Helen Feord

Helen Feord is a researcher in the Interface Geochemistry department at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, focusing on interdisciplinary studies linking geochemistry with microbial ecology and molecular biology. Her work spans glacier surface biogeochemistry, circadian rhythms in eukaryotic organisms, and genomic analysis of extremophile algae.

• PhD in Molecular Biology (2021), University of Edinburgh

Her research explores the molecular composition of organic matter in extreme environments, including glacier surfaces and acid mine drainage, with a particular emphasis on microbial communities and their metabolic adaptations. She also investigates circadian regulation mechanisms in unicellular organisms like Ostreococcus tauri and Sphaerocystis sp..

Recent publications highlight her work on cryophilic algae, magnesium transport proteins, and phototrophic lifestyles in glacial ecosystems. Her studies often involve multi-omics approaches, hybrid genome assembly techniques, and analyses of environmental rhythmicity.

Feord collaborates with researchers across disciplines, including expertise in proteomics, biochemistry, and microbial ecology. Current projects examine light harvesting dynamics on ice surfaces and circadian clock interactions in polar microorganisms.