2017 - Postdoc UNIKAT Fellowship

B. Braun Melsungen AG supported the Otto Braun Fund at the University of Kassel, thereby making the UNIKAT Postdoctoral Fellowship possible. As part of this fellowship, Andrea Dührkoop had the opportunity to engage in applied research and development, building on her own research findings to develop innovative applications.

In her dissertation, she focused on the structural and functional development of a self-regulating subsurface irrigation system. Porous hoses laid underground supply the soil with water as needed. When the soil is dry, the hose releases water. As the soil becomes moister, the water release decreases. Careful attention must be paid to the quality of the irrigation water during operation, as the subsurface irrigation system reacts to water contaminants by reducing flow, which adversely affects plant growth.

Further research must therefore focus on developing technical methods that maintain the long-term performance of the irrigation technology during operation.

With the help of the UNIKAT postdoctoral fellowship, suitable maintenance and rehabilitation techniques can be researched, tested, and developed to the point of practical application.