“When I came to the Colorado School of Mines as an exchange student from the University of Leoben, Austria, I was planning on staying here for five months. I had little idea, that these five months would change my life and my career plans completely: I have been living in Colorado for almost seven years now; I have completed a Master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering and am close to finishing my Ph.D.

What kept me here was the positive and challenging working environment. For instance, my Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Bruce D. Honeyman, provides me with enough guidance, but also allows me space to make mistakes for my personal development as a researcher. And since CSM is small, it is really easy to communicate with researchers from other departments, which is especially important in such an interdisciplinary field like Environmental Engineering.

In my research, I investigate the mobilization of uranium and plutonium by natural organic acids in groundwater systems. This is important, for example, for the evaluation of environmental risks related to radioactive waste disposal facilities. I have also developed a new method to radiolabel natural organic matter, which is in the process of being patented with the support of the Colorado School of Mines.

I enjoy doing research in Environmental Engineering, because it forces me to combine various different fields, e.g. from chemistry to hydrogeology and computer modeling. It is very exciting to attend conferences, where I can present my work and exchange ideas with other researchers, as well as to see my research published in scientific journals. I also have had the opportunity to teach a graduate-level class, which was a great learning experience.

In my spare time, I like to play volleyball, go hiking, biking or snowboarding. I also love to explore the art scene in Denver, the film festivals, theatres and the new Denver Art Museum.”