Sebastian Sonntag (Dipl.Phys.)

Phone: +49(0)40 - 42838 6652
Fax: +49(0)40 - 42838 6618
University of Hamburg
Institute for Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science
Große Elbstraße 133
22765 Hamburg
Germany

Please also see http://www.klimacampus.de/sonntag.html

Research interests

Modelling biologically induced feedback mechanisms in marine systems.

Currently, my research focuses on the effects of phytoplankton on its physical environment.

I am working in Inga Hense's research group Advancement of Coupled Climate Ocean Ecosystem Models.

Educational Background

University education

07/2009 ongoing: PhD student at Universität Hamburg in the School of Integrated Climate System Sciences (SICSS)

2004 - 2008: Studies in physics at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Main focus on theory of complex systems and systems biology.

Diploma thesis: "Mathematical models of photoreceptor dynamics in plant cells"

2003 - 2004: Exchange student at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.

2001 - 2003: Undergraduate student in physics at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Employment

07/2009 ongoing: Research associate at IHF, Universität Hamburg in the framework of KlimaCampus

01/2009 - 07/2009: Research associate at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Group of Prof. Timmer, Institute of Physics, subgroup Dr. Fleck,
Center for Biological Systems Analysis

2005 - 2008: Student assistant at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg for undergraduate physics labs and tutorials

2002 - 2003: Student assistant at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid-State Physics IAF, Freiburg

Publications

Sonntag, S. & I. Hense: Phytoplankton behavior affects ocean mixed layer dynamics through biological-physical feedback mechanisms, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L15610, doi:10.1029/2011GL048205.

Selected Oral & Poster Presentations

Sonntag, S.: Phytoplankton species shifts affect upper ocean dynamics through biological-physical feedback mechanisms, 2nd Young Scientist Excellence Cluster Conference on Marine and Climate Research: Perspectives from Natural and Social Sciences, Bremen, Germany, 10/2011, oral presentation.

Sonntag, S. & I. Hense: Biological-physical feedback mechanisms in marine systems: a model study involving cyanobacteria, European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2011, Vienna, Austria, 04/2011, poster (Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 13, EGU2011-3366).

Sonntag, S. & I. Hense: Modelling feedback mechanisms between ocean biota and physics, Integrated climate and earth system sciences in Northern Germany, Hamburg, Germany, 10/2010, poster.

Sonntag, S. & I. Hense: Modelling feedback mechanisms between ocean biota and physics, Earth System Science 2010 (AIMES Open Science Conference), Edinburgh, UK, 05/2010, poster.

Sonntag, S. & I. Hense: Modelling bio-physical feedbacks in marine systems, Ocean & Earth System - past, present and future (Northcluster Workshop Series), Kiel, Germany, 10/2009, poster.

Sonntag S., M. Stahl, S. Kircher, E. Schäfer, J. Timmer & C. Fleck: Plant light signalling - early function of phyB receptor: data-based mathematical modeling, German Symposium on Systems Biology 2009, Heidelberg, Germany, 05/2009, poster.

Sonntag S., S. Kircher, E. Schäfer, J. Timmer & C. Fleck: Modeling phytochrome B speckle formation and degradation of PIF3, International Conference on Systems Biology 2008, Gothenburg, Sweden, 08/2008, poster.

Young Earth System Scientists (YESS) association

YESS is a self-maintained superstructure integrating communication among young researchers in the area of Earth system science. More information about YESS can be found here.