Annett Junginger

Annett Junginger is a researcher at the University of Tübingen's Department of Geosciences, leading the Micropaleontology research group and contributing to the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (HEP Tübingen). With a career spanning over two decades, she specializes in paleoclimatology, micropaleontology, and environmental-geochemical analysis of rift lakes.

• Education: Dr.rer.nat. in Paleoclimatology (2011) and Diploma in Geosciences (2006) from University of Potsdam/FU Berlin
• Key Projects: Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP), Chew Bahir Basin studies, Suguta Valley hydrology

Her research focuses on paleoclimate dynamics in East Africa, using lake sediments, isotope geochemistry, and micropaleontological proxies to understand climate variability across Quaternary periods. She investigates how hydroclimate fluctuations impacted hominin evolution and dispersal routes, particularly during the African Humid Period (15–5 ka BP) and MIS 12 glacial stage.

Recent publications (2024) examine Lake Albert biodiversity via environmental DNA, Lake Naivasha metal sources, and Chew Bahir strontium isotopes. Earlier work includes volcano-tectonic fragmentation of Turkana-Suguta Megalake (2023), paleo-hydrology of Greece (2021), and Angolan diatom studies (2020). She employs multi-sensor remote sensing and phytolith analysis for climate modeling.

Teaching responsibilities include BSc/MSc courses in Micropaleontology, Paleontology, and field practicals in Austria. She organizes African fieldtrips (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, etc.) for paleoenvironmental data collection.