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Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesDepartment of Geosciences

GSSP scientists

You can choose between the following scientists and research fields: 

  • Prof. Dr. Christina Bogner (Geography, Environmental Sciences): Microplastic dynamics in soils
  • Prof. Dr. Patrick Grunert (Geology and Mineralogy): Microfossil perspectives on Humboldt Current evolution and its paleoclimatic significance

Further information can be found below. 

Christina Bogner: Microplastic dynamics in soils

discipline: Geography and Environmental Sciences

The Ecosystem Research group at the University of Cologne is part of the Collaborative Research Center 1357 Microplastics (CRC 1357, https://www.sfb-mikroplastik.uni-bayreuth.de/en/index.html). We study the transport of chemically complex and realistic microplastic particles on soil surfaces and within soils, generating critical insights into potential accumulation zones and transport mechanisms. Our research spans laboratory experiments with soil columns to field studies in floodplain ecosystems. Our Cologne lab is equipped with state-of-the-art analysis techniques for microplastic (μFTIR and ATR-FTIR), complemented by additional methods through our CRC and local partners.
We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate to explore microplastic (and possibly macroplastic) dynamics in soils, particularly at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic systems or in urban environments, with a focus on soils and/or rivers. The candidate will work within the interdisciplinary framework of CRC 1357, benefiting from its interdisciplinary collaborative network and state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
If you are passionate about advancing knowledge in microplastic transport and its environmental implications, we invite you to join our team!

Patrick Grunert: Microfossil perspectives on Humboldt Current evolution and its paleoclimatic significance

discipline: Geology and Mineralogy

Oceanic currents and surface water properties of the SE Pacific Ocean have been identified as one of the main drivers of paleoclimatic variability in western South America. As part of CRC 1211 “Earth-evolution at the dry limit”, the Working Group on Micropalaeontology and Palaeoecology (https://geologie.uni-koeln.de/arbeitsgruppen/mikropalaeontolgie-palaeooekologie) at the University of Cologne explores the Cenozoic history of the Eastern Boundary Current of the South Pacific Gyre and investigates the dynamic co-evolution between heat and moisture transport by the Humboldt Current System and spatio-temporal variability of palaeoclimatic fluctuations in the Atacama Desert. The research relies on the fossil record of foraminifera, preserved in marine sediments of land-based outcrops and offshore drill cores, and integration of the extracted palaeoceanographic information with studies of terrestrial palaeoclimate and modelling studies of the (palaeo)hydrological cycle.
The successful candidate is expected to contribute to these efforts through foraminifera-based research. Analytical approaches may include (but are not limited to) studies on faunal successions, paleobiogeography, paleobiodiversity, morphometry, and/or shell geochemistry. Capitalizing on the highly interdisciplinary research within CRC 1211 and RV Sonne Expedition 315, tight integration of the microfossil data with complementary paleoceanographic, paleoclimatic, and stratigraphic data is expected.