On the 7th of August 2024, Simone Trimmel successfully defended her PhD thesis as part of the TecEUS project, titled “Analysis of technology-critical elements in environmental samples based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry”. After a 40-minute presentation of the thesis, the examination was conducted by her supervisor Johanna Irrgeher in Analytical Chemistry and by her mentor Markus Puschenreiter in Soil Ecology, with Clara Schuecker as the head of the examination senate.
The presentation focused on Simone’s 3 main author publications which advance current understanding of TCE distribution in the environment. Her work included the development of a robust measurement procedure for TCEs in plant samples and the application of this method to samples from urban greening. The generated data can serve as groundwork for future studies on the environmental behaviour of scarcely analysed elements.
The talk was concluded by giving suggestions for possible next steps in environmental TCE analysis, including bioavailability studies and the acquisition of data from potential emission sites as well as from more pristine sites.
We congratulate Simone for her graduation passed with distinction and wish her all the best for her future private and professional life!
