Senior Scientist

GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
Wischhofstrasse 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Tel: 0049 (0) 431 600 1289
Email: ajbeck(at)geomar.de 

Academic Degrees
Ph.D.   Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, May 2007
B. Sc. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, 2003.

Academic Positions
Senior scientist, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, June 2016-present
Adjunct Professor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science/College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, July 2015-July 2018
Assistant Professor, VIMS/College of William & Mary, August 2009-June 2015
Postdoctoral Researcher, Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany, August 2007-July 2009

Research Work
My research activities are related to the aquatic biogeochemistry of inorganic and organic compounds, with particular focus on trace and redox-active elements and U-Th series radionuclide tracers, as well as pollutants including munitions compounds, and microplastics and plastics leachates. My research investigates mechanisms of biogeochemical cycling that controls the flux of elements, isotopes, and anthropogenic substances across interfaces in marine and freshwater systems. This work includes material fluxes from surface to deep ocean and from shelf margins to the open ocean, benthic fluxes under diffusion- and advection-controlled conditions, elemental cycling in surface and subterranean estuaries, early diagenesis in permeable sediments, and release and fate of chemicals from relic munitions on the seafloor. My main research approaches are field work, laboratory experimentation, and geochemical modeling. These activities include a strong emphasis on development and application of state-of-the-art analytical techniques. I am also committed to geosciences education, and have experience teaching at both advanced undergraduate and graduate levels.

Current projects:
ExPloTect: explotect.eu
HOTMIC: hotmic.eu

Former projects:
UDEMM: udemm.geomar.de