Kathleen Stoof-Leichsenring

Dr. Kathleen Stoof-Leichsenring is a Researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in the department of Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems. Her work focuses on paleogenetics and paleoecology, utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) from sediments and soils to study past ecosystems. She leads the Paleogenetic and Palynological Laboratories at AWI Potsdam, concentrating on genetic diversity of phytoplankton and diatoms, as well as morphological and genetic responses to environmental changes. Her research spans topics like glacial-interglacial transitions, plant-mammal interactions, and climate impacts on Arctic and alpine ecosystems. Key contributions include studies on ancient DNA preservation, Holocene vegetation dynamics, and the role of permafrost thaw in ecosystem shifts. Dr. Stoof-Leichsenring has published extensively on paleoenvironmental reconstructions and collaborates on international projects like the PANABIO dataset.