Gert-Jan Reichart

Prof. Dr. Gert-Jan Reichart is Head of the Ocean Systems Department at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Professor in Marine Geology at Utrecht University. He is also a lecturer at the Urbino Summerschool in paleoclimatology, contributing to international academic training.

His research focuses on marine geology, paleoceanography, and biogeochemistry, particularly the role of calcium carbonate-producing organisms like foraminifera in recording past climate conditions. He investigates how temperature, salinity, pH, and carbon speciation influence biomineralization, developing geochemical proxies to reconstruct ancient ocean conditions and understand the global carbon cycle. His work bridges modern process studies with paleoclimate reconstructions to improve future climate predictions.

His recent publications highlight environmental and geochemical investigations, including methane leakage from North Sea wells and metal mobility in harbor sediments. These studies reflect a trend toward applying paleoceanographic methods to contemporary environmental challenges, combining field data, laboratory analysis, and climate modeling.

• Strategic Innovation Fund grant (€2.89M) for marine robotics and new research vessels
• Principal investigator in multiple NWO, EU, and nationally funded projects on paleoclimate, deep-sea ecosystems, and carbon cycling
• Chief scientist on international expeditions to the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Arctic

Prof. Reichart leads a research group at NIOZ focusing on biomineralization and paleoclimate proxies, utilizing advanced analytical facilities such as LA-MC-ICP-MS and LA-nC-GC-IRMS. He is actively involved in the development of the new Dutch research fleet, including the R/V Anna Weber-van Bosse, emphasizing innovation in oceanographic research infrastructure.