Research interests
- Role of microorganisms in the development of soil crusts and surface evolution in the Atacama Desert (CRC 1211)
- Formation of calcite, iron and manganese crusts in terrestrial subsurface environments
- Preservation of organic signatures under extreme conditions
- Origin of organic matter in ancient rocks
Analytical expertise
- Lab manager of the geobiology labs
- Responsible scientist for the GC-MS-IRMS system of the geobiology working group
- GC–MS and GC-IRMS analysis of ancient and recent organics (including pyrolysis, thermodesorption, solid phase micro extraction and in-situ derivatization methods)
- Experimental methods using high-T and high-P reactors (e.g. Fischer-Tropsch-type synthesis, hydrous pyrolysis)