Willem Roland Gehrels

Willem Roland Gehrels is Professor and Head of the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, appointed in June 2013. Previously, he held positions at Plymouth University for 18 years, progressing from Lecturer to Professor of Physical Geography. His research specializes in sea-level changes, Quaternary geology, and microfossil-based reconstructions.

Education:

• PhD in Geology (University of Maine, USA)
• MSc in Applied Quaternary Geology (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam)

Research Interests: His work focuses on recent sea-level rise accelerations, interglacial sea-level variability, microfossil-based quantitative reconstruction methods (foraminifera, testate amoebae), Holocene isostatic crustal movements in North America and Europe, and high-precision dating techniques. His studies integrate field observations with analytical approaches to understand coastal and climate dynamics.

Publications: With 126+ publications, his recent articles emphasize sea-level reconstruction, carbon cycling in coastal wetlands, and peatland ecosystem responses to environmental change. Research spans geology, environmental science, and climatology, often using interdisciplinary methods.

Projects: Actively leads multiple grants including:

• WISE Horizons (EU-funded, 2023–2026, Co-investigator)
• Carbon Storage In Intertidal Environments (C-SIDE, EPSRC-funded)
• Southern Hemisphere sea-level changes (Principal Investigator)

He accepts PhD students and collaborates internationally on sea-level and climate research.