Dr. Zoe Van Kemenade

Biography

Zoe van Kemenade is a marine microbiologist and organic geochemist whose research focuses on the reconstruction of marine biogeochemical cycles, particularly the nitrogen and carbon cycles. Her current work investigates the carbon isotopic fractionation of 'ancient' algae. These algae, through photosynthesis, fixate carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce oxygen (O2), which leads to a 'carbon isotopic signal' in the lipids of the photosynthesizing organisms. Van Kemenade utