Dr. Steffen Swoboda

FB 2: Marine Biogeochemistry
FE Biogeochemical Modelling

Phone: +49 431 600 2090

Email: sswoboda(at)geomar.de

Address:
Wischhofstraße 1-3
24148 Kiel

Research Focus:

My scientific work primarily focuses on nature- and technology-based measures to reduce atmospheric carbon (Carbon Dioxide Removal, CDR) and on how these measures can be implemented in practice. Key aspects include:

• Developing process chains for the practical implementation of various CDR measures in both marine and terrestrial environments
• Conceptual analyses of the potentials and limits of the carbon cycle for implementing CDR, as well as societal risks involved
• Visualization and communication of relevant information regarding CDR implementation to key stakeholders, e.g., from industry, politics, or interested members of the public

Projects:

• 2022 – 2027: Carbon Removal Atlas (CDRatlas), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
• 2019 – 2022: Excellence Cluster “The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface” in the “Receiver” section, MARUM Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences

Professional Career

• Since August 2022: Project Manager of the Carbon Removal Atlas (CDRatlas) project for science communication on measures to remove atmospheric CO₂, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (https://www.fona.de/de/projektstart-darstellung-von-co2-entnahmemethoden-im-carbon-removal-atlas-)
• 2019–2022: PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) at the MARUM Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, in the field of marine biogeochemistry and biological oceanography with a focus on the marine carbon cycle (Biological Pump)

Education

•  2016–2018: Master of Science in Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, with a focus on marine biogeochemistry and biological oceanography, including an external master’s thesis at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Svalbard
• 2012–2015: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Philipps University Marburg, with a focus on ecology and physiology, including an external thesis at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven
• 2008–2010: Advanced vocational training as a biological-technical assistant at the Naturwissenschaftliches Technikum Dr. Künkele, Landau

Participation in Scientific Expeditions:

• 2020: Expedition M165 on the research vessel Meteor
• 2019: Expedition PS121 on the research vessel Polarstern
• 2019: Expedition POS531 on the research vessel Poseidon
• 2015: Expedition HE451.1 & 451.2 on the research vessel Heincke

Publications:

Swoboda, S., Krumpen, T., Nöthig, E. M., Metfies, K., Ramondenc, S., Wollenburg, J., Fahl, K., Peeken, I., & Iversen, M. (2024). Release of ballast material during sea-ice melt enhances carbon export in the Arctic Ocean. PNAS Nexus, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae081

Pauli, N. C., Flintrop, C. M., Konrad, C., Pakhomov, E. A., Swoboda, S., Koch, F., Wang, X. L., Zhang, J. C., Brierley, A. S., Bernasconi, M., Meyer, B., & Iversen, M. H. (2021). Krill and salp faecal pellets contribute equally to the carbon flux at the Antarctic Peninsula. Nature Communications, 12(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27436-9

Schmidt, M., Gerlach, G., Leo, E., Kunz, K. L., Swoboda, S., Pörtner, H. O., Bock, C., Storch, D. (2017). Impact of ocean warming and acidification on the behaviour of two co-occurring gadid species, Boreogadus saida and Gadus morhua, from Svalbard. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 571, 183–191. http://doi.org/10.3354/meps12130