Eva Pfannerstill

AS Atmospheric Sciences

The 2026 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Eva Pfannerstill for contributions to atmospheric chemistry, in particular to our understanding of the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and ozone formation.

Eva Pfannerstill is a Junior Professor at the University of Cologne and a Helmholtz Investigator Group Leader/Forschungszentrum Jülich. She has demonstrated outstanding scientific leadership and creativity in developing and applying advanced measurement techniques to understand the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and ozone formation in both pristine and polluted environments. Her pioneering work includes the deployment of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) instruments during challenging field campaigns in the Amazon rainforest, where she succeeded in closing the OH reactivity budget and elucidating the impacts of El Niño events on tropical forest chemistry. She has also revealed the important roles of mosses and lichens in gas exchange, broadening our understanding of biogenic processes in atmospheric composition.

Beyond her achievements in terrestrial environments, Pfannerstill has led shipborne campaigns in the Arabian Gulf, assessing OH reactivity and ozone formation in regions affected by anthropogenic emissions. Her postdoctoral research in the United States resulted in the development of novel aircraft-borne flux measurement methods, culminating in a landmark study that demonstrated the temperature-sensitivity of biogenic emissions as a key driver of regional ozone formation. These advances have had a significant impact on the field, informing both scientific understanding and policy discussions around air quality and climate change.

Pfannerstill’s scientific excellence is further reflected in her ability to secure prestigious grants, including the Helmholtz Investigator Group Grant, and to establish her own research group at Forschungszentrum Jülich. She has contributed to the scientific community as an editor for the EGU journal 'Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics', coordinated international working groups, and engaged in outreach activities to inspire the next generation of scientists. Her impressive publication record, leadership in collaborative research, and commitment to service and outreach exemplify the qualities recognised by the EGU Atmospheric Sciences Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award for 2026.