Michael received his PhD in Environmental Chemistry from ETH Zürich. After postdoctoral placements at ETH Zürich, Cornell University, and Eawag, he joined CeMESS as a Junior Group Leader in 2021 and became a tenure-track professor in fall 2022.
His research at the CeMESS Division of Environmental Science and Biogeochemistry (EDGE) focuses on the biotransformation and biodegradation of anthropogenic organic chemicals in natural and engineered systems.
His group investigates the kinetics and pathways of enzyme-catalysed reactions and characterizes key enzymes involved by applying advanced analytical chemical methods. These insights are essential for understanding the environmental fate of anthropogenic chemicals and developing solutions for a clean environment.
In the CoE, Michael participates in WP 3.2, on ‘Impact of Emerging Pollutants on Microbiomes across Systems’. The central goal of this work package is to understand how tire wear particles and other pollutants affect humans and the environment by studying pollutant dynamics and toxicity.