About

My research sits at the intersection of fluid mechanics and environmental engineering, with a focus on understanding how particles move through aquatic systems. Starting from fundamental questions about microplastic transport in rivers — how particles settle, rise, erode from sediment beds, and infiltrate the riverbed — I have developed new physical and numerical models that go beyond classical sediment transport theory, where existing approaches fall short. At the core of my work is the analogy between microplastics and natural sediments: by learning from decades of sediment research while identifying where this analogy breaks down, I build process understanding that is transferable across contaminant types and river systems. This foundation feeds into a broader research agenda that treats rivers not as simple transport corridors, but as complex systems where hydraulics, morphodynamics, and contaminant cycling are deeply interconnected. My current work scales this process understanding to the system level — investigating how microplastic loads change along entire river corridors, which structural elements act as sinks or sources, and how flood events mobilize and redistribute contaminants. Physical laboratory experiments, field campaigns, and hydronumerical modelling form the methodological backbone of this work. Ultimately, I want my research to inform how we plan, design, and operate hydraulic infrastructure — making flood protection and river management more robust not only hydraulically, but also in terms of long-term water quality and ecological health.

Career Type:

Scientist/Researcher/Academic

Organization Type:

Universities and Academia

Expertise Fields/Interests:

Pollution, Hydrology, Microplastics, Macroplastics, Fluid Mechanics, Particle Transport

Major Achievements: