Staff
Dr.
Jeffrey Paulo Perez
Function and Responsibilities:
Research Interests:
My research is centered around using molecular and nanoscale analytical characterization techniques to elucidate reactions at mineral interfaces. Specifically, I focus on iron redox (bio)geochemistry and its influence on (i) carbon cycling, (ii) nutrient availability and (iii) contaminant dynamics. Currently, I am studying the molecular processes involved in the sequestration and release of organic carbon by iron minerals found in polar wetlands. I combine synchrotron X-ray (micro)spectroscopic techniques (µ-XAS/XRF) with ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) to elucidate the complex interplay between organic carbon and iron cycling in these environments.
Career:
Since 01.2026
DAAD PRIME Research Fellow, Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Since 11.2025
Tenured Scientist, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ, Potsdam, Germany (on leave since 01.2026)
11.2022 - 10.2025
GFZ Discovery Research Fellow, Sec. 3.2 Organic and Earth Surface Geochemistry (main section) and Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry (secondary section), GFZ, Potsdam, Germany
02.2020 - 10.2022
Postdoctoral Researcher, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ, Potsdam, Germany
10.2016 - 01.2020
Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ, Potsdam, Germany
08.2012 - 07.2014
Instructor, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of the Philippinnes Los Baños, Philippines
Visiting Researcher, CNRS Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, France
01.2019 - 05.2019
Visiting Researcher, Leeds Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Centre, University of Leeds, UK
10.2017 - 02.2018
Visiting Researcher, Nano-Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Education:
PhD Earth Sciences: Geochemistry (Summa cum laude), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
MSc Environmental Sanitation (Summa cum laude), Ghent University, Belgium
BSc Chemical Engineering (Cum laude), University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Projects:
Current Project
- Seit 2026: DAAD PRIME Fellowship: "Decoupling organic carbon and iron biogeochemical cycling in polar peatlands under a future warming climate" (DOCI-Warm)
Previous Projects
- 2022 - 2025: GFZ Discovery Research Fellowship: "Coupled dynamics of organic carbon and iron in Arctic peat soils in a future warming climate" (CIRCA)
- 2016 - 2020: European Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie Initial Training Network (ITN): Metal-Aid - "Metal oxide-aided subsurface remediation: From invention to injection"
- 2018 - 2019: "Revealing green rust oxidation in situ using monochromated STEM-EELS", Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Researcher Mobility Grant
- 05.2023: Phosphorus and Iron K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectromicroscopy (µ-XANES). European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), ID21 (120 h / 15 shifts)
- 12.2022: Carbon K-edge and Iron L-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectromicroscopy. Diamond Light Source (UK), I20-scanning (144 h / 18 shifts)
- 09.2022: Chromium and Iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). ESRF (France), BM20 beamline (144 h / 18 shifts)
- 11.2021: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ESRF (France), BM23 beamline (120 h / 15 shifts)
- 02.2020: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. Diamond Light Source (UK), I20-scanning (96 h / 12 shifts)
- 11.2018: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ESRF (France), BM23 beamline (112 h / 14 shifts)
- 09.2018: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ANKA-KIT (Germany), SUL-X beamline (120 h / 15 shifts)
Research Boards and Committees:
Since 11.2024
Handling Editor, Advances in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (AGC) Journal
Since 05.2024
Co-founder / Core Team, Out on the 'Berg (LGBTQIA+ Network at Telegrafenberg)
06.2022 - 07.2024
Postdoc-Vertretung
Awards:
- 2025: DAAD PRIME Research Mobility Fellowship (~177,000 EUR, success rate 15%)
- 2022: GFZ Discovery Fellowship (~250,000 EUR)
- 2022: Procope Mobility Grant (3,800 EUR), Department of Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Germany
- 2020: Friedrich-Robert-Helmert Thesis Prize, GFZ Potsdam
- 2019: Best Poster Award, Clay Minerals Group (MinerSoc) and RSC Envi Chem Group Joint Meeting - Research in Progress
- 2019: Geo.X Travel Grant for Outgoing Early Career Scientists (2,500 EUR)
- 2018: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Researcher Mobility Grant (5,000 GBP)
- 2017: Geo.X Conference Travel Grant (500 EUR)
- 2017: Travel Grant, 2nd Total Scattering for Nanotechnology Summer School, Como, Italy
- 2016: Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship (EU H2020 MSCA-ITN Metal-Aid) (~250,000 EUR)
- 2016: 2nd Place, Water Technology Thesis Prize, WaterCircle Belgium
- 2016: ArcelorMittal Indaver Environmental Science and Technology Thesis Prize, Ghent University
- 2014: VLIR-UOS (Flemish) International Master's Programme Scholarship, Ghent University (~34,000 EUR, success rate < 10%)
- 2012: University President's Medal of Excellence, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Medal of Academic Excellence in Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Medal of Academic Excellence in Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Most Outstanding Student Leader in Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2007: DOST Undergraduate Science and Technology Scholarship, University of the Philippines Los Baños (~13,000 EUR; success rate 13%)