Can you say a few words about yourself?

I was born and raised in Munich, Germany, where I also pursued my studies in meteorology. Already during my undergrads I realized that I am more interested in atmospheric and environmental research than in synoptic and weather prediction. After my PhD in Earth system modeling at the DLR Institute for Atmospheric Physics I joined ETH Zurich for a PostDoc, and luckily I got stuck there 🙂

 

What is your role in ReCLEAN?

Due to my background in Earth system modelling and the fact that our research group is associated with both ETH and Eawag, I see my role at the link between the different modeling activities within ReCLEAN, towards the multi-compartmental modeling framework for reactive nitrogen in Switzerland.

 

Why were you interested in ReCLEAN?

I find it super fascinating to investigate how chemical elements cycle through the different compartments of the Earth system, and how anthropogenic activities as well as climate change impact theses cycles. ReCLEAN gives me the possibility to dig deep into the environmental cycling of nitrogen, a critical element to life on Earth, and its changes under the inevitable decarbonization of the energy production.

 

Can you speak about other projects you are currently working on and other ones in the past?

I am a passionate Earth system modeler with a focus on atmospheric chemistry. During my PhD I looked into the climate impact by air traffic. Later on I investigated various aspects related to atmospheric chemistry, from the Earth’s surface all the way up the mesosphere. Besides my work for ReCLEAN, I am also interested in the atmospheric cycling of trace elements like selenium and arsenic as their chemical speciation determines their bioavailability or toxicity to human health.

 

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

My exam in theoretical physics at university 😉 Debugging a model source code can be quite challenging and requires sometimes lots of persistence. Outside of science and research, I faced some of my biggest challenges during my long-distance triathlon competitions. Racing for more than 16 hours through the wild landscapes of Scandinavia and Scotland, often in unpleasant weather conditions, involves a lot of ups and downs.

 

What have been some of your biggest successes? 

To overcome my biggest challenges 😉

 

What do you enjoy to do, outside of science and research?

I love being active in nature, especially in the mountains. I enjoy different outdoor activities like running, biking, mountaineering or ski touring in winter. For me, a day in the mountains is the perfect way to refresh mind, body and soul.

 

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?

There have been many interesting places, but Nepal and New Zealand are for sure two of my favorites. Exploring New Zealand in a camper van for more than 2 months was an unforgettable experience.

 

A free thought for the end?

A smile a day brings happiness your way.