Laura Otter

Laura Otter is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University (ANU). She holds a PhD in Biomineralization and Geochemistry from Macquarie University (2020), an M.Sc. in Geosciences from Johannes Gutenberg University and Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (2015), and a B.Sc. in Geosciences from Johannes Gutenberg University (2012). Her research bridges aquaculture, biology, geochemistry, gemmology, and materials science.

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Macquarie University (2020)
• M.Sc. in Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University (2015)
• B.Sc. in Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University (2012)

Dr. Otter specializes in micro-to-nanoscale biomineralization processes in marine calcifiers like mollusk shells, pearls, and bryozoans. She employs advanced techniques such as Photo-Induced Force Microscopy (PiFM), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), and femtosecond laser ablation to study phase transformations, trace element distributions, and molecular contamination in geochemical laboratories. Her work has significant implications for paleoclimate reconstruction, proxy archives, and materials resilience.

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in nacre crystallization dynamics, oxygen isotope calibration for seawater temperature proxies, and quality control for nanoscale spectroscopy. Collaborations span institutions like Macquarie University, Johannes Gutenberg University, and ANU, with technical expertise in analytical geochemistry and nanomechanical characterization.

As Principal Investigator for projects including "Micron-to nano-scale biomineralization processes in fish otoliths" (2023-2024) and "Expanding ANU capabilities in Near- to Mid-Range Infrared Nanometre Phase Characterization", she integrates geochemistry with cutting-edge technology to address fundamental questions in Earth sciences.