Award of an unscheduled professorship
The Faculty 13 has awarded an associate professorship to Dr. Bettina Zeis. She has been working as a scientist in the Department of Biology for more than 20 years. In the Institute of Zoophysiology she was habilitated in the working group of Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Paul. Since his retirement, she has been leading the group as an acting professor with a significantly reduced team.
Her research interest is the adaptation of zooplankton organisms to changing environmental conditions. Here, the focus is on the reactions of water fleas of the genus Daphnia to reduced oxygen supply, increased temperature or insufficient food supply. The analyses integrate the responses of the animals from the molecular level to the physiological performance of the individuals to the population in the habitat. Current projects deal with plankton organisms of the Aasee, the Schlossgräfte or the Great Holy Sea. This connection to the habitat of the animals in stagnant waters also results in an involvement in the teaching of the interdisciplinary Master's program "Water Sciences", which is carried out in cooperation with the Department of Geosciences and the University of Applied Sciences. Prof. Zeis also conducts numerous courses for students of the Science and Education programs of the Biosciences. The extraordinary professorship shows the appreciation of the department for her long-standing commitment in teaching and research.