Christian J. Bjerrum

Christian J. Bjerrum is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management within the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on paleoceanography, biogeochemical cycles, and Earth system evolution across geological timescales. He maintains an active research program with extensive international collaborations.

• Matriculated at University of Copenhagen (1988)
• M.Sc. in Geology, University of Copenhagen (1994)
• Ph.D. in Geology, University of Copenhagen (1999)

His research interests center on conditions for anoxia in sedimentary basins throughout Earth History, Earth's geobiological co-evolution, and paleoclimatic processes during Mesozoic greenhouse periods. He specializes in numerical modeling of physical paleoceanography and mathematical modeling of biogeochemical cycling using coupled ocean-atmosphere models, incorporating geochemical tracers for direct comparison with geological records. His work spans basin-scale to global modeling approaches.

Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals consistent focus on ocean deoxygenation events, biogeochemical modeling across critical geological boundaries (Triassic-Jurassic, Cretaceous-Paleogene), and methodological advances in Earth system modeling. Key themes include sulfur cycle dynamics in estuaries, plankton trait-based modeling, and orbital-scale climatic changes recorded in sedimentary sequences.

• Fulbright Scholarship, USA (1992-1993)

Bjerrum has supervised 2 postdocs, 1 PhD as primary supervisor, and 1 PhD as co-supervisor, with additional external supervision roles at University of Southern Denmark and University of Copenhagen. His research has been supported by Geocenter Denmark, Danish Natural Science Research Council, and major grants including the Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE; 40 million DKK 2005-2010, 45 million DKK 2010-2015) and Cretaceous Research Centre. He has served on the Graduate Study Council, chaired search committees, and refereed for top journals including Nature and Geology. His field work includes expeditions to Greenland, Arizona, Germany, and England.