Microplastic (MP) represents an environmental problem of global importance. It can be found in almost every ecological habitat, but especially in oceans, coastal areas and rivers, where flora and fauna and ultimately also humans are harmed. What is particularly devastating is the ability of MP to deposit heavy metals and toxins on its surface. In this way, these enter the food chain unnoticed and can be responsible for stochastic diseases such as cancer and organ damage. In a first laboratory experiment at LIAG, microplastic was successfully detected using spectral induced polarization (SIP, a method from the field of geoelectrics). As part of a master's thesis, further studies based on this preliminary research will be carried out in order to systematically expand the database. In addition to SIP, other methods from petrophysics and mineralogy will be used. The intention is to publish the results - in addition to the qualification work - and to prepare the database for a more extensive follow-up (DFG) project.
Ideally, you meet the following requirements:
- Desire to work on a highly exciting topic of high social, political and ecological relevance
- Affinity for precise detective like work in the laboratory
- Curiosity to get knowledge about new methods and procedures in geophysics
- High interest in tackling interdisciplinary topics in a team
If you are interested, please contact Dr. Matthias Halisch (LIAG, Section 5, contact details
below) at any time!
Contact:
Dr. Matthias Halisch
Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics
Dept. 5 – Petrophysics & Borehole Geophysics
Stilleweg 2 D – 30655 Hannover
Email: matthias.halisch@leibniz-liag.de
Tel.: 0511 – 643 2331
Mobile: 0151 – 678 580 60
