The German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) is the national research institute of the German Federal Government for research and assessment in the fields of hydrology, water resource management, ecology, and water conservation. BfG is involved in investigating the water quality in international waters as well as in planning, development, and new construction of federal waterways. BfG also focuses on research of low- and high-flow conditions, on computing water balances, and on hydrological and ecological forecasting.

Dr. Georg Reifferscheid, is head of the department Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, chairman of the DIN working group “Gentoxizität”, the ISO working group “Genotoxicity and hormonal effects”, chairman of ISO TC 147 SC5 “Biological methods” covering all relevant working groups and methodologies in the field of aquatic ecotoxicological testing and is in a leading position for the development of national and international standard bioassays for specific toxicology in the field of water monitoring.

Dr. Nicole Brennholt is research scientist in the department Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology (BfG) and is in charge for projects dealing with (micro-)plastic issues and microbial water quality. Furthermore, she manages the microbial laboratory (biosafety level 2) and is responsible for the training of biology laboratory assistants.  

Dr. Friederike Stock is a researcher in the department Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology (BfG). She is leading a research project about macro- and microplastics in German rivers.

The BfG will host the secondment of ESR7, organize the Training event Agency Day and support sampling campaigns.