Francien Peterse appointed professor of Organic Geochemistry

Francien Peterse has been appointed Professor of Organic Geochemistry at the Department of Earth Sciences, as of 1 August 2026. Her research focuses on understanding the Earth system using so-called biomarkers: organic molecules that contain unique information about the microbes that produced them and the environment in which they lived.

Peterse: “A large part of our understanding of past climate change is based on data from marine sediments, whereas relatively little is known about climate and environmental changes on land. For my research, it is therefore important to find sedimentary archives that are suitable to reliably reconstruct past climate changes on land.”

Fossil molecules preserved in the geological record can be used as proxies: indirect clues that allow researchers to reconstruct processes in the past. Within organic geochemistry, biomarkers are used, for example, to investigate the origin and fate of organic matter in the bio- and geosphere, to reconstruct past changes in climate, environment, and ecosystems, and to develop new proxies.

Annemarie van Wezel, Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences, is pleased with the appointment of Peterse: “She is a very passionate researcher and teacher, and she really does this as part of a team. The combination of method development, validation, and application is one of the strengths of her research, and connects very well with the research in the department and faculty.”

Connecting education with practice

With her broad expertise, Peterse is a valuable asset to research projects led by colleagues within the department, as well as from abroad. In addition, she makes a significant contribution to education at the bachelor and master levels within the Earth Sciences programs.

“My courses include practice-oriented activities, both in the laboratory and in the field, because I believe that linking theory to practice helps students to better understand the subject matter and further develop their skills in independent thinking and problem-solving.”