With this appointment, the Faculty gains an internationally recognized scientist in the field of air quality research and its interactions with mobility, public health, and climate change. Erika von Schneidemesser leads the research group “Urban Air Quality, Mobility and Health” at the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) in Potsdam. Her work focuses on the impacts of transport-related emissions on urban air quality and on assessing the effectiveness of mobility and environmental policies.

Her research combines natural science with societal and policy-oriented perspectives. Her key areas of expertise include urban air pollution, air quality and mobility policy, exposure to air pollutants and their health impacts, innovative measurement and monitoring approaches, and the interactions between air pollution and climate change. She pursues an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approach and collaborates closely with municipalities, policymakers, and civil society stakeholders.

After studying chemistry and mathematics in the United States, Erika von Schneidemesser earned her PhD in in environmental science and technology, with a focus on atmospheric science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her academic career has included positions at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and at the U.S. National Science Foundation, where she served as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow. Since 2012, she has been conducting research in Potsdam. Since 2015 she leads the “Urban Air Quality, Mobility and Health” research group.

With this new appointment, the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences strengthens its expertise at the intersection of transport, environment, and health. Prof. von Schneidemesser’s research will contribute to developing the scientific foundations for sustainable and health-promoting mobility systems and to addressing the challenges facing urban transportation networks.

The Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences warmly welcomes Prof. Dr. Erika von Schneidemesser and looks forward to working with her in research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.