in groundwater recharge under warming, bioclimatic datasets for Europe, drought-forest fire interactions, and machine learning for drought impact. They emphasize his expertise in high-resolution hydrological simulations, climate-water-ecosystem linkages, and operational monitoring systems. Dr. Marx has no explicitly listed scientific awards, but his collaborative papers have received recognition, such as the 2023 ASCE-EWRI Best Case Study Award. He actively engages in graduate training, consulting for the European Environment Agency, and policy dialogues in Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria.
Claus Haslauer is a Research Professor and Scientific Director at vegasIWS, leading the Stochastic Hydrogeology Group in the Department of Hydrogeology at the University of Tübingen. His DFG-funded research focuses on spatial dependence structures in hydrogeology, notably developing copula-based geostatistical models adopted by Baden-Württemberg's environmental agency (LUBW) for groundwater assessment. He collaborates with the Kansas Geological Survey and is affiliated with the International Research Training Group 'Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling'. His expertise spans: Multivariate copula models for aquifer parameter analysis Spatial interpolation techniques using secondary data (e.g., land cover) Impact assessment of spatial heterogeneity on solute transport Integration of categorical and uncertain measurements in environmental models He actively contributes to conferences like AGU Fall Meetings and GeoEnv, emphasizing data-model fusion in hydrogeology. As a doctoral advisor, he recruits researchers for projects on spatial dependence structures. His group develops computational tools including geostatistical code for operational use and Python-based scientific workflows.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Christine Liang is a Scientist at the Department of Monitoring and Exploration Technologies within the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. Her career spans roles as Founder and Lead Scientist of the Micro-Investigators citizen science program in New Zealand (2020-2022), Programme Manager and Lecturer at the Southern Institute of Technology (2018-2022), and Research Assistant at the University of Auckland (2016-2018). With a PhD in Environmental Sciences (2018) and a Master of Environmental Science (2011) from the University of Toronto , her work bridges environmental monitoring, computational modeling, and citizen science. Education : PhD (Environmental Sciences, University of Auckland, 2018); MEnvSc (University of Toronto, 2011); BScH (Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Toronto, 2010) Research Interests : Christine focuses on urban climate resilience through citizen science frameworks , coastal geomorphology in the Maldives, and environmental risk modeling . Her work integrates geospatial analytics with stakeholder engagement to address complex environmental challenges. Key Publications (2023-2024) explore: (1) civic engagement in climate services , (2) sediment dynamics under sea level rise , and (3) prototype development for participatory climate monitoring . Her research spans Frontiers in Environmental Science , Nature Communications , and Geomorphology journals. Projects : Critical contributions to CityCLIM (urban climate resilience, 2022-present) and ICEBERG (UFZ), alongside leadership in the nationwide Micro-Investigators program (2020-2022) examining microplastics in waterways.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Aparna Chandrasekar is a Scientific Staff member in the Department of Computational Hydrosystems at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ. Her research focuses on decision support tools, process-based modeling, and user engagement in hydrological contexts. Department: Computational Hydrosystems (UFZ) Research Interests: Environmental informatics, hydrological modeling, and microbial dynamics in contaminant transport. Her recent work includes reactive transport modeling of bacterial processes in subsoil environments, with publications in Water Science and Technology (2022) and Journal of Hazardous Materials (2021). These studies explore microbial-water-sediment interactions and environmental risk assessment.
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