Dorrit Jacob

Dorrit Jacob is a Professor and Director of the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University (ANU), within the College of Science. She holds a Dr. rer. nat. from Georg-August University in Göttingen, with her master's and PhD research conducted at the Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz. Recognized nationally, she was awarded the DFG Heisenberg Chair in Biomineralisation in 2012, becoming the first female recipient of this honor in Rhineland-Palatinate and at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. In 2013, she relocated to Australia, taking up an ARC Future Fellowship at Macquarie University before being promoted to full Professor in 2016. Since November 2020, she has served as the first female School Director of the Research School of Earth Sciences.

Her research focuses on biomineralization, diamond formation, Earth's mantle geochemistry, and advanced analytical techniques like laser ablation ICP-MS and vibrational spectroscopy. She leads interdisciplinary projects, including collaborations on carbon sequestration, material science, and environmental applications. Notable awards include the DFG Heisenberg Professorship and contributions to understanding mantle dynamics through diamond inclusions and mantle xenolith studies.

Dr. Jacob's work spans geology, geochemistry, and biomineralization, with over 150 publications. Her research teams investigate topics like nacre growth mechanisms, sulfide-rich continental roots, and deep carbon cycles. She supervises students in these areas and collaborates on grants related to microanalysis, climate proxies, and mantle processes. Her labs and teams at ANU and international institutions advance understanding of Earth's materials and environmental systems.