Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

I am a tenure-track Research Scientist at WSL and a Lecturer at ETH Zurich. Since 2020, I have been a Research Affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

My research aims to build a fundamental understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems in order to better understand and actively shape their impact on the environment. I combine physical modeling and field measurements to investigate the interactions between flow, bedload, and wood transport. The goal is to gain deeper insight into fluvial processes and to support the management of natural resources and the design of hydraulic structures through appropriate modeling approaches.

Research interests

  • Channel hydraulics and morphodynamics
  • Wood and bedload transport
  • Interactions between flow, sediment, vegetation (wood), and plastics
  • Nature-based solutions in river restoration projects
  • Physical modeling and field experiments

Academic background

Education

  • 2015–2018: Doctorate with distinction (ETH medal), Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich
    Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW)
    Thesis title: "Modeling hazards related to large wood in rivers"
  • 2018: Visiting Doctoral Student, Colorado State University
  • 2009–2011: M.Sc. with distinction, Environmental Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna
  • 2009: Erasmus Exchange Semester, ETH Zurich
  • 2005–2009: B.Sc., Environmental Engineering, BOKU Vienna

Research experience

  • 2024–present: Research Scientist (tenure-track), WSL
  • 2022–2023: SNSF Ambizione Fellow, Insitute of Fluid Dynamics, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich
  • 2020–present: Research Affiliate, Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, MIT
  • 2022: International Excellence Fellow, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  • 2020–2022: Senior Research Assistant and Lecturer, VAW, ETH Zurich
  • 2019–2020: Postdoctoral Fellow, Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, MIT
  • 2018–2019: Postdoctoral Associate, VAW, ETH Zurich
  • 2014–2018: Scientific Assistant, VAW, ETH Zurich
  • 2012–2013: Scientific Assistant, BOKU Vienna

Teaching and supervision

If you are interested in pursuing a thesis or internship related to transport processes in fluvial systems, feel free to contact me via email.

Teaching at ETH Zurich (2021-present)

  • River Engineering (MSc)
  • Transport Processes in Torrents (MSc, from Autumn 2025)

Supervision

Supervision of PhD students and MSc/BSc theses in the context of fluvial hydraulics, habitat creation, and sediment and wood transport.

PhD students:

  • F. Broß: Nature-based solutions for habitat creation (since 12/2022; SNSF Ambizione Project)

  • S. Speltoni: Impact of macro-roughness elements on flood protection (since 10/2022; collaboration with VAW in the "Hydraulic Engineering and Ecology" program by FOEN)

Master students:

  • J. Schleussinger: Effect of discharge on sediment and wood transport processes in torrents (Spring semester 2025; Env. Eng. ETH Zurich)

  • T. Marauhn: Field experiments on bedload transport using distributed acousting sensing (Spring semester 2025; Civil Eng. ETH Zurich)

  • C. Dorthe: Flow Structures Due to Engineered Logjams in the Field (Fall semester 2024; Env. Eng. ETH Zurich)

Awards and talks

Awards

  • 2025: IAHR 9th Willi H. Hager Journal of Hydraulic Research Best Reviewer Award

  • 2025: Best Reviewer Award, Environmental Science & Ecotechnology (ESE)

  • 2022: SNSF Ambizione Fellowship

  • 2022: KIT International Excellence Fellowship

  • 2019: SNSF Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship

  • 2019: ETH Medal for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis (top 8%)

  • 2017: 1st Place, John F. Kennedy Student Paper Competition, IAHR World Congress

Keynotes

  • 06/2024: From Hazard to Habitat: Understanding Wood's Impact in Fluvial Systems. Keynote, IAHR Hydraulic Structures Symposium, ETH Zurich

  • 06/2024: Evaluating the Hazard Due to Wood in Rivers: Blocking Probability, Logjam Shape, and Backwater Rise. Keynote, Wood in World Rivers V, Quebec (online)

  • 03/2024: Holz in Flüssen: Einflüsse auf die Fliessbedingungen und Morphologie. Keynote, Auenökologischer Workshop, WSL

Invited talks and seminars

  • 2024: From Sediment Declogging to Microplastic Deposition: Understanding the Influence of Wood in River Restoration. Wageningen University & Research

  • 2023: Hydraulic Impacts of Nature-Based Solutions: Examining Wood in River Restoration. Eckart Meiburg’s Group, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)

  • 2023: Wood in Rivers: Hazards and Benefits. D-BAUG Spotlight Seminar, ETH Zurich

  • 2023: Holz in Flüssen: Risiko und Nutzen. Blaues Kolloquium, VAW, ETH Zurich

  • 2022: Design of Wood Retention Structures in Rivers. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

  • 2020: Interaction Between Flow, Sediment, and Wood in Rivers. IHE Delft (online)

Publications