Zoltán SZALAI, PhD
associate professor
Contact
Tel.: + 36 1 3812121; + 36 1 3722500 ext 1809, Fax.: + 36 1 3812122;
E-mail: szalaiz@iif.hu;
Qualifications
2012: Dr. habil – Earth Sciences (Eötvös Loránd University)
2001: PhD – Earth Sciences (Eötvös Loránd University)
1998: MSc – Enviromnetalist (Budapest University of Tecnology and Economics)
1995: MSc – teacher, biology and geography (Eötvös Loránd University)
Academic experience
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography (Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Eötvös Loránd University)
2013-2016 - head of department
2012 - associate professor
2008 - assistant professor (part time)
Geographical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Scieneces
2010-2012 - tudományos osztályvezető (Laboratory for Sediment and Soil Analysis)
2009-2012 - research group leader (Research Group for Geoecology)
2005-2010 - head of laboratory (Geographycal Laboratory)
2001-2012 - senior research fellow
1998-2001 - research fellow
1995-1998 - junior research fellow
Geographical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Scieneces
2012 - research group leader (Research Group on Litosphere-Biosphere Interactions)
2012 - head of laboratory (Laboratory for Sediment and Soil Analysis)
2012 - senior research fellow
Teaching experience
2008-: MSc courses (geographer; chemist, environmentalist): Landscape Geography and Landscape Research; Soil and Environment; Soils of the World.
2008-: BSc courses (geography; environmental sciences): Soil science; Soil geography.
2004-: Doctoral courses (Earth Sciences): Lab methods for Physical Geographers; Particle sizing.
Fellowships
2002-2005: János Bolyai Research Fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2001: ESF-COST STSM ösztöndíj, University of Leeds – Scool of Geography
1995-1998: Young Researcher Fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Research
Geoecology
- major- and microelement budget of wetlands
- interactions between abiotic and biotic landscape forming factors
Soil science
- soil erosion (erosion plot studies and modelling)
Scientific membership
2011-: Environmental Geochemistry Committee of HAS, member
2009-: Hungarian Soil Science Society, member
2000-: European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC), member
1993-: Hungarian Georaphhical Society – member International relations / activities
2011- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): international expert
2002-2006 ESF- COST Action 629 (Water Pollution in natural porous media at different scales): management comittee member
2001-2003 COST Action 623 (Soil Erosion and Global Change): management comittee member
Principal investigator / leader /contact person in research projects
2012-2015: Effects of wetland mosaics on spatial pattern and temporal dynamics of iron budget. OTKA K100180. Principal investigator.
2002-2011: Soil erosion and rainwater infiltration monitoring of Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal facility (RWTDF), Püspökszilágy: project leader.
2009-2011: National Radioactive Waste Repository (NRWR) – Long term Environmental Monitoring Programme: monitoring of roadside enviromnent and freshwater sediments (module leader) – „Final disposal of low and intermediate radioactive wastes of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant” (project leader: Ferenc Schweitzer)
2006-2008. National Radioactive Waste Repository (NRWR) – Long term Environmental Monitoring Programme: Freshwater Eh, pH and EC monitoring of Hutai-patak (module leader) – „Final disposal of low and intermediate radioactive wastes of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant” (project leader: Ferenc Schweitzer)
2006-2007. TRACE ELEMENT: Effects of minimum tillage on trace element budget of soils. Funded by SYNGENTA UK. Principal investigator.
2003. Accumulation and remobilization of heavy metals in active floodplains (on the basis of representative study areas) “Research on Environment Protection and Nature Conservation” No:36-0200105_KAC. Principal investigator.
2002-2006. National Radioactive Waste Repository (NRWR) – Soil mapping (module leader) – „Final disposal of low and intermediate radioactive wastes of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant” (project leader: Ferenc Schweitzer)
2002-2005. Role of the abiotic factors in the influence of available trace element content (regarding riparian ecotops). OTKA T38122. Principal investigator.
1997-1999. Development of new methods for studying air pollution of settlements. OTKA F22892. Principal investigator.
Key personnel in reseach projects
2009-2012: The role of gully erosion in the present-day relief development of Hungary OTKA K 76434. (Project leader: Ádám Kertész).
2005-2008. BORASSUS The Environmental and Socio-economic Contribution of Palm Geotextiles to Sustainable Development and Soil Conservation. EU FP6 INCO-CT-2005-510745. (Project leader: Ádám Kertész).
1999-2000: HERODOT – Using the WEB in teaching Geography / Az internet használata a földrajzoktatásban. EU SOCRATES. (Project leader: Ádám Kertész).
1996-1999: MEDALUS III. (Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use Project) EU FP IV. (Project leader: Ádám Kertész).