• Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Ecotoxicology
• Ecological Risk Assessment
• Environmental Policy
• Meta-Analysis
• Science Communication

In 2016-2017, as MSc Ecotoxicology student in Landau, I was working on my thesis investigating the sensitivity of native and invasive macrophytes to the aquatic herbicide diquat dibromide in collaboration with the National Wildlife Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada. Using test systems of varying complexity, my research goal was to provide phytotoxicity data for the tiered herbicide risk assessment in the context of diquat dibromide’s re-registration in Canada. The potential threat of pesticides to aquatic organisms in freshwater was also the topic of a meta-analysis I performed, evaluating agricultural fungicide non-point source pollution of global surface waters, followed by a comparison with regulatory threshold levels. By conducting research that informs current risk assessments, my goal was to increase awareness among authorities and other stakeholders about environmental issues.

Following my master’s, I joined Trent University in Canada to pursue a PhD in Environmental and Life Sciences, during which I assessed the effects and fate of environmental contaminants in invasive, native, and endangered macrophytes, with focus on herbicides used for invasive plant control in Ontario.

I enjoy communicating science, and I completed an interdisciplinary BA in Science Journalism at the University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt. I applied this passion by joining the EcotoxBlog as student blogger in 2015, and serving as Editor and Social Media Manager from 2017-2021.

Sensitivity of macrophytes to the herbicide diquat dibromide grown singly and in mesocosms