Jaap Sinninghe Damsté

Prof. Dr. Jaap Sinninghe Damsté is a Senior Research Leader at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Professor of Organic Geochemistry at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. His dual affiliation spans marine microbiology and biogeochemistry research. He holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering (1982), MSc in Environmental Organic Chemistry (1984, cum laude), and PhD in Organic Geochemistry (1988, cum laude), all from Delft University of Technology.

His research focuses on microbial membrane lipids as paleoclimate proxies, with major contributions to understanding archaeal/bacterial lipid adaptations and their applications in reconstructing ancient environments. He has pioneered methods like the crenarchaeol-based marine paleothermometer and the brGMGT continental proxy. Awards include the Spinoza Prize (2004), Treibs Medal (2005), and Heineken Prize (2014).

• Over 830+ publications (including 23 in Nature), H-index 125 (ISI)
• Co-advised >50 PhD theses
• Recipient of €28M Gravitation Award (2013) for the Netherlands Earth System Science Centre

His work bridges microbiology, geochemistry, and climate science, with active roles in editorial boards (Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta), ERC panels, and international conferences (Goldschmidt, ISME).