Petra Heinz

Univ.-Prof. Petra Heinz is a Professor in the Department of Palaeontology at the University of Vienna. She serves as Vice-Director of Studies in Earth Sciences, Meteorology-Geophysics, and Astronomy. Her research focuses on benthic foraminifera, investigating their ecological roles in marine environments, responses to environmental changes, and contributions to carbon-nitrogen cycling. She has conducted extensive studies in the Arabian Sea, abyssal Pacific, and other marine regions, employing in situ tracer experiments and laboratory simulations to explore oxygen depletion impacts, phytodetritus dynamics, and species adaptations.

Teaching includes courses on Paleobiodiversity, Climate Change Through Time, and Geobiology. Her work bridges palaeontology with modern environmental studies, emphasizing organismal responses to stressors like temperature and oxygen levels. Notable projects include analyses of foraminifera in oxygen minimum zones and methane seeps, revealing critical insights into deep-sea ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical processes.