Insights into our work

DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

1. Cohort (from 2019 to 2022)

Adeel Ahmed

36578964_1080437902110330_2938232091206221824_o

Research interest

  • Mathematical Modeling and Simulation.
  • Scientific Computing

 

Academic history

  • 2019 – 2020: Lecturer Mathematics University of Gujrat Pakistan.
  • 2017 – 2019: M.Sc. Computational Mathematics COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan.  Thesis: “A Discontinuous Galerkin Scheme to Solve a Non-Equilbrium and Non-Isothermal Model of Liquid Chromatography”
  • 2012-2016: B.Sc. Applied Mathematics University of Gujrat Pakistan.

Dr. Caroline Ganglo

 Research interest

  • Floodplain mesocosms
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Greenhouse gases
  • Sediments


 Academic history

  • Master of Environmental sciences and Engineering; Title: Chromium (III) coordination capacity of chitosan.
  • Bachelor of Environmental sciences

 

Publication

Dr. Verena Gerstle

Verena Gerstle

Research interest

  • Amphibian ecotoxicology and ecology
  • Food web ecology and trophic interaction
  • Aquatic ecotoxicology
  • Mosquito control agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
  • Non-target organisms


 Academic history

  • Since 2019: PhD student – University of Koblenz-Landau
  • 2016 – 2019: M.Sc. Ecotoxicology University of Koblenz-Landau Thesis: “Lethal and sublethal effects of folpet and glyphosate formulations on juvenile European common frogs (Rana temporaria) at field relevant exposure levels”.
  • 2012 –2016: B.Sc. Environmental Sciences – University of Koblenz-Landau Thesis: “Effects of TiOnanoparticles, UV light and natural organic matter on the acute toxicity of two different pesticides – A study with the test organism Daphnia magna.

Publications and Presentations

  • Lüderwald S, Meyer F, Gerstle V, Friedrichs L, Rolfing K, Bakanov N, Schulz R, Bundschuh M (2019): Reduction of pesticide toxicity under field relevant conditions? The interaction of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, UV, and NOM. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 
  • Gerstle V, Adams E, & Brühl CA (2019): Lethal and sublethal effects of viticultural pesticides (folpet and glyphosate) on juvenile Rana temporaria. 8th Young Environmental Scientists Meeting, Ghent, Belgium (Poster presentation).
  • Gerstle, V., Manfrin, A., Kolbenschlag, S., Gerken, M., Islam, A. S. M. M. U., Entling, M. H., Bundschuh, M., & Brühl, C. A. (2023). Benthic macroinvertebrate community shifts based on Bti-induced chironomid reduction also decrease Odonata emergence. Environmental Pollution, 316, 120488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120488

Johanna Girardi

Johanna_Foto_jpg

 Research interest

  • Plant-soil-microbe interactions
  • Rhizosphere processes
  • Carbon and Nitrogen cycling
  • Chemical stressors

 

Academic history

  • October 2019: PhD student at the Department Geoecology and environmental chemistry, University of Koblenz-Landau within the project of SystemLink Topic: The impact of anthropogenic stressors on biogeochemical cycling at the root-microorganism-soil interface.
  • 2016-2019: University of Koblenz-Landau Master: Ecotoxicology Thesis: Environmental parameters driving the functional response of soil microbiome in mulching systems based on substrate-induced respiration.
  • 2012-2016: Fachhochschule Bingen, Bachelor environmental engineering Thesis: “Comparison of different procedures for the preparation of microplastic particles in freshwater samplesat Federal institute of hydrology (BfG).

Maike Huszarik

Maike H

Research interest

  • Aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology
  • Food web ecology and trophic interactions
  • DNA Metabarcoding

 

Academic history

  • October 2019: Fast-track Ph.D. student in the SystemLink research training group and in the Ecosystem Analysis research group at the University of Koblenz-Landau.
  • October 2018: M.Sc. in Ecotoxicology at the University of Koblenz-Landau.
  • Sept. 2014 – April 2018: B.Sc. (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Honours Life Sciences and Wildlife Biology at McGill University in Montréal, Canada. (Thesis topic: Effects of jasmonate defences on caterpillar development under elevated carbon dioxide and varied nitrogen fertilization).

