Johan Lindgren

Johan Lindgren is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geology at Lund University. His research focuses on molecular paleontology, particularly the study of ancient pigments and biomolecules in fossils, with emphasis on melanin preservation and taphonomy of soft tissues. He specializes in Mesozoic marine reptiles such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, conducting multidisciplinary studies to reconstruct evolutionary histories and ecological contexts. Lindgren collaborates internationally with leading scholars in geobiology and paleontology.

He has supervised three doctoral students, including Malte Marx and Johan S. López-Rueda, and leads projects funded by LMK stiftelsen. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) through insights into biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.

Notable research includes discoveries of preserved skin structures in Jurassic plesiosaurs and studies on Cretaceous Colombian mosasaurs, advancing understanding of ancient vertebrate biology and fossilization processes. Lindgren’s lab integrates cutting-edge analytical techniques like X-ray tomography and biochemical analysis to explore fossilized soft tissues.