Hey everybody! My name is Dennis Geis and I am a PhD student on the project team Backes Meller at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz. I studied Biotechnical Chemistry (BSc) at the TU Ilmenau and Biological Chemistry (MSc) at the TU Berlin.
From a young age, I was always fascinated with the Amazon rainforest. So, when I found out about ATTO, I knew I want to contribute and applied directly to the project. That’s how I found my way to Mainz, to the former Aerosol Analysis and Microscopy group of Christopher Pöhlker, and joined the project for my Master’s thesis.
By now, I have visited ATTO many times, and there are still so many questions left to be answered! My research focuses on biosphere-atmosphere interactions. In particularly, I look at the emissions from fungi and their contribution to the aerosol population and subsequent processing in the atmosphere. The majority of my work at ATTO takes place within the forest. I try to find fungi and measure their emissions in the field. Selected fruiting bodies I bring into the Cleanlab for further microscopic and chemical analysis.
Apart from the amazing people you meet while working at ATTO and the exciting research, my favorite thing about going there is the vast diversity of the Amazon rainforest. Seeing the different ecosystems and the unique flora and fauna, all while listening to a constant symphony of insects, birds and monkeys, are experiences I will cherish forever.