Jellian Jamin

Jellian Jamin

Research interest

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Soil Chemistry
  • Physical Chemstriy
  • Soil-Plant-Interactions
  • NMR Relaxometry
  • Rheology
  • Environmental Chemistry and Analytics

 

Academic history

  • Bachelor of Science (Chemsitry) at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen.
  • Master of Sciene (Chemistry) at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Thesis at Karlsruher Instit für Technologie (Collaboration with Tübingen) : Synthesis of Nanoscopic materials via Supercritical Fluid Reactive Deposition and application in sensoric.
  • Research assistant student in Prof. Udo Weimars Group at Eberhard Karls-Universität Tübingen (Research on Semi Conducting Metal Oxide Sensors).

 

Publications

  • M. krebs, J. Jamin and L. Wesemann (2016): Reaction of an allylstannylene with adamantyl phosphaalkyne. Dalton transactions.

Dr. Sara Kolbenschlag

Sara K

Research interest

  • Effects of anthropogenic stressors in aquatic ecosystems
  • Riparian food webs (aquatic-terrestrial)
  • Subsidy dynamics
  • Bottom-up effects
  • Insect communities

 

Academic history

  • Since 2019: Working group “Functional Aquatic Ecotoxicology”, University Koblenz-Landau.
  • 2016 – 2019: Msc. Ecotoxicology, University Koblez-Landau, Topic master thesis: “Do juvenile common toads (Bufo bufo) behaviourally avoid pesticide-contaminated areas?”.
  • 2012 – 2016: B. Sc. Biosciences, TU Kaiserslautern, Topic bachelor thesis: “Effects of respiratory chain mutations on petit- and ρ0-cells in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”.

 

Publications and Presentations contributions

  • SETAC GLB Neustadt: Assessing the influence of microgram natural organic carbon levels on cationic polymer toxicity to algal growth.

Dr. Stephen Osakpolor

Osakpolor

Research interest

  • Spatial Ecology
  • Environmental modeling

 

Academic history

  • MSc. Environmental Sciences. Thesis: Comparasion of spatial and non-spatial statistical modeling of pesticides in small streams. 
  • BSc Geography and Regional Planning.

Dr. Sebastian Pietz

Sebastian P

Research interest

  • Aquatic-terrestrial linkages
  • Food web ecology
  • Impacts of (chemical) stressors on these processes

Academic history

  • Since 2019: PhD student at the iES Landau, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany.
  • 2016-2019: M.Sc. (Ecotoxicology) at the iES Landau, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. Thesis: Effects of heavy metals and temperature fluctuation on the development and emergence of Chironomus riparius in spiked-sediment bioassays.
  • 2012-2016: B.Sc. (Env. Sci.) at the iES Landau, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. Thesis: Implications of Thiaclopid on Gammarus fossarum: a 21-day study to determine the relevance of different exposure pathways.

Publications and Presentations

  • Englert, D., Zubrod, J. P., Pietz, S., Stefani, S., Krauss, M., Schulz, R., & Bundschuh, M. (2017). Relative importance of dietary uptake and waterborne exposure for a leaf-shredding amphipod exposed to thiacloprid-contaminated leaves. Scientific reports, 7(1), 16182.

  • “Effects of an antimicrobial mixture on the leaf-shredding amphipod Gammarus fossarum uder different exposure pathways” 8th Young Environmental Scientists Meeting, Ghent, Belgium, 2019.

  • “Transcending borders? Effects of heavy metals on the development and emergence of Chironomus riparius in spiked-sediment bioassays” SETAC Europe 30th Annual Meeting, SETAC SciCon, 2020.

Dr. Alex Roodt

Alexis_Roodt_Foto

Research interest

  • Applied analytical chemistry

  • Biomonitoring

  • Aquatic insects as pesticide vectors in riparian ecosystems

 

Academic history

  • 2016-2018: Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry, University of Pretoria, ZA. Thesis: “A new sampling method for human skin volatile analysis by comprehensive gas chromatography and mass spectrometry”.

