Dr. Jens Kallmeyer, head of the working group “Subsurface Biogeochemistry” in Section 3.3 Geomicrobiology at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) in January of this year in recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements. There had been close cooperation with UDE for several years. He recently received the official certificate of appointment.
As part of his teaching duties, Jens Kallmeyer plans give introductory courses into Microbiology and Biogeochemistry. Together with his colleague, Prof. Dr. Alexander Probst, Dr. Kallmeyer will be responsible for the Bachelor's lecture "Introduction to Microbiology." Furthermore, he expressed interest in also establishing his Master's course "Introduction to Biogeochemistry", which he has so far taught at the University of Potsdam, at UDE.
The goal of this cooperation is to strengthen the close connection between teaching at the University of Duisburg-Essen and research at the GFZ. Dr. Kallmeyer hopes that this will also attract motivated students for geoscientific research projects.
Jens Kallmeyer currently has several active research collaborations with UDE – including the ERC Synergy Grant “Archean Park”. So far, the collaboration has been limited to research. With his now formal involvement in teaching at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), he aims to expand and strengthen the institutional connection as well.
About the Person
Jens Kallmeyer’s research focuses on the deep biosphere, as well as investigating the biogeochemistry of lake sediments, and the role of lakes as carbon sinks. As part of his research he works on pore water geochemistry, direct turnover rate measurements with radioisotopes, and the quantification of microbial biomass.
He is currently involved in several major international research projects – including the aforementioned ERC project ‘Archean Park’, which is investigating the relics of early cellular biochemistry in CO₂-rich underground habitats.
Kallmeyer has been honored with several awards for his research, including an appointment as a Distinguished Lecturer of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD).
Dr. Kallmeyer was, among others, the German representative on the Scientific Evaluation Panel of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) (2016–2019), a member of the scientific advisory board of the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc in Spain (2016–2020), and an advisory board member of the International Society for Environmental Biogeochemistry (2013–2018).
For more information about the person, please click here.
