The Team

Pia Müller (she/her)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: pia.mueller@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{Pia is a trained physicist with a strong interest in environmental science. She joined the Chair of Biogeochemical Modelling during her master’s thesis, where she used remote sensing to study how repeated drought events affect forest ecosystems at a large scale. Within the Future Forest Cluster, her work focuses on modelling forest responses to drought conditions and improving our understanding of ecosystem dynamics under increasing climate extremes.}

Danilo Lüdke (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: danilo.luedke@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{My research explores biotic interactions, mostly between plants and insects, with a particular focus on how newly arrived species become integrated into existing ecosystems. Trained as a general biologist, I combine field ecology, biodiversity monitoring, bioinformatics and molecular methods to address ecological questions across scales. I am also a passionate entomologist with a longstanding interest in the ecology and taxonomy of true bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera). In Future Forests, I study the recently introduced invasive oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata) and the responses of young oaks to combined drought and herbivory stress, helping to evaluate the role of oaks in future forest ecosystems.}

Tabea Wörner (she/her)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: tabea.woerner@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{Tabea Wörner completed both her BSc and MSc in Environmental Sciences at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, specialising in Climate Change Ecology. She wrote her Master’s thesis on the topic of CO2 fluxes under beech and Douglas fir. She recently started a PhD at Future Forests, focusing on analysing and modelling forest microclimates.}

David Andermahr (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: david.andermahr@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{My research focuses on tree species suitability and forest resilience under changing climatic conditions. With a foundation in the physiological and genetic resilience of European beech and oak, my current work within the Excellence Cluster Future Forests explores the intersection of mortality dynamics and socio-ecological contexts. By investigating how adapted stand density management influences tree survival, I aim to bridge the gap between fundamental ecology and practical forestry—providing actionable guidance on species selection and assisted migration to ensure productive, sustainable forests.}

Paulina Weber-Steinhilber (she/her)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: paulina.weber-steinhilber@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{Having completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Freiburg with a focus on Forest Ecology, I have long been fascinated by the interplay between microorganisms, insects, and their environment. I am now pursuing my PhD, where I use a One Health perspective to analyze the relationship between ticks and forest ecosystems. My research focuses on future forest scenarios and the impact of increasing environmental stressors – such as species composition shifts and forest disturbances – to understand how these changes influence tick abundance and pathogen prevalence, and ultimately, the associated risks to human health.}

Mattis Pfenning (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: mattis.pfenning@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{Mattis completed both his BSc and MSc in Environmental Sciences at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, specialising in Environmental Modelling and Data Science. Alongside his Master’s studies, he worked as a Hiwi at the Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics, where he also wrote his thesis on forecasting tree mortality using deep learning. He has recently started a PhD at Future Forests, focusing on the attribution of large-scale tree mortality. In his spare time, he sews outdoor gear like, backpacks and hammocks.}

Robin Schweikert (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: robin.schweikert@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{I am a trained molecular biologist with a focus on plant sciences. Within the Future Forests Cluster, I will investigate how different forest management strategies affect the diversity of epiphytic lichens and mosses. Additionally, I will explore the fascinating communities of microorganisms associated with these epiphytic species.}

Moritz Schuck (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: moritz.schuck@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{What do you remember most about a visit to the forest? The fresh air, the lush greenery, the rustling of leaves in the wind, or the buzzing of insects? As a researcher with a background in acoustics and perception, I’m interested in how people experience forest environments, which sensory impressions they recall, and how these perceptions relate to health and well-being.}

Malte Lehmann (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Future Forests

Email: malte.lehmann@futureforests.uni-freiburg.de

_{The diversity of life in all its facets has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. After studying evolutionary biology and ecology, my research now focuses on biodiversity in our changing forests. I pay particular attention to diversity in the herb layer and the functional consequences arising from its change. In doing so, I work primarily with vegetation surveys, the analysis of historical data, and large-scale decomposition experiments.}

Felix Radtke (he/him)

Doctoral researcher funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Phone: +49 (0)761 – 203 97833
Email: felix.radtke@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de

_{Hydrologist with an interest in large-scale catchment hydrology at the interface between hydrology and silviculture in the context of global change. The research examines the interactions between climatic stress, forest condition and catchment characteristics on hydrological processes. The focus is on drought-induced forest dieback and its effects on nitrate levels in groundwater.}