ProfessorMark Rehkämper

I have broad interests in isotopic analyses of trace elements for research in Earth, planetary, environmental, life and health sciences.

This research encompasses acquisition and interpretation of trace element isotope data for a diverse range of natural samples, from rocks, soils and seawater to meteorites and biological materials, including plants and human tissues.

The investigations involve challenging laboratory work, which is conducted in the MAGIC Laboratories at the Department of Earth Science and Engineering. This encompasses state-of-the-art clean rooms for sample preparation and three advanced mass spectrometers (MC-ICP-MS and TIMS) for isotopic measurements of elements such as Zn, Mo, Cd, Te, Pb and Tl.

The MAGIC Labs are also the 'home' of the MAGIC Group, which encompasses about 20-30 staff, student and visiting researchers. If you are interested our research and would like to join our diverse and inclusive group, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

RESEARCH FIELDS

In cosmochemistry and solid earth geochemistry, my research explores isotopic variations of trace metals from stable isotope fractionation, the decay of extinct radionuclides, and nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies.

In marine geochemistry, the studies also exploit various trace metal stable isotope systems. In addition, they explore natural and anthropogenic Pb isotope variations with unprecedented precision.

Novel investigations in environmental and agricultural sciences and in biomedicine focus on variations in trace metal concentrations and stable isotope compositions of plants and human tissues, respectively. Particular research interests are studies of Cd and Zn uptake by cacao and hyperaccumulator plants as well as investigations into the role of Zn in the development and progression of cancer.

Furthermore, I apply stable isotope labeling and tracing to study the environmental behavior and fate of engineered nanoparticles, in support of improved risk assessments.

Finally, my research encompasses the development of new isotopic measurement techniques. Such work is never an end-in-itself but paves the way for novel applications of isotopic analyses, to improve our understanding of natural systems, ranging from the early solar system to the human body.