The Weber Lab is part of the Department of Aquatic Ecology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). Our research combines evolutionary genomics, ecology, and bioinformatics to understand how freshwater species respond to environmental change and how invasive species spread and impact ecosystems. We study threatened native freshwater mussels to investigate population structure, resilience, and vulnerability under stressors such as climate warming, habitat alteration, and biotic interactions, while also developing genomic resources and approaches for freshwater conservation.

In parallel, we focus on the invasive quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis), using genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and phenotypic data to uncover the molecular basis of plasticity, physiological differentiation, and key biological traits. We also link this fundamental work to applied questions by studying quagga mussel population dynamics, ecosystem impacts, and early detection in Swiss lakes, and by developing the biological knowledge and tools needed to inform future management strategies, including potential biocontrol approaches. Across these research areas, we combine fieldwork, laboratory experiments, long-term monitoring, and high-throughput molecular data to support biodiversity conservation and evidence-based freshwater management.