Isabel Diercks
Doctoral Researcher
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
My project delves into the fascinating world of hydrothermal systems along the Red Sea spreading center, particularly at the Hatiba Mons volcano. By integrating mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology, I am analyzing the processes behind the formation of these unique large hydrothermal mounds. As a visiting student at KAUST (Saudi-Arabia), I am making use of the unique expertise about the Red Sea and the state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure to create a comprehensive dataset describing the chemical conditions of sediment and porefluid formation. Using genomics and transcriptomics I am exploring the associated microbial communities to uncover their abundance and role in these environments. This research not only advances our knowledge of hydrothermal systems in the Red Sea but also sheds light on the intricate interactions between mineralogy, geochemistry and biology in deep-sea environments.
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