  • 2015: Bachelor of Science Honours in Chemistry, University of Pretoria, ZA.

  • 2012–2014: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Pretoria, ZA.

 

Publications and Presentations

  • Roodt AP, Naudé Y, Stoltz A, Rohwer E. Human skin volatiles: Passive sampling and GC × GC-ToFMS analysis as a tool to investigate the skin microbiome and interactions with anthropophilic mosquito disease vectors. J. Chromatogr. B 1097-1098 (2018) 83-93. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2018.09.002.

  • Alexis P. Roodt, Yvette Naudé, Anton Stoltz, Egmont R. Rohwer, “A new method for sampling of volatile human skin chemicals in a malaria context for analysis by GC×GC-TOFMS”, The 2nd South African Malaria Research Conference 2016, 27-29 July 2016, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Alexis P. Roodt, Yvette Naudé, Anton Stoltz, Egmont R. Rohwer, “A new approach for the collection and comparison of volatile skin chemicals for analysis by GC×GC- ToFMS”, ISCC & GC×GC conference 2017, 14-19 May 2017, Fort Worth, USA.
  • Alexis P. Roodt, Yvette Naudé, Anton Stoltz, Egmont R. Rohwer, “A new methodology for passive sampling of human skin volatiles”, ChromSA Student Seminar, 8 September 2017, Pretoria, South Africa.

  • Alexis P. Roodt, Yvette Naudé, Anton Stoltz, Egmont R. Rohwer, “A new method for the collection and comparison of human skin volatile chemicals” ISSS conference 2017, 19-22 September 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Nina Röder

Nina Röder

Research interest

  • Adaptation of natural populations to anthropogenic stress

  • Evolutionary ecotoxicology

  • Adaptation genomics

  • Eco-evolutionary dynamics

 

Academic history

  • 2010 – 2017: Studies in Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau.
  • 2017: Master of Science, Thesis: “Does fungicide exposure alter interspecific relationships of aquatic leaf – decomposing fungi? A case study using modern biochemical tools”.

 

Publications and Presentations

  • Theissinger K, Röder N, Allgeier S, Beermann AJ, Brühl CA, Friedrich A, Michiels S, Schwenk K: “Mosquito control actions affect chironomid diversity in temporary wetlands of the Upper Rhine Valley”, Molecular Ecology 28(18). DOI: 10.1111/mec.15214.
  • Baudy P, Zubrod JP, Konschak M, Röder N, Baschien C, Feckler A, Schulz R, Bundschuh M: “A glance into the black box: Novel species-specific quantitative real-time PCR assays to disentangle aquatic hyphomycete community composition”, Fungal Ecology DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2019.08.002.
  • Krell B, Röder N, Link M, Gergs R, Entling MH, Schäfer RB (2015): “Aquatic prey subsidies to riparian spiders in a stream with different land use types”, Limnologica 51(1–7). DOI: 10.1016/j.limno.2014.10.001.
  • Röder N, Theissinger K, Allgeier S, Beermann AJ, Brühl CA, Friedrich A, Michiels S, Schwenk K (2019): „Metabarcoding enthüllt Effekte von Stechmückenbekämpfung auf Zuckmückengemeinschaften“, poster presentation at the SETAC GLB 24th Annual Meeting in Landau, Germany.
  • Röder N, Baudy P, Zubrod JP, Englert D, Konschak M, Baschien C, Schulz R, Bundschuh M (2018): „Does fungicide exposure alter interspecific relationships of aquatic fungi during leaf-decomposition? – A case study using species-specific qPCR assays“, poster presentation at the SETAC Europe 28th Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy.

