Anita Narwani, PhD - Group Leader
email: anita.narwani@eawag.ch
My research aims to determine the mechanisms of species coexistence and the impact of biodiversity on ecosystem properties. I am an empiricist, and I use numerous approaches in my research, spanning the range from careful manipulations of biodiversity in lab microcosms, to whole-ecosystem manipulations and data-synthesis. My curiosity about how species coexist has focused, so far, on how environmental variation in resources and temperature determine the strength and outcome of competition. Recently, I have been investigating how these factors influence species' metabolism, growth and evolution.
Short Bio
2020: Group Leader in the Aquatic Ecology Department at Eawag (with tenure)
2015: Group Leader in the Aquatic Ecology Department at Eawag (tenure-track)
2014-2015: Eawag Postdoc Fellowship
2011-2014: Postdoc @ University of Michigan with Brad Cardinale
2011: PhD @ University of Victoria with Asit Mazumder
email: anita.narwani@eawag.ch
My research aims to determine the mechanisms of species coexistence and the impact of biodiversity on ecosystem properties. I am an empiricist, and I use numerous approaches in my research, spanning the range from careful manipulations of biodiversity in lab microcosms, to whole-ecosystem manipulations and data-synthesis. My curiosity about how species coexist has focused, so far, on how environmental variation in resources and temperature determine the strength and outcome of competition. Recently, I have been investigating how these factors influence species' metabolism, growth and evolution.
Short Bio
2020: Group Leader in the Aquatic Ecology Department at Eawag (with tenure)
2015: Group Leader in the Aquatic Ecology Department at Eawag (tenure-track)
2014-2015: Eawag Postdoc Fellowship
2011-2014: Postdoc @ University of Michigan with Brad Cardinale
2011: PhD @ University of Victoria with Asit Mazumder
Imran Khaliq, PhD - ETH BGB Posdoctoral Fellow
email: imran.khaliq@eawag.ch
I am an ecologist and broadly interested in biodiversity. I work on species’ distributions both in spatial and temporal dimensions. In my work, I integrate species distributional, morphological, physiological, ecological and phylogenetic data to understand species responses to climate change. For the past few years, my focus has been on understanding the role of species’ physiology in determining their distribution and to predict species' responses to future climate change. In the Narwani and Rixen (WSL) groups, as a BGB postdoc, my focus is to study warming-related community turnover in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The main aim of the project is to identify the drivers of this turnover at local as well at global scales in both blue and green realms. This project will enhance our understanding of community responses to changing climatic conditions and enable us to estimate the vulnerability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
email: imran.khaliq@eawag.ch
I am an ecologist and broadly interested in biodiversity. I work on species’ distributions both in spatial and temporal dimensions. In my work, I integrate species distributional, morphological, physiological, ecological and phylogenetic data to understand species responses to climate change. For the past few years, my focus has been on understanding the role of species’ physiology in determining their distribution and to predict species' responses to future climate change. In the Narwani and Rixen (WSL) groups, as a BGB postdoc, my focus is to study warming-related community turnover in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The main aim of the project is to identify the drivers of this turnover at local as well at global scales in both blue and green realms. This project will enhance our understanding of community responses to changing climatic conditions and enable us to estimate the vulnerability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Vanessa Weber de Melo, PhD - Posdoctoral Fellow
email: vanessa.weberdemelo@eawag.ch
In my research, I investigate how organisms respond to changes in their environment, exploring different response scales, ranging from molecular up to population-level processes. I use multiple microbial species as model systems to answer these questions. Besides being fascinating creatures, microorganisms grow fast, can be easily manipulated in the lab, and have central functions in all ecosystems. In my current project in the Narwani Group, I will explore the interaction between temperature and resource limitation in a range of phytoplankton species. I will monitor metabolic responses to these environmental conditions using novel high-throughput metabolomic methods, and I will investigate how these metabolic changes scale up to individual and population-level patterns.
email: vanessa.weberdemelo@eawag.ch
In my research, I investigate how organisms respond to changes in their environment, exploring different response scales, ranging from molecular up to population-level processes. I use multiple microbial species as model systems to answer these questions. Besides being fascinating creatures, microorganisms grow fast, can be easily manipulated in the lab, and have central functions in all ecosystems. In my current project in the Narwani Group, I will explore the interaction between temperature and resource limitation in a range of phytoplankton species. I will monitor metabolic responses to these environmental conditions using novel high-throughput metabolomic methods, and I will investigate how these metabolic changes scale up to individual and population-level patterns.
Irene Gallego-Nogales, PhD - SNF Posdoctoral Fellow
email: irene.gallego@eawag.ch
As an aquatic ecologist, my research interests are oriented towards understanding phytoplankton biodiversity under the modern coexistence framework and its link to ecosystem functioning. My work focuses on two main topics: the role of environmental and spatial variability on plankton community assemblies, and how functional and competitive traits can predict species coexistence.
