Liam Heffernan

Liam Heffernan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth and Climate, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research focuses on biogeochemical processes in permafrost ecosystems, including carbon cycling, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts. He teaches the course Global Biogeochemical Cycles and collaborates internationally on projects analyzing permafrost thaw dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions.

Research interests include dissolved organic carbon in Arctic regions, microbial responses to permafrost degradation, and methane emissions from peatlands. His work integrates field studies, isotopic analysis, and meta-analyses to understand ecosystem responses to climate change. Collaborations span institutions globally, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.

No scientific awards are listed. His research has been published in journals like Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, Biogeochemistry, and Cryosphere. Current projects explore feedback mechanisms between permafrost thaw and atmospheric greenhouse gas balances.