Jens Strauss

Dr. Jens Strauss is a geoecologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), specializing in permafrost biogeochemistry. He leads the Permafrost Biogeochemistry research focus and the Permafrost Carbon and Nitrogen Laboratory at the AWI's Potsdam Site. His work centers on quantifying deep permafrost carbon pools and assessing their vulnerability to climate-driven thaw processes. Strauss coordinates the master module 'Permafrost Landscapes' at the University of Potsdam, integrating education with cutting-edge field and laboratory research.

Key research interests include organic matter dynamics in thawing permafrost, greenhouse gas emissions from thermokarst landscapes, and the interplay between permafrost degradation and Arctic coastal systems. He has led field campaigns in Alaska, Siberia, and the Mackenzie Delta, investigating carbon fluxes, microbial processes, and element cycling in thawing environments. Strauss collaborates on international projects like ThinIce, MOMENT, and Nunataryuk, addressing permafrost-climate feedbacks and societal impacts.

His fieldwork includes analyzing ice-rich Yedoma permafrost deposits, coastal lagoon systems, and drained lake basins, employing geochemical, isotopic, and microbial techniques. Strauss's research underscores the urgency of understanding permafrost's role in the global carbon cycle and informing climate policy to mitigate Arctic ecosystem disruptions.