In the Narwani group, I am investigating the evolution of phytoplankton populations under resource-limiting conditions and its impact on the community structure, in a mesocosm experiment.
email: irene.gallego@eawag.ch
As an aquatic ecologist, my research interests are oriented towards understanding phytoplankton biodiversity under the modern coexistence framework and its link to ecosystem functioning. My work focuses on two main topics: the role of environmental and spatial variability on plankton community assemblies, and how functional and competitive traits can predict species coexistence.
In the Narwani group, I am investigating the evolution of phytoplankton populations under resource-limiting conditions and its impact on the community structure, in a mesocosm experiment.
Sereina Gut - Research assistant
email: sereina.gut@eawag.ch
I am working on two projects investigating phytoplankton responses to environmental change. In the first project with Irene Gallego, we are investigating how phytoplankton traits change in response to long-term resource limitation in semi-natural communities. We are using a combination of growth rate expeirments and imaging to estimate trait change. We aim to determine how evolution and ecology contribute to this change. In a second project, led by Vanessa Weber de Melo, I am investigating how resource limitation and temperature interactively influence phytoplankton metabolism, and how much this varies across the tree of life. We are using high throughput metabolomics to understand these effects at a molecular level.
I am also acting as the lab manager and scientific coordinator for Anita while she is away on maternity leave. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
email: sereina.gut@eawag.ch
I am working on two projects investigating phytoplankton responses to environmental change. In the first project with Irene Gallego, we are investigating how phytoplankton traits change in response to long-term resource limitation in semi-natural communities. We are using a combination of growth rate expeirments and imaging to estimate trait change. We aim to determine how evolution and ecology contribute to this change. In a second project, led by Vanessa Weber de Melo, I am investigating how resource limitation and temperature interactively influence phytoplankton metabolism, and how much this varies across the tree of life. We are using high throughput metabolomics to understand these effects at a molecular level.
I am also acting as the lab manager and scientific coordinator for Anita while she is away on maternity leave. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Marta Reyes, MSc - Technician
email: marta.reyes@eawag.ch
I am an aquatic ecologist, and I am broadly interested aquatic foodweb dynamics and ecosystem processes, as well as in their responses to environmental change. I have worked with several groups of organisms in the past, including fishes and macroinvertebrates, but I am currently most fascinated by the beauty of phytoplankton.
In the Narwani lab, I am currently working on the project NUDREM, where we aim to understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of the ecosystem stability in 20 outdoor experimental ponds. Over the last few years I have developed extensive skills in algal taxonomy, and I apply these skills in the NUDREM project. I am also working on developing flow cytometry methods, high throuput fluorescence microscopy methods coupled with image classification using machine learning, I train lab robots, and I maintain an algal culture collection for conducting controlled lab experiments.
email: marta.reyes@eawag.ch
I am an aquatic ecologist, and I am broadly interested aquatic foodweb dynamics and ecosystem processes, as well as in their responses to environmental change. I have worked with several groups of organisms in the past, including fishes and macroinvertebrates, but I am currently most fascinated by the beauty of phytoplankton.
In the Narwani lab, I am currently working on the project NUDREM, where we aim to understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of the ecosystem stability in 20 outdoor experimental ponds. Over the last few years I have developed extensive skills in algal taxonomy, and I apply these skills in the NUDREM project. I am also working on developing flow cytometry methods, high throuput fluorescence microscopy methods coupled with image classification using machine learning, I train lab robots, and I maintain an algal culture collection for conducting controlled lab experiments.
Raphaël Bossart, B.Sc. EFZ - Technician
email: raphael.bossart@eawag.ch
I am helping to establish a robust pillar in molecular biology for the Narwani Group. Being involved in a multitude of projects, I try to understand the different needs of the group and help whenever I can. Currently, I am trying to design primers for amplicon sequencing of phytoplankton marker genes with the aim of understanding genetic change in populations of algae as they change in dominance over time in natural communities. In providing my technical assitance, I am always developing new skills, and I hope to contribute to a better understanding of how evolutionary change contributes to species interactions and community structure in aquatic ecosystems.
email: raphael.bossart@eawag.ch
I am helping to establish a robust pillar in molecular biology for the Narwani Group. Being involved in a multitude of projects, I try to understand the different needs of the group and help whenever I can. Currently, I am trying to design primers for amplicon sequencing of phytoplankton marker genes with the aim of understanding genetic change in populations of algae as they change in dominance over time in natural communities. In providing my technical assitance, I am always developing new skills, and I hope to contribute to a better understanding of how evolutionary change contributes to species interactions and community structure in aquatic ecosystems.
Daniel Steiner - Technician
email: daniel.steiner@eawag.ch
I work with the Narwani Group to understand how elemental stoichiometry, primary production and respiration respond to changes in phytoplankton populations and communities in response to environmental change.
email: daniel.steiner@eawag.ch
I work with the Narwani Group to understand how elemental stoichiometry, primary production and respiration respond to changes in phytoplankton populations and communities in response to environmental change.