Isabel Diercks
Doctoral Researcher, Topic 8
Marine Mineral Resources (MMR)
RD4: Dynamics of the Ocean Floor
RU MuHS
Office: 8A-110
+49 431 600-1431
idiercks@geomar.de
Wischhofstraße 1-3
D-24148 Kiel
Research Interests
In my PhD project I investigate sulfide-bearing low-temperature hydrothermal systems in the Red Sea, with a particular focus on a newly identified site, Hatiba Mons volcano. These systems provide a unique opportunity to examine the interactions between geochemistry and microbial life in metal-rich environments.
Employing a multidisciplinary approach, this research aims to characterize the sediment geochemistry, mineralogy, microbiology, and pore water chemistry from the interior of hydrothermal mounds through analyses of samples obtained by 3m-long gravity cores. Methods include XRF, INAA, Na₂O₂-fused ICP-MS, XRD, and microscopy to establish a geochemical and mineralogical framework for an active hydrothermal system in the Red Sea. Additionally, metagenomic and morphological (SEM) analyses will elucidate the role of microbial communities in hydrothermal mound formation and mineral precipitation. Pore fluid chemistry data will further enhance our understanding of the formation of the hydrothermal system at Hatiba Mons, the processes responsible for the variability within the mounds, and the effect on chemotrophic microbial communities.
Education and Career
since June 2023 Doctoral Researcher
GEOMAR Kiel, in the group Marine Mineral Resources (MMR) of Prof. Dr. Sylvia G. Sander, Supervisor: Dr. Sven Petersen.
And Visiting PhD Student at KAUST (Saudi Arabia) in the lab of Prof Dr. Alexandre S. Rosado and in the group of Prof Dr. Froukje M. van der Zwan
2021-2023 Research Assistant
GEOMAR Kiel, group of Prof. Dr. Perner, Geomicrobiology (in Marine Geosystems)
Project RETAKE (DAM mission CDRmare; PI: Dr. Sonja Geilert, Utrecht University), Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) studies in the SW Baltic Sea. Using artificial enhanced benthic weathering as marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) method. Linking microbiology and geochemistry in experimental analyses.
2017 - 2019 M.Sc. in Marine Biology
University Rostock and Leibnitz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
Master thesis: ‘Experimental analysis of temperature effects on bacterial communities in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)’. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. K. Jürgens, Dr. J. Piontek
2015 - 2017 M.Sc. in Crop Plant Sciences
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
Master thesis: ‘Ammonium-induced Calcium-Signals in Arabidopsis thaliana‘. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. E. Peiter, Dr. B. Meier
2012 - 2015 B.Sc. in Biology
Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel
Bachelor thesis: ‘PCR-basierte Identifizierung von Desoxyhypusin-Synthase-codierenden Sequenzen in Boraginaceae sensu stricto’. Betreuer: Prof. Dr. D. Ober, Prof. Dr. R. Schulz
Expeditions
M194 Meteor, 09.10.-07.11.2023 HEXPLORES
Exploration of the deep Red Sea, ROV & CTD for fluid chemistry, gravity cores (sediment geochemistry & microbiology, porewater chemistry); Jeddah (KSA) – Red Sea – Piraeus
Chief scientist: Dr. Nico Augustin
M186 Meteor, 29.11.-31.12.2022
Azores hot vents, gravity cores and MUCs for sediment and porewater sampling, on board TA measurements; Lisbon – Azores - Las Palmas
Chief scientist: Dr. Christopher Schmidt
Littorina day trips (16x), 2021-23 (14.10.21, 23.02.22, 24.02., 25.02., 15.03., 13.04., 05.05., 14.07., 31.08., 05.10., 25.10., 26.10., 23.11., 25.01.23, 15.02., 15.03.)
Boknis Eck time-series station, long-term data for microbiology and porewater geochemistry, on board core-slicing, sampling, water filtration (DNA/RNA), macrofauna sampling assistance (for Renate Schütt), CTD responsibility, logistics manager;
Chief scientists: Prof. Dr. Mirjam Perner/ Dr. Stefanie-Böhnke.Brandt/ Dr. Sonja Geilert
Littorina, 13.01.2022
Boknis Eck time-series station, MUC and CTD for setup of core incubation experiments, on board core slicing (Microbiology and porewater analysis)
Chief scientist: Isabel Diercks
PS117 Polarstern, 15.12.2018 -07.02.2019
Master thesis field work, conducting onboard temperature manipulation experiments and collecting/ preparing CTD samples for home analysis of various parameters (DOC, Amino Acids, also see Master Mar. Bio. above) Kapstadt – Weddell Sea – Punta Arenas
Onboard supervision: Dr. Birthe Zäncker; Chief scientist: Dr. Olaf Boebel
EMB193 Elisabeth Mann Borgese, 23. -30.08.2018
Masters course ‘Research at Sea’, University Rostock, topic: benthos communities, ecology and benthos methods, Baltic Sea, Kattegat
Course supervision/Chief scientist: Dr. Michael Zettler
Uthörn, 19.05.2018
Masters course, practical course at AWI station Helgoland, ‘Marine Invertebrates’ and ‘Phycology’; dredge sampling, fish examination, North Sea close to Helgoland
Course supervision: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Schubert
Publications
Dale A, Geilert S, Diercks I, Fuhr M, Perner M, Scholz F, Wallmann K (2024) Seafloor alkalinity enhancement as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy in the Baltic Sea. Nat. Commun. Earth Environ. 23-1030C doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01569-3
Yao W, Morganti T, Wu J, [...Diercks I...] et al. (2024) Exploring site-specific carbon dioxide removal options with storage or sequestration in the marine environment - The 10 Mt CO2 yr-1 removal challenge for Germany. ESS Open Archive doi: 10.22541/essoar.171650351.11778445/v1
Fuhr M, Wallmann K, Dale AW, Diercks I, Kalapurakkal HT, Schmidt M, Sommer S, Böhnke S, Perner M, Geilert S (2023) Disentangling artificial and natural benthic weathering in organic rich Baltic Sea sediments. Front. Clim. doi: 10.3389/fclim.2023.1245580
Perner M, Wallmann K, Adam-Beyer N, Hepach H, Laufer-Meiser K, Böhnke S, Diercks I, Bange HW, Indenbirken D, Nikeleit V, Bryce C, Kappler A, Engel A and Scholz F (2022) Environmental changes affect the microbial release of hydrogen sulfide and methane from sediments at Boknis Eck (SW Baltic Sea). Front. Microbiol. 13:1096062. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1096062