 

Dr. Daniel Schmitz

Daniel Schmitz Portrait

Research interest

  • Biodiversity
  • Global change
  • Invasivon ecology
  • Conservation biology

 

Academic history

  • since Oct 2019: PhD Student in the Research Training Group SystemLink and in the group of Ecosystem Analysis at the University of Koblenz-Landau
  • Oct 2015 – Mar 2019: Master of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Radolfzell, Thesis: Analysis of causes of population change in Lake Constance breeding birds over four censuses
  • Oct 2012 – Sep 2015: Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Konstanz, Thesis: Exploring leaf and root trait relationships under varying environmental conditions

2. Cohort (from 2022 to 2025)

 

Aira Sacha Ferrer

Ferrer

Research topic

Floodplain C-N dynamics

 

Research interest

  • Aquatic biogeochemistry
  • C-N dynamics in the floodplain

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2011-2015 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of the Philippines

2015-2020 scientific co-worker, University of the Philippines

2020-2022 Master of science in Environmental Chemistry, University of Bayreuth

Since 10/2022 scientific co-worker at the iES Landau, Department of Environment and Soil Chemistry, University of Koblenz-Landau

 

Elyssa Dubois

Dubois

Research topic

Interactive effects of fungicide contamination and invasive plants on soil and food webs

 

Research interest

  • Microbial ecology
  • DNA metabarcoding
  • riparian plant communities

 

Current project

 

Academic history

  • 2015-2018: B. Sc. Human, Cell and Molecular Biology, french-german cooperation between Strasbourg and Saarland University
  • 2018-2021: M. Sc. Biology/Ecology, TU Kaiserslautern
  • As of 2022: PhD student in the Ecosystem Analysis department of Landau University (RPTU), Project SystemLink

 

Publications

Forster D., Letendu G., Filker S., Dubois E., Wilding TA., Stoeck T. (2019) Improving eDNA-based protist diversity assessments using networks of amplicon sequence variants. Environ Microbiol. 2019 Nov;21(11):4109-​​​​4124. PMID: 31361938.

Tobias Elsässer

Elsaesser

Research topic

Modelling of aquatic-terrestrial flows

 

Research interest

  • Mathematical modelling in biology
  • Metapopulation ecology
  • Freshwater ecology
  • Scientific computing
  • Food webs

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2013-2017: Bachelor of Science in Bioscience, University of Heidelberg

2017-2020: Master of Science in Molecular Bioscience, Systems Biology major, University of Heidelberg

Since 2022: Group member of Quantitative Landscape Ecolgy and at the University Koblenz-Landau

 

Publications

Luis Aguilera, Frank T. Bergmann, Giovanni Dalmasso, Sinan Elmas, Tobias Elsässer, Ruth Großeholz, Pascal Holzheu, Priyata Kalra, Ursula Kummer, Sven Sahle, Nadine Veith “Robustness of frequency vs. amplitude coding of calcium oscillations during changing temperatures”,

Biophysical Chemistry, Volume 245, 2019, Pages 17-24, ISSN 0301-4622,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpc.2018.11.003

Ken Mauser

Mauser

Research topic

Top down effects and pollutant system analysis

 

Research interest

  • Pesticide fate
  • Analytics
  • Non-target organisms
  • Mosquito control agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

 

Current project

 

Academic history

September 2019: B. Sc. Environmental Sciences  at the University of Koblenz-Landau

December 2021: M. Sc. Environmental Sciences at the Justus Liebig University Gießen

Since 2022: PhD student at the University of Koblenz-Landau

Franziska Middendorf

Middendorf

Research topic

Hydrological effects on riparian food-webs

 

Research interest

  • Food web analysis
  • Aquatic-terrestrial linkages
  • Aquatic and riparian ecology
  • Arthropod and Insect community analysis

 

Current project

 

Academic history

Since 10/2022: PhD student in the Ecosystem Analysis department of Landau University, Project SystemLink
2020-2022: research assistant at the federal institute of hydrology in the department of animal ecology
2017-2020: M.Sc. Landscape ecology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg (Thesis: Review und
Freilandstudie über den Einfluss von Eisen auf die aquatische Wirbellosenfauna mit dem Schwerpunkt Verockerung)
2013-2017: B.Sc. Biology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg (Thesis: Die invasive Braunalge Sargassum muticum: ein neues Habitat im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer)

 

Stéphane Mutel

Mutel

Research topic

Aquatic-terrestrial food-web interactions

 

Research interest

  • Aquatic and riparian ecology
  • Community analysis and responses to stressors
  • Foodweb and trophic niche analysis
  • Top down and bottom-up effects
  • Freshwater ecology and river restauration

 

Current project

 

Academic history

Since 10/22 : PhD student in the SystemLink group at Landau University
2019 – 2022 : Project leader in river restauration programs in conselling company (France)
2016-2018 : Engineering school, specialised in Aquatic Environment Engineering in University of Tours (France)
Internships : IGB Berlin : Baggersee Projekt : Assessing macroinvertebrate communities of gravelpit lakes
Tour du Valat / IGB Berlin : Seasonal variability of diets and trophic niches of two top predators in a drain canal : Wels Catfish and European Eel
2015-2016 : Bachelor Degree : Technical degree in Environmental Science

Agnes Schöndorfer

Schoendorfner2

Research topic

Subsidy quality in aquatic-terrestrial foodwebs

 

Research interest

  • Pesticide fate and effects
  • Aquatic ecotoxicology
  • Aquatic-terrestrial linkages
  • Subsidy quality

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2015-2018: B.Sc. Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen. Thesis: “Bioaccumulation potential of cestodes from marine fish”

2018-2021: M.Sc. Environmental Toxicology, University of Duisburg-Essen. Thesis: “Importance of experimental variables for the outcome of cytogenetic test methods on peripheral human lymphocytes in vitro after X-ray exposure”

Sophie Stoll

Stoll

Research topic

Aquatic subsidies determine terrestrial bioderversity

 

Research interest

  • DNA metabarcoding
  • Adaptation genomics
  • Influence of anthropogenic stress on insect communities
  • Evolutionary ecotoxicology

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2019: Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biomedicine, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.Thesis: “Establishment of a system for the seamless modification of FR900359 biosynthesis in Chromobacterium vaccinii MWU205.”

2022: Master of Science in Ecotoxicology, University Koblenz-Landau.

Thesis: “The effect of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis on chironomid community composition, dynamics and synchrony.”

Since 2022: PhD student in the DFG-funded project SystemLink and at the Department of Molecular Ecology.

Abdullah Rumi Shishir

Shishir

Research topic

Floodplain greenhouse gas emissions

 

Research interest

  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Floodplain biogeochemistry
  • Flooding pattern
  • Soil textures and sediments

 

Current project

 

Academic history

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Islamic University of Technology; Thesis: Solid waste management of Gazipu city using the 3R strategy.

Master of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Koblenz-Landau; Thesis: The assessment of water retention of microaggregate soil with the effect of rainfall.

 

Publications

Anik, M. A. H., Shishir, A. R., Islam, P., Naila, S. N., & Chowdhury, I. M. (2018). Sustainable solid waste management through 3R strategy in Gazipur City. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management22(1-4), 228-238.

https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEWM.2018.094110

Franziska Fiolka

Fiolka

Research topic

Aquatic-terrestrial pollutant transfer

 

Research interest

  • Aquatic ecotoxicology
  • Pesticide exposure
  • Aquatic-terrestrial linkages

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2020: B.Sc. Biological Sciences, University of Konstanz

2022: M.Sc. General Biology, Lund University

Sierra Grange

Research topic

Rhizosphere biogeochemistry

 

Research interest

 

Current project

 

Academic history

 

Publications

Alanah Kripp

Kripp

Research topic

Aquatic subsidies in terrestrial food webs

 

Research interest

  • Food web analysis
  • Spider ecology
  • Metabarcoding
  • Interactions between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

 

Current project

 

Academic history

2019-2022: M.Sc. Environmental Science, University of Trier (Thesis: An eDNA metabarcoding based analysis of plant arthropod interactions in a German grassland)

2016-2020: B.Sc. Environmental Science, University of Trier (Thesis: Räumliche und zeitliche Dynamik von Wochenstuben der Zwergfledermaus im Siedlungsbereich)