Gesine Mollenhauer

Prof. Dr. Gesine Mollenhauer serves as a geochemist and scientific head of the MICADAS 14C dating laboratory at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), while holding a professorship at the University of Bremen. Her work centers on analyzing marine sediment archives to reconstruct past climate conditions and environmental changes through advanced radiocarbon dating techniques.

Her research interests focus on utilizing seafloor sediment layers as climate archives, with particular expertise in radiocarbon dating methodologies, paleoceanographic reconstructions, and Arctic permafrost dynamics. Mollenhauer investigates how thawing permafrost releases stored carbon into marine systems, examining sediment transport processes from terrestrial Arctic environments to the seafloor. Her work connects historical climate patterns with contemporary climate change impacts, especially regarding carbon sequestration in ocean sediments and permafrost thaw feedback mechanisms.

Mollenhauer leads the MICADAS 14C dating laboratory, a specialized facility for analyzing carbon isotopes in marine geological samples. Her research has direct relevance to understanding coastal erosion in the Arctic and its global warming implications, as evidenced by media coverage of related studies. While specific student supervision details aren't provided in the source material, her position as laboratory head suggests mentorship of early-career researchers in geochemical dating techniques. Her work receives support through institutional resources at AWI and collaborative projects focused on climate history reconstruction.