Natascha Riedinger

Natascha Riedinger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geology at Oklahoma State University, where she has been serving since 2020. She holds a courtesy appointment and is actively involved in research and teaching in geochemistry and marine geology. She works closely with Rick Colwell and leads the Riedinger Lab, focusing on sedimentary processes, early diagenesis, and biogeochemical cycling in marine environments.

• Education: Dr. rer. nat. in Geosciences from the University of Bremen, Germany (2005); MSc (Diplom) in Geosciences from the same institution (2001).

Her research interests are centered on using geochemical signals to reconstruct sedimentary depositional events, investigating early diagenesis in marine sediments, evaluating subsurface metal cycling, applying paleoproxies (especially redox-sensitive trace metals), and studying hydrothermal vent impacts on sediments. Her work supports Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).

The 15 most recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a strong focus on hadal trench systems, carbon and metal cycling, microbial community dynamics, and paleoredox reconstructions. Key themes include earthquake-triggered carbon transport, diagenetic metal mobilization, single-cell genomics of deep biosphere microbes, and validation of nitrogen isotope proxies. Her research frequently involves IODP expeditions and integrates field data with reactive transport modeling.

• No scientific awards are listed in the provided text.

Natascha Riedinger actively mentors graduate students, as evidenced by her teaching of Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Research courses. She has secured multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, Columbia University, and other institutions to support projects on deep-water ventilation, hydrothermal deposits, and sedimentary event deposits. Her funded work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and international ocean drilling programs.

She leads the Riedinger Lab, which conducts advanced geochemical and microbiological analyses of marine sediments, particularly from tectonically active margins and deep-sea trenches. The lab’s research contributes to understanding carbon sequestration, microbial life in extreme environments, and paleoenvironmental change.