Interview with Lukas Oberwinster, doctoral candidate at the Institute for Environmental Epidemiology in Düsseldorf and participant in the YoungNAKO graduate programme.
When Lukas talks about his work, it quickly becomes clear that he is someone who finds health issues not only scientifically fascinating, but also personally important. Since 2025, he has been pursuing a doctorate in environmental epidemiology at the Institute for Environmental Epidemiology aat Düsseldorf University Hospital where he also coordinates the UNITY study (subproject 2).
His path into research was anything but coincidental. He combines technical expertise from his bachelor’s degree in medical information management with health science perspectives from his master’s degree in public health in Innsbruck, a combination that gives him a particularly broad perspective today.
Why do some people get ill – and others don’t?
From an early age, he was fascinated by the big questions of public health:
“Why do some people fall ill despite living in the same environment?
Why do others remain healthy?”
These fundamental questions continue to drive him to this day. Lukas emphasises how formative it was to meet researchers during his studies who showed him “how essential health research is for prevention, environmental policy and equal opportunities in health”. It was precisely this social influence, the connection between science and practical application, that motivated him to make environmental epidemiology his professional focus.
How he came to YoungNAKO – and why it was a good fit
He joined the YoungNAKO graduate programme through a colleague who is active in a NAKO expert group. As Lukas was planning to work with NAKO data, it quickly became clear that this programme was the perfect complement to his doctoral studies. The combination of exchanges, workshops and insights into data generation and quality proved to be a real added value for him.
Air pollution on cycle paths – and the role of exercise
In his current research, Lukas is pursuing two central questions:
How different are cycle paths really?
Together with his team, he is investigating the extent to which cyclists are exposed to air pollutants on different routes, on traffic-calmed paths compared to conventional cycle paths.
The aim is to quantify precisely how these differences affect pollution levels and potentially also health.
What effect does physical activity have in the context of air pollution?
Another focus of his doctoral thesis is the role of exercise:
Can physical activity mitigate the negative effects of air pollution?
Or could high levels of pollution mean that exercise in certain environments actually poses even greater risks?
These questions are not only scientifically relevant, but also crucial for prevention, urban planning and environmental policy.
His advice to young researchers
Think interdisciplinarily. Ask questions. Utilise networks.
He emphasises that science thrives on exchange and that research always carries a social responsibility. He says that environmental research in particular offers a special opportunity: to use data to bring about real change.
Apply now: Second cohort starts in May 2026
The application phase for the second cohort of the YoungNAKO graduate programme has begun!
Application deadline: 15 March 2026
Application by email to: YoungNAKO.grad@uni-muenster.de
Apply now and join us in researching the issues that will shape the future of healthcare!