Beyond doctoral Candidates

Meet the doctoral candidates whose research spans water quality, hydrology, and stream ecology. Together, they investigate how rivers and catchments respond to environmental change, developing new knowledge and methods to support resilient aquatic systems.

Ziwei Liao – Doctoral Candidate (DC1) Ziwei Liao is a doctoral candidate in the BEYOND programme with an academic background spanning China and the Netherlands. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ecological Engineering of the Environment and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. Her research focuses on nutrient dynamics in aquatic systems, with particular emphasis on eutrophication processes and environmental remediation materials. Within BEYOND, Ziwei investigates how climate change influences nutrient release from stream sediments, and she is also exploring the potential of biochar as a sustainable material for nutrient removal in aquatic environments. Ziwei values interdisciplinary and international collaboration and sees BEYOND as a long-term, challenging, and hopeful research pathway. Outside academia, she enjoys films, music, travelling, spending time in nature, and has a strong interest in extreme sports.

Xizhao Lin – Doctoral Candidate (DC2) Xizhao Lin is a doctoral candidate in the BEYOND programme with an academic background in Forest Protection and Soil Microbial Ecology. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Forest Protection and a Master’s degree specialising in Soil Microbial Ecology, with prior research on colloidal phosphorus (P) transport in forested rivers and streams. Within BEYOND, Xizhao is developing and applying novel colloidal fingerprinting methodologies to track phosphorus transport in forest water systems. Her work integrates chemical colloid characterisation with biological signals derived from environmental DNA (eDNA), aiming to establish a comprehensive approach to tracing colloid-bound nutrients at the catchment scale—described as a form of river ecological forensics. Originally from China, Xizhao is currently based at the Jülich Research Centre in Germany. She values working in diverse environments and engaging in frequent academic exchanges. Outside her research, she enjoys visiting museums and historic buildings, insect identification, and swimming.

Tom König – Doctoral Candidate (DC3) Tom König is a doctoral candidate with a background in Environmental Science (BSc) and Hydrology (MSc). His academic training has provided him with a strong foundation in natural water systems and a particular interest in analysing water-related and hydrological data. His research focuses on flood events and catchment hydrology, using high-frequency stream water-quality data combined with discharge measurements from climatically and spatially diverse catchments. By establishing robust event-scale concentration–discharge relationships, his work aims to improve process-level understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics. Outside academia, Tom spends most of his time outdoors. He enjoys canoeing, bikepacking, long hikes, and trail running, and often spends his holidays camping. He is motivated by adventure, physical challenges, and the simplicity and beauty of wild landscapes.

Hasara Siriwardane – Doctoral Candidate (DC4) Hasara Siriwardane is a doctoral candidate with an interdisciplinary background in Applied Sciences and Biology. She obtained her BSc (Honours) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and her Master’s degree from Sam Houston State University, USA, where she gained research experience in stream ecosystem metabolism and biogeochemistry. During her Master’s studies, she also taught undergraduate biology laboratory courses. Her doctoral research applies high-frequency sensor data and modelling approaches to investigate phosphorus (P) removal at the river-network scale. Drawing on expertise in primary production estimation, she examines and compares P assimilatory uptake in anthropogenically modified versus morphologically natural streams. Originally from Sri Lanka, Hasara has a strong connection to nature. She enjoys long walks, good films, and good food—especially cake.

Deign Frolley Soriano – Doctoral Candidate (DC5) Deign Frolley Soriano is a doctoral candidate from the Philippines with a background in Biology and Environmental Management. He previously served as Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Biology at the University of the Philippines Baguio and has led science innovation, environmental education, and sustainability initiatives with organisations such as WWF Philippines, Save Philippine Seas, and the UN Youth Advisory Board–Philippines. His doctoral research focuses on the role of citizen science in water-quality monitoring and river protection. He combines expertise in macroinvertebrate identification, ecological sampling, GIS, remote sensing, and participatory approaches to strengthen community-based river conservation and environmental governance. Alongside research, he is active in science communication, policy engagement, and creative outreach. Outside academia, Deign enjoys swimming, trekking, camping, singing, and storytelling that connects people with nature.

Emir Selimović – Doctoral Candidate (DC6) Emir Selimović is a doctoral candidate with both BSc and MSc degrees in Environmental Sciences, specialising in river ecology. His academic and professional experience includes work with fish hatcheries, fisheries management, electrofishing surveys, and macroinvertebrate sampling in alpine rivers. His research investigates the combined effects of multiple stressors, particularly nutrients and sediments, on biological communities in agricultural catchments. He applies a combination of mesocosm experiments and field studies to better understand ecological responses to human pressures. Emir is an avid angler and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys exploring rivers and forests.

Gilli Edvardson – Doctoral Candidate (DC7) Gilli Edvardson is a doctoral candidate with a background in Marine Biology and Oceanography. During her studies, she focused on carbonate system dynamics in the Red Sea and participated in research on marine biogeochemical processes, often integrating science with education and creative practice. Her doctoral research examines how variations in oxygen availability and discharge influence elemental cycle stoichiometry and microbial resilience in aquatic systems, bridging biogeochemistry and ecosystem processes. Gilli has a strong affinity for water and nature, enjoys reading and diving, and is interested in combining science and art

Damaris Rios Guzman – Doctoral Candidate (DC8) Damaris Rios Guzman is a doctoral candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Bolivia and a Master’s degree in Applied Ecohydrology obtained through an Erasmus Mundus joint programme across four European countries. Her Master’s thesis focused on the ecohydrological assessment of a floodplain–river system and the feasibility of nature-based solutions. Her doctoral research analyses large hydrological and water-quality datasets to understand nutrient export dynamics across spatial scales, from headwaters to meso-scale rivers, particularly under the influence of past hydroclimatic events. Damaris describes herself as curious and calm. She enjoys reading, painting, crafting, running, and spending time with loved ones and animals.

Joy Senn – Doctoral Candidate (DC9) Joy Senn is a doctoral candidate with a background in Biology, ecology, and sustainable cropping systems. She previously worked as a certified middle-school science teacher in Louisiana and completed a Master’s degree focused on plant health, agroecology, and sustainable farming systems, with thesis work on agroecological transitions in coffee farming. Her doctoral research models the impacts of agroecological systems on water quality and other ecosystem services, aiming to identify where and how interventions are most effective under current and future hydrological extremes. Joy enjoys outdoor activities, longboarding, salsa dancing, cooking, poetry, opera, and travel.

Rieke Koopmann – Doctoral Candidate (DC10) Rieke Koopmann is a doctoral candidate with a background in Biochemistry and Marine Microbiology. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Germany, she gained hands-on experience through internships in marine science and conservation before pursuing a Master’s degree in marine microbiology. Her doctoral research explores how microbially mediated nutrient cycling in rivers responds to pollutant stressors and climate change, linking microbial processes with ecosystem-scale dynamics. Rieke enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, and team sports, and has a strong passion for music. She plays the piano and clarinet and is currently learning the guitar.