معرفی
Dr Benjamin Sames is a permanent scientific staff member (micropalaeontologist & stratigrapher) at the University of Vienna, Institute of Geology – Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, and simultaneously serves as an Affiliate Research Associate in Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (USA) and as a Stratigraphic Consultant for Petrobras (Brazil). His career has been dedicated to advancing the taxonomy, phylogeny and biostratigraphic application of non-marine ostracods and charophytes, integrating these microfossils into refined Mesozoic stratigraphic and palaeoclimatic frameworks.
Education & Career Path
- 2003 – Diploma (equiv. M.Sc.), Freie Universität Berlin: thesis on the ostracods & charophytes of the Tendaguru Beds, Tanzania.
- 2009 – Dr. rer. nat., Freie Universität Berlin: doctoral dissertation on Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous non-marine ostracod taxonomy, phylogeny and biostratigraphy with focus on the North American Western Interior.
- 2006–2011 – Research/Scientific Assistant, Freie Universität Berlin & University of Vienna.
- Since 2015 – Project Leader, Austrian Science Fund (FWF) project P 27687 “Lower Cretaceous Climate and Non-marine Stratigraphy (LCCNS)”.
- 2017–2019 – Project Leader, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) / IGCP 632 “Late Mesozoic lacustrine systems in Tunisia”.
- 2020–2024 – Principal Investigator, Petrobras service contract “BrasCretOst I” and ÖAW/UNESCO IGCP 710 sub-project “NOMAJU”.
Research Focus
Dr Sames’ work centres on the micropalaeontology of Mesozoic non-marine ostracods and charophytes, integrating these data into high-resolution biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy. A second pillar is Cretaceous palaeoclimatology, exploring greenhouse climate dynamics, short-term sea-level changes driven by aquifer-eustasy, and ocean–land interactions. Methodologically he couples classical taxonomy with quantitative stratigraphic techniques, XRF geochemistry and climate modelling.
Awards & Honours
- 2004 – Katharina-Heinroth-Preis (Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin) for Diploma thesis.
- 2012 – Hanns-Bruno-Geinitz-Preis (Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden) for Doctoral thesis.
- 2014 – Eponymous ostracod species Vecticypris samesi established by Ayress & Whatley in recognition of his scientific contributions.
International Projects & Leadership
- FWF Project P 27687 “LCCNS” – integrating palaeoenvironmental and climate cyclicities in the non-marine Lower Cretaceous.
- ÖAW/IGCP 632 – Late Mesozoic lacustrine systems in Tunisia and global correlation.
- Petrobras BrasCretOst I – revision of non-marine ostracod taxonomy in Brazilian basins (2020-2024).
- UNESCO-IUGS IGCP 710 sub-project NOMAJU – Mid-Jurassic marine–non-marine correlation and sea-level dynamics.
- Secretary & Scientific Collaborator, UNESCO-IUGS IGCP 609 “Climate-environmental deteriorations during greenhouse phases”.
Editorial & Reviewing Roles
Associate Editor, Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences (AJES); guest editor/co-editor of Geological Society of London Special Publication 498 “Cretaceous Climate Events and Short-Term Sea-Level Changes” and several special issues in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology and Science China Earth Sciences; reviewer for >15 international journals.
Laboratory & Collaboration Networks
Dr Sames operates within the University of Vienna Sedimentology & Palaeontology laboratories and maintains active collaboration with institutions such as Queen Mary University of London, University of Oklahoma, Nanjing Institute of Geology & Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Petrobras CENPES, ensuring access to global sample sets and multi-proxy analytical facilities.
