Geographic Units :: Europe :: Council

SETAC Europe Council Candidate

Katja Knauer

Professional Details

Country: Switzerland
Affiliation: Academia
Organisation: University of Basel, Dep. Of Environmental Science
Position: Research Assistant
To contact Katja Knauer, please e-mail to SETAC Europe and mention "to Katja Knauer " in the subject line.

Career

I studied Biology and Limnology in Constance, Germany. My master study comprised a renaturation project at Lake Constance. Then I went to ETH, Zürich, Switzerland and performed a post graduate class on water management and protection, followed by a PhD in Environmental Sciences on the speciation, bioavailability and
toxicity of trace metals in aquatic systems. 1997, I went as a postdoc to MIT, Boston, USA and was involved in an EPA project on arsenic pollution. As a research and teaching assistant I came back to Switzerland joining the Environmental Chemistry group at the University of Geneva. My research topic was the impact of fulvic acids on the bioavailability of trace metals. Summer 1999, I worked for the ecotoxicological sector of Novartis Crop Protection, Syngenta. From 1999 to 2004, I worked for the ecotoxicological sector of Novartis/Syngenta Crop Protection responsible for all kind of aquatic and terrestrial studies and risk assessment. Since 2004, I am research and teaching assistant for the new founded master of sustainability at the University of Basel.

SETAC Involvement

Since 2000, I am member of the SETAC-europe young scientist award committee. In 2005, I was member of the organisation committee in charge of the organisation of the annual SETAC-glb meeting in Basel. Since 2006, I am member of the council of SETAC-German Language Branch and I am serving on the editorial board of the
Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ET&C.

Motivation for standing for election

I would love to join the Society for a vivid exchange of information and ideas on research topics, training and teaching concepts in the field of ecotoxicology and sustainability. Further, I like to extend my activities from the regional branch (Switzerland, german language branch) to Europe and to link research in Industry to science performed at Universities.

“I would like to contribute to SETACs role in education: I am standing for application-oriented university research and interdisciplinary education programs (like the Master on Sustainability in Basel)”.