Whenever I had the chance as a child, I spent my time outdoors—exploring forests, lakes, and mountains. I suppose that's when I developed a fascination for the rich details of nature, its shapes and colors, and its clever adaptations.
After training as a pharmaceutical-technical assistant, I worked in a pharmacy before deciding to study biotechnology. In my Master's thesis, I was looking into microplastics in Arctic and European snow, which I completed in 2018 at the Alfred Wegener Institute on Helgoland.
Although I gained valuable experience in industry, I soon realized how much I missed the world of natural sciences. Luckily, I found a position as technician in the Limnological Laboratory of the Department of Ecology, where I supported the team in both field work and laboratory analysis conducting analytical analysis for water chemistry and nutrient concentrations.
I was even luckier when Birgit offered me the opportunity to do my PhD in her CRYOS group, which I joined in October 2022.
In my PhD project, I focus on the atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics into high mountain regions. At the Geosphere Sonnblick Observatory, we collect atmospheric precipitation to identify and quantify microplastic fallout in these remote, elevated environments. We aim to understand possible seasonal pattern and transport processes by using dispersion models to trace the routes of air masses that transported the microplastics to our sampling site.
Microplastics have been detected in some of the most remote regions on Earth, including polar areas and high mountain environments, where they are likely transported via the atmosphere. Apart from their environmental persistence, these polymer particles can also serve as substrates for microbial colonization. These microbial communities often harbour heavy metals, pathogens and even antibiotic resistance genes. Cryospheric biofilms form the foundation of local food webs and play a key role in the geochemical cycles of these sensitive ecosystems. Therefore, we study whether microbial biofilm communities in the cryosphere vary depending on the type of polymer and over time. The nutrient-poor conditions in proglacial lakes led us to hypothesise that certain bacteria might be able to use polymer surfaces as an energy source. Therefore, we look into temporal dynamics of microbial biofilm communities, especially those with known polymer-degrading capabilities.
Through my PhD, I hope to contribute valuable insights into the fate of an emerging pollutant—microplastics— that can be transported through the atmosphere over thousands of kilometers, reaching even the most remote and vulnerable ecosystems.
Sophia MÜTZEL
Research Group: Lake and Glacier Ecology