RTG 2530-Short PortraitsWelcome to the team, Joscha Becker!

16 June 2025, by RTG 2530

Photo: UHH/RTG2530/Albrecht

Our portrait series continues, and we're delighted to welcome Joscha Becker as a new Principal Investigator on the RTG 2530 team. To get to know him better, we asked him three questions.

 1. What is the main focus of your research, and what are the overarching topics, questions or objectives?

My research focuses on the role of soils in the carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, particularly under the influence of climate change and human land use. At its core, the aim is to develop a mechanistic understanding of soil processes across different spatial scales: from the rhizosphere – the microscopically small area directly surrounding the root – through landscape-level patterns to global interactions. In doing so, I aim to establish scientific foundations that help us better understand how soils can remain fertile, how they store carbon, and how ecosystems respond to climatic changes.

2. What made you decide in favour of this field of research? What fascinates you about it, and what do you see as the biggest challenge?

What fascinates me most is that soils, forming the interface between the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, play a pivotal role in both ecosystem functioning and human life. The complex interplay of physical, chemical, and biological processes in soils holds enormous potential for addressing pressing environmental challenges. The biggest challenge I see lies in bridging the gap between micro-scale processes—such as those occurring on root surfaces—and large-scale ecological dynamics. These microscale processes are difficult to measure, yet they have a decisive impact on material flows, carbon storage, and soil fertility. My goal is to make these hidden processes visible and to better understand how they influence ecosystems at larger scales.

3. What are your expectations of the collaboration in the Research Training Group 2530, and is there anything you are particularly looking forward to?

I am especially looking forward to the interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues from different academic backgrounds. The opportunity to contribute my knowledge of biogeochemical cycles and soil-plant-microorganism interactions to a joint research initiative is particularly valuable to me. I am especially interested in understanding how carbon is stored or mobilized in the transition zone between terrestrial and aquatic systems. I expect that the collaboration within RTG2530 will open up new perspectives, foster innovative approaches, and contribute to a deeper understanding of ecosystem processes in the context of climate change.