Klaus Mezger

Klaus Mezger is a Professor of Geochemistry at the Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland, where he has been affiliated since 2009. Previously, he served as Full Professor and Director of the Isotope Laboratory at the University of Münster (1997–2009), Research Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie (1991–1997), and Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan (1989–1991).

• Education
  • Vor-Diplom, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians Universität, Würzburg (1980)
  • Visiting Graduate Student, State University of New York at Albany (1981–1982)
  • Diplom, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians Universität, Würzburg (1984)
  • Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook (1989)
  • Habilitation, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz (1995)

His research focuses on isotope geochemistry, geochronology, cosmochemistry, and petrology, with significant contributions to understanding the early solar system through projects like the coordination of the DFG Priority Program 1385 “The First 10 Ma of the Solar System” (2010–present). He has held leadership roles in international research infrastructure, including chairing the Steering Committee of the SIMS Laboratory Lausanne (2015–) and past directorship of the Institute at Münster.

Mezger has earned prestigious accolades, including the Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Young Scientist Award (1992), the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Award from the DFG (2006), and fellowships in the Geochemical Society (2009). He has also served on editorial boards for journals like Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta and Chemical Geology, and as Editor-in-chief for Chemical Geology (2011–) and Terra Nova (2012–).

• Scientific Awards
  • DAAD/IAESTE stipend (1980)
  • Universität Würzburg stipend (1981–1982)
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (1985)
  • Graduate Student Fellowship (1986)
  • Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Young Scientist Award (1992)
  • Member Akademie der Wissenschaften Nordrhein-Westfalen (2004)
  • Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Award (2006)
  • Fellow Geochemical Society (2009)
  • Member Leopoldina (2010)

His service includes membership in grant panels (DFG, 2004–2008), leadership in professional societies (Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft, Mineralogical Society of America), and organizing major conferences like the Swiss Geoscience Meeting (2012) and Goldschmidt Conference (2013). He is actively involved in advising committees for awards such as the Abraham Gottlob Werner Medal and the F.W. Clarke Award.