PhD students
Luc Bessuges
Education:
MChem in Chemistry
University of Edinburgh (UoE)
Thesis: Magneto-structural correlations of chromium (III) dimers
MChem thesis abroad
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Thesis title: Electrochemical oxidation of ethylene glycol in flow at PdAg on
nickel foam electrodes
Supervisors: Prof. Euan Brechin (UoE), Prof. Gadi Rothenberg (UvA)
Research:
Selenium (Se) is a key micronutrient for humans and animals used in the
synthesis of selenoproteins which serve essential biochemical functions.
Atmospheric deposition is a major source of selenium for soils but the
composition and chemistry are still poorly understood, primarily due to the
low concentrations and short lifetimes of certain species.
Building on previous findings, my project aims to collect and detect these trace species, as well as total concentrations, in wet and dry deposition using various chromatographic techniques (HPLC for wet samples and TD-GC for aerosols) coupled to ICP-MS/MS. We also hope to elucidate the impact of environmental factors, such as seasonality, location and climate change, on selenium’s atmospheric cycling. This will involve method development for better detection and separation of Se species, field campaigns to various locations and meteorological correlation to determine emission sources.
The data obtained will be used as input for the global atmospheric Se model that was developed in our group. Furthermore, the methods used could also be applicable to other trace elements of interest, such as arsenic, to better understand their environmental cycling too.
Luce Creman
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Education:
BSc in Soil, Water, Atmosphere
Wageningen University & Research
Thesis Title: The Effect of Environmental Stressors on Cassiopea sp. jellyfish:
Increased
Supervisor: Prof. Michael Bau
MSc in Earth and Environment – Meteorology and Air Quality
Wageningen University & Research
Thesis Title: Hotels on Diesel: The impact of cruise ship berth at Cruise Port
Rotterdam on ambient pollutant concentrations
Supervisor: Juliane Fry
Internship title: The Zurich Low-cost CO2 sensor network (ZiCOS-L): data
processing, performance assessment and analysis of spatial and temporal CO2 dynamics
Internship Institution: Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science
and Technology
Research:
I am interested in atmospheric processes and their effect on our earth surface:
the biosphere, water systems and soils. During my PhD I will explore the
biogeochemical cycle of Selenium, an essential dietary trace element, from an
atmospheric point of view.
To do so, I will extend the ICON-ART model to simulate atmospheric Selenium chemistry including its speciation, which is relevant for the bioavailability of the nutrient. Additionally, we will conduct an extensive field campaign in three different regions, taking seasonal measurements of Selenium concentration and speciation in atmospheric deposition. The updated model and measurements will then be combined to further optimize our model parameterizations, and enhance our understanding of the processes driving Se speciation in deposition
Geremia Pellegri
Research:
PhD project (since 2023): Unearthing the role of soil thiols on trace metals
phytoavailability
Supervisors: Matthias Wiggenhauser and Lenny Winkel
In this project we investigate the role of soil thiols (reduced organic sulfur) on
the phytoavailability of toxic and essential trace metals. To this end we are
developing methods to estimate thiol content and thiol-bound metals.
Furthermore, we are conducting a soil survey and soil incubation experiments.
We use ICP-MS/MS to quantify trace metals and sulfur and synchrotron X-ray
techniques for their speciation. The overarching goal of this project is to
contribute to the development of agricultural strategies that increase crop
quality by optimizing their trace metal composition.
Education
Scientific assistant, Plant nutrition group, ETH Zurich (2021 - 2023)
Project on the effect of sub-optimal mineral nutrition on plants growing
in hydroponic systems for bioregenerative life support. These systems
are designed to convert waste into food, water, and oxygen, supportinglong-term space missions.
MSc in agricultural sciences with major in Plant Sciences, ETH Zurich (2018 - 2020)
BSc in agricultural sciences, ETH Zurich (2014 – 2017)
Pasqualina Vonlanthen DiNenna
Research:
PhD Project: The redox cycle of manganese and iron in Lake Zug
My PhD project investigates Lake Zug in central Switzerland, a geochemically unique lake in that it exhibits an unusually extensive and stable manganous zone in its anoxic deep layers. Such conditions are known throughout Earth’s history yet are rare in modern settings. I aim to identify the mechanisms which lead to these conditions and use this lake as a natural study system to investigate the redox transformations of manganese and iron. Combining field- and lab work with analyses of water samples, sinking particles, microbial communities, and lake sediments, and a close collaboration with aquatic physicists, I seek to understand the geochemical conditions in Lake Zug both on a system scale and to provide a deeper insight into the biotic and abiotic controls on Mn and Fe redox cycling.
Education:
Research Internship, Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology, Bern
Theme: DNA and GC-MS analyses of various food items for compliance with food safety regulations
Research Internship, Environmental Physics Group, ETH Zurich
Theme: pH and carbonate system data from biogeochemical Argo floats in the Southern Ocean
MSci Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia (UK)
Thesis title: Trends in surface North Atlantic Ocean fCO2 and acidification between 1991 and 2019