Thorbjørn Joest Andersen

Thorbjørn Joest Andersen is a Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN) within the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen. He is also affiliated with the Center for Permafrost (CENPERM) and has maintained his position since 2015. His research is internationally recognized with over 150 co-authors across numerous institutions.

Andersen earned his MSc in Physical Geography (1998) and PhD (2001), both from the University of Copenhagen's Institute of Geography. His academic progression includes positions as Associate Professor (2008-2015), Associate Research Professor, Post-doctoral researcher with support from the Carlsberg Foundation, and Ammanuensis.

His research focuses on erosion, transport and deposition of fine-grained cohesive sediment including microplastics in estuarine and marine environments, with special attention to chronology and climate history of Holocene deposits. His work examines interactions between biology and sedimentology, aggregation processes, and the influence of sea level rise, storms, and storm surges on sedimentation. Current fieldwork occurs in Greenland, Rødsand Lagoon, the Wadden Sea, the Baltic Sea, Sweden, and Vietnam.

Recent publications reveal strong emphasis on microplastics in Arctic sediments, coastal carbon sequestration, marine hypoxia, and plastic pollution hotspots. His work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches connecting sedimentology with climate science, pollution studies, and marine ecology.

Andersen has held leadership roles including Head of Study Board for Geosciences and Management (2013-present) and Head of Studies of Geography and Geoinformatics (2008-2013). He manages the Gamma Dating Centre Copenhagen, specializing in Pb-210 and Cs-137 dating since 2003.

He has supervised 11 master's theses and four PhD students, currently serving as main supervisor for one PhD candidate. His international collaborations span Europe, China, and Vietnam with extensive fieldwork across multiple continents.