Christoph Mayr

Christoph Mayr serves as Akademischer Rat and Scientific Director of the Isotope Laboratory at the Institute of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). With over 15 years in this position since 2009, he leads research in stable isotope applications for environmental and climate reconstruction across multiple continents.

His academic journey includes:

• 1993-1999: Diplomstudium in Geology/Palaeontology at LMU München
• 1999: Diplom Geology/Paläontologie from LMU München
• 2002: Dissertation at LMU München on climate reconstruction using tree ring isotopes
• 2006-2009: Scientific Managing Director at GeoBio-Center LMU München
• 2009: Habilitation and Venia legendi from LMU München
• 2011-2014: Multiple visiting professorships in Micropaleontology and Climatology

Dr. Mayr's research centers on stable isotope geochemistry applied to paleoclimatology and environmental reconstruction. His work utilizes diverse natural archives including lake sediments from Patagonia, tree rings from multiple ecosystems, and archaeological materials to reconstruct past climate conditions. He has developed specialized expertise in interpreting δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C, and δ²H signals across various materials including chironomid head capsules, plant cellulose, and animal bone collagen. His research spans multiple temporal scales from the Holocene to Pleistocene, with particular focus on understanding Southern Hemisphere Westerlies dynamics and their global climate implications.

His recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a sophisticated multi-proxy approach combining isotopic data with sedimentological, ecological, and archaeological evidence. These works demonstrate methodological innovation in correcting for environmental effects (like sea spray on isotopic signatures) and applying stable isotopes to novel materials (including reindeer fur for Ice Age clothing studies). Geographically, his research bridges Patagonian lake systems, European Alpine environments, and Mediterranean archaeological sites, revealing continental-scale climate patterns.

Dr. Mayr has led or participated in numerous significant research projects:

• ALPWÜRM (2016-2019): Investigating Middle Würm environmental variability in the Northern Alps
• OXICLIM (2016-2018): Synthesizing oxygen isotope proxies for climate reconstruction in Southern Patagonia
• PASADO-Isotope (2009-2012): Environmental reconstruction for glacial-interglacial cycles in southern Patagonia
• Current DFG project (2020-2023): Analyzing subsistence strategies during the Last Glacial Maximum

As Scientific Director of the Isotope Laboratory, he oversees advanced analytical capabilities and mentors students through thesis projects on geochemical proxies in loess profiles, Patagonian climate archives, and Alpine lake sediments as natural hazard records. His collaborative network spans institutions in Germany, Argentina, Chile, Austria, and beyond, reflecting the international scope of his research.