معرفی
Dr. Anja Dufresne is a Professor and Chair of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology at RWTH Aachen University, where she has served as Senior Scientist since 2016 and Deputy Head of Department since 2018. She leads research on landslides, rock avalanches, and related geological hazards, with a particular focus on sedimentology, runout dynamics, and worldwide distribution patterns.
Dr. Dufresne received her BSc in Geosciences from Göttingen University (1999-2002), followed by an MSc in Geosciences from the University of Massachusetts (2003-2005), and completed her PhD in Geosciences at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand (2006-2009). Prior to her current position, she worked as a Scientific Associate and Lecturer at Universität Freiburg (2010-2016) and held visiting positions in Canada and New Zealand.
Her research focuses on the sedimentology, runout dynamics, and worldwide distribution of large rock avalanches, with recent emphasis on landslide projects in periglacial environments. She has established comprehensive worldwide databases on rock avalanches, landslide dams, and volcanic debris avalanches through international collaborations. Dr. Dufresne's work centers on building evidence bases for testing assumptions in landslide science and developing practical applications for hazard assessment and mitigation.
Analysis of Dr. Dufresne's recent publications reveals a strong focus on landslide dams, periglacial environments, and volcanic debris avalanches. Her work spans field investigations, database development, and experimental modeling, with increasing attention to climate change impacts on landslide hazards. Geographic focus areas include the European Alps, Alaska, Peru, and the Carpathian Mountains, demonstrating her global research perspective.
Among her professional recognitions, Dr. Dufresne received the Kármán Fellowship from RWTH Aachen University in 2017 for her work on 'Landslides in Times of Climate Change.' She actively serves the scientific community through memberships in the Bund Deutscher Geowissenschaftler (BDG), European Geosciences Union (EGU), and German Quaternary Association (DEUQUA), and provides review services for numerous scientific journals and funding agencies.
Dr. Dufresne has supervised 41 MSc theses and 23 BSc theses since 2012, demonstrating her commitment to student mentorship. She currently leads the 'Landslide Dam Properties and Stability (LADY)' project (2023-2026) funded by DFG as Principal Investigator, and participates in multiple international collaborations including projects in the NW Pacific Coastal Mountains and Alaska. Her teaching portfolio includes 'Research Ethics and Science Communication,' 'Landslides and Rockslope Analysis,' and 'Introduction to GSI.'
Dr. Dufresne leads a research team focused on engineering geology and hydrogeology at RWTH Aachen University. Her laboratory work includes physical modeling of debris flows and rock avalanches, and she collaborates with international partners across Europe, North America, and Asia. Current fieldwork focuses on monitoring unstable rock slopes in permafrost environments and studying landslide-tsunami interactions in coastal fjords.
