Christopher Hamann

Dr. Christopher Hamann is a Senior Scientist and Head of the Micro X-ray Fluorescence and Raman Spectroscopy laboratories at the Museum of Natural History, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin. He has held this leadership position since June 2024, following a post-doctoral appointment at the same institution from September 2019 to May 2024.

Dr. Hamann earned his PhD from the Free University of Berlin in February 2018 with highest honors (summa cum laude). His doctoral thesis focused on "Projectile-target interaction and rapid, high-temperature geochemical processes in impact melts." Prior to his current position, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing in Berlin from June 2018 to August 2019.

His primary research interests center around the formation, petrology, and geochemistry of impact melts, impact processes on asteroids, and non-destructive analysis of meteorites. He investigates space weathering of C-type asteroids using samples from the asteroid Ryugu (in collaboration with the Institute of Planetary Research, DLR), studies the petrology of the Ribbeck Aubrites, and examines impact processes on asteroids through meteorite analysis. His work also encompasses the formation of impact melts in terrestrial impact structures.

Dr. Hamann's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on experimental approaches to understanding planetary impact processes, with significant contributions to meteoritics, planetary science, and materials science. His research spans from laboratory simulations of impact processes to the analysis of actual meteorites and impact structures, providing crucial insights into the formation and evolution of planetary bodies.

As Head of both the Micro X-ray Fluorescence Laboratory and the Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory, Dr. Hamann leads cutting-edge analytical facilities that support research in meteoritics, planetary science, and related fields. His laboratories provide essential non-destructive analytical capabilities for examining meteorites and other extraterrestrial materials, serving both internal research projects and collaborative international studies.