Torben Hilmers
| Function |
| Postdoc at the Tree Growth and Wood Physiology Group |
| Contact |
| Email: torben.holmers(at)tum.de / Tel: +49 8161 71 4707 / Room: 1.3.2.06 |
| Links |
| ResearchGate / ORCID / Google Scholar |
Biography |
| Torben Hilmers began his career as a forestry scientist with a PhD (summa cum laude) at the Chair of Forest Growth at TU Munich. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher under Prof. Richard Peters, he is focusing on whole-tree drought responses. Simultaneously, he is pursuing his habilitation on "Tree Growth and Stand Dynamics under Natural and Human Disturbances - From Measurement to Simulation." His research combines empirical data and advanced modeling to explore tree and forest dynamics. Torben Hilmers aims to bridge the knowledge gap between individual tree growth and the growth of entire forest stands. |
Research interests |
| Whole-tree drought responses / Forest growth and yield / Tree and stand dynamics / Forest modelling / Stress and climatic change impact |
Key publications |
Hilmers T, Mehtätalo L, Bielak K, Brazaitis G, Ruiz-Peinado R, Schmied G, Uhl E, Pretzsch H. 2024. Towards resource-efficient forests: Mixing species changes crown biomass allocation and improves growth efficiency. Plants, People, Planet. Schmied G, Hilmers T, Mellert K, Uhl E, …, Pretzsch H. 2023. Nutrient regime modulates drought response patterns of three temperate tree species. Science of The Total Environment, 868, 161601. Hilmers T, Avdagić A, Bartkowicz L, Bielak K, …, Pretzsch H. 2019. The productivity of mixed mountain forests comprised of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, and Abies alba across Europe. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, 92(5), 512-522. Pretzsch H, Ahmed S, Rötzer T, Schmied G, Hilmers T. 2023. Structural and compositional acclimation of forests to extended drought: results of the KROOF throughfall exclusion experiment in Norway spruce and European beech. Trees 37, 1443–1463. Pretzsch H, Hilmers T, Del Río M. 2024. The effect of structural diversity on the self-thinning line, yield level, and density-growth relationship in even-aged stands of Norway spruce. Forest Ecology and Management, 556, 121736. |
Education and professional experience |
| Since 2024 Postdoctoral Researcher, Chair of Tree Growth and Wood Physiology, Technical University of Munich, DE |
| 2022&2023 Visiting Researcher, Forest inventory and planning group, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), FI |
| 2020-2024 Postdoctoral Researcher, Chair of Forest Growth and Yield Science, Technical University of Munich, DE |
| 2015-2020 PhD in Forest Science, Technical University of Munich, DE |
| 2014-2015 Parental leave |
| 2011-2014 MSc in Forest Science, Technical University of Dresden, DE |
| 2007-2011 BSc in Forest Science, Technical University of Dresden, DE |