Maximilian joined CML as a PhD candidate at the beginning of 2026. His research evaluates the potential environmental risks of nanomedicines.

More information about Maximilian Simon

Professional experience

Maximilian received his BSc in Biology in 2022 from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz (Germany). His bachelor’s thesis investigated whether founding queens of the black garden ant (Lasius niger) express hygienic behavior toward their larvae. Following his undergraduate studies, he undertook an MSc in Marine Biology at the University of Groningen, which he completed in 2025. His first research project in the master’s program focused on the filter‑feeding behavior of fan shrimps, with particular attention to the role of mechano‑ and chemoreceptors in food particle detection. His second research project was conducted at the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) in Algés, Portugal, where he investigated the neurotoxic effects of the flame retardant Tris(1‑chloro‑2‑propyl)phosphate (TCPP) in juvenile gilt‑head sea bream (Sparus aurata).

Throughout his master’s program, Maximilian developed a strong interest in the effects of anthropogenic stressors on organisms and ecosystems, as well as their implications for ecosystem services. In particular, his second research project sparked a lasting interest in ecotoxicology, which he will pursue from 2026 onward as a PhD candidate at Leiden University.

Research topic

Maximilian is a PhD researcher within NanoMedNL, a consortium dedicated to accelerating the development of nanomedicines. His research focuses on how nanomedicines and their degradation products interact with the environment over time. This includes ecotoxicological assessments on a range of representative non‑target species, from microbes to standard low‑tier laboratory species.