Plant Biogeochemistry

Jun. Prof. Dr. Marie Muehe

Address:

Universität Tübingen
Applied Geosciences plant biogeochemistry
Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96
72076 Tübingen

Office: Room 4R37, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96

phone: +49 7071 29-73153
fax: +49 7071 29-5059
email: eva-marie.muehespam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

  • Juniorprofessor for plant biogeochemistry at the Universität Tübingen
  • Junior Group Leader in Plant Biogeochemistry group 

Research Interest

Soils and sediments are increasingly burdened by contaminants and changes in climate. Both of these interlink as climatic conditions affect the availability of contaminants to biota in the environment. My research focuses on biogeochemical processes in the rhizospheres of crops and phytoremediating plants when stressed with metallic soil contaminants and a shifting climate. I investigate biogeochemical changes that occur at the micrometer scale in the rhizospere to explain macroscopic outcomes of plant productivity and product quality. My goal is to contribute to advancing sustainable agriculture, which is key to the global challenge of food security.

If you are interested in working in my team, don't hesitate to contact me. If you would like to do a master/bachelor thesis or a lab internship, I have plenty of great ideas and am open to discussing yours.

Work Experience and Education

Since 2022
Assistant Professor for Plant Biogeochemistry (W1)

Department of Geoscience, University of Tuebingen, Germany

Since 2020
Junior Group Leader

Plant Biogeochemistry group, Helmholtz Young Investigator, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

 

Parental Leave: 2021-2022

Since 2018
Research Affiliate of the Ithaka Institute of Carbon Intelligence

scientific advisor and collaborator, The Ithaka Institute is an international open source non-profit reseach network for carbon sequestration strategies and cycling through agronomic methods.

2015-2020
DFG Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Associate

Stanford University, School of Earth Energy and Environmental Science, Earth System Science Department, California, USA;

 

 

Return phase to Universtiy of Tuebingen: 2018-2019;

 

Parental leave: 2019-2020

2014-2015
Post-Doctoral Fellow

University of Tuebingen, Center for Applied Geoscience, Geomicrobiology, Tuebingen, Germany

2008-2009
Environmental Volunteering Service

Cape Town, South Africa. Zeekovlei Environmental Education Center and Rondevlei Nature Preserve

2009-2013
PhD in Environmental Science

at the Universtiy of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

2004-2005
Study Abroad Programm

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

2001-2008
Diplom in Biology

at the University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

Main Funding Record

  • DFG Grant (2022-2024): Project Title: The role of root-soil interactions in shaping greenhouse gas dynamics from thawing permafrost soils. 233,188 €.
  • Helmholtz Young Investigator Grant (2020-2026): Project Title: RhizoThreats: Rhizospheres under Attack from Coupled Climate and Heavy Metal Threats. 1.8 million €.
  • Baden-Württemberg Elite Programme for Postdocs (2019-2022): Project Title: GreenCad: Cadmium and Climate Impacts on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions. One PhD student financed with 114,000 €.
  • Marie Sklodowska Curie Postdoctoral Grant (2016-2020): Project Title: RACe: The Impact of Climate Change on the Uptake of Arsenic into Rice. 239,861 €.
  • German Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholarship (2014-2015): The impact of Global Warming on the Accumulation of Arsenic in Rice Grains. 82,000 €.
  • German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) PhD Fellowship (2009-2012): Impact of Mineral-Forming and Dissolving Bacteria on the Uptake and Accumulation of Cadmium in Arabidopsis halleri. 40,400 €.

 

Awards

  • 2014 Medalist of the German Dissertation Award (Koerber Foundation, Science division)
  • 2014 University of Tuebingen PhD Award
  • 2014 Department of Geoscience PhD Award at the University of Tuebingen
  • 2008 Medalist of the Biotechnica Study Award for Master theses

 

Public outreach

I immensely enjoy talking to school classes, clubs and societies about the work I do and how it links to their every day life. If you are interested in a general audience or popular science talk about my work, then do not hesitate to contact me.

Here are some examples of my public outreach endeavours: