I am an organic biogeochemist and geologist working at the University of Basel in the Aquatic and Isotope Biogeochemistry group. I am funded by an Ambizione Grant (SNSF) for the period 2023 - 2027. My primary research focus on gaining a better understanding of lipid biomarkers, which are remnant molecules from organisms. I investigate their biosynthesis, change in composition in natural environments, and their potential to diagnose environmental and biological changes, both in modern and past contexts.. My main project is related to past environments in the Canadian Arctic (in lakes and coastal Beaufort Sea). I use sediment cores and the biomarkers preserved within, to reconstruct environmental parameters such as sea temperature, salinity, sea-ice cover… In the group, PhD candidate Madeleine Santos will study modern and past methane-related processes in this region.

Additionally, I am involved in other projects such as the reconstruction of past environmental conditions in Botswana using biomarkers found in sedimentary records. This project is a collaborative effort E. Walsh and S. Burrough from Oxford Uni., L. Giosan from WHOI and C. de Jonge from  ETHZ. I also investigate how lipids from plants and soils of the Okavango Delta reflect modern hydrological variations, this is in collaboration with M. Gondwe from ORI, M. Saurer from WSL and C. de Jonge fro ETHZ). Furthermore, I am actively exploring innovative methods for tracking methane emissions from wetlands (Okavango Delta) and melting glaciers (East Greenland Fjords).

Educational Background

2023 - now: Junior Group Leader, University of Basel (Switzerland). Ambizione Fellow.

2021 – 2023: Post-doctorate, ETH Zurich (Switzerland). OKAPI project.

2019 - 2021: Post-doctorate, ETH Zurich (Switzerland). Rubicon Fellow Warm COCOA project..

2015 - 2019: Doctorate,  Royal Netherland Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) (The Netherlands) Defence: 10 May 2019: Sources and proxy potential of long-chain diols in marine and continental settings

2014 - 2015: Intern, Royal Netherland Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) (The Netherlands).

2012 - 2014: Master of Science - Paleoclimate, Sedimentology, Paleontology, University Lyon 1 and École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France)

2011 - 2012: Bachelor - Paleoclimate, Sedimentology, Paleontology, University Lyon 1 and École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France)

2009 - 2011: Classe Préparatoire aux Grande Ecoles, Lycée du Parc (France)