Katharina Pank

Katharina Pank is a Researcher at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel within Research Division 4: Dynamics of the Ocean Floor, specializing in Magmatic and Hydrothermal Systems. She holds a PhD from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (2023) and has conducted extensive fieldwork across global volcanic regions, including the Azores, Santorini, and the Izu-Ogasawara Arc. Her research focuses on marine tephrostratigraphy, volcanic eruption chronology, and volcano-climate interactions, with a particular emphasis on explosive volcanism and geochemical variations over time.

Education:

• PhD (2019-2023): Joint program at CAU Kiel and GEOMAR
• MSc Geosciences (2016-2019): CAU Kiel
• BSc Geosciences (2012-2016): CAU Kiel

Key Research Interests: Katharina investigates marine volcanic deposits to reconstruct eruption histories and their climatic impacts. Her work integrates tephrochronology, geochemistry, and field studies to understand explosive volcanic processes in subduction zones and island arcs. Recent projects include studies on the Santorini volcanic system and the Hikurangi subduction margin.

Expeditions & Fieldwork:

• 2025: RV Kaimei KM25-02 Leg 2 (Izu-Ogasawara Arc, Japan)
• 2024: Fieldwork in the Azores (Portugal)
• 2023: IODP Expedition 398 (Greece), RV Sonne SO299/2 (Indonesia)
• 2022: Fieldwork in Santorini and Christiana (Greece)

Contributions to Science: She has authored/co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference presentations, focusing on tephrostratigraphy, subduction zone volcanism, and magma dynamics. Katharina also serves as a committee member for GEOMAR postdocs and the Helmholtz Association Postdoc Network, advocating for early-career researchers.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Magmatic and Hydrothermal Systems group at GEOMAR, collaborating with international partners on IODP expeditions and volcanic hazard assessments.