Claudia Sprengel

Claudia Sprengel is a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany, where she coordinates the Helmholtz Graduate School for Polar and Marine Research (POLMAR). This collaborative program trains doctoral candidates through partnerships between the institute and academic institutions.

Her research focuses on marine biological processes in polar environments, with specialization in coccolithophores—critical calcifying phytoplankton. Key areas include modern coccolithophore dynamics, carbonate flux mechanisms, phytoplankton succession patterns, and computational modeling of marine ecosystems. Her work examines biogeochemical cycling and ecological responses to environmental change in polar oceans, contributing to understanding carbon sequestration and climate feedback loops.

As POLMAR coordinator, she facilitates interdisciplinary doctoral training while advancing research on plankton community structure and ecosystem modeling. Her methodological approach integrates field observations with theoretical frameworks to address polar marine system complexities.