Josef Werne

Josef Werne is Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science at the University of Pittsburgh, within the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. He received his PhD in Geological Sciences from Northwestern University in 2000 and has held academic positions at the University of Minnesota Duluth and visiting roles in Australia. His research integrates organic and stable isotope biogeochemistry to reconstruct past environmental and climate changes using lake and ocean sediments.

Research Interests: Dr. Werne specializes in paleobiogeochemistry, utilizing molecular fossils (biomarkers) and isotopic signatures to interpret past vegetation, microbial communities, and climate dynamics. His work spans regions including the Americas and East Africa, focusing on Pleistocene climate change, sulfur cycling in sulfidic lakes, and the development of molecular proxies for temperature and hydrology. His lab investigates modern systems as analogs for ancient oceans, particularly Precambrian conditions.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary paleoenvironmental science, combining geochemistry, limnology, archaeology, and climate modeling. Keywords across these works include paleoclimatology, biogeochemistry, isotopic analysis, and sedimentology, with subfields such as GDGT-based thermometry, carbon and sulfur isotope cycling, and human-climate interactions. Many studies involve international collaboration and field-based drilling projects like MexiDrill.

• Gledden Visiting Senior Fellow, University of Western Australia (2009–2010)

Dr. Werne actively advises graduate students and leads externally funded research, including NSF grants such as the collaborative project on human biomarkers in Lake Titicaca sediment. His lab supports student fellowships from NSF, GSA, and the Andrew Mellon Foundation. He teaches core courses in atmospheric science, organic geochemistry, and paleoenvironmental analysis. The Werne Research Group emphasizes field-based learning and interdisciplinary collaboration across education levels.

Current lab initiatives include sulfur isotope studies in stratified lakes, paleoclimate reconstructions in the Andes and East Africa, and method development in gas chromatography for polysulfide speciation. The group participates in major scientific drilling efforts and maintains strong ties with institutions like LacCore (University of Minnesota) and international partners in Peru, Mexico, and Africa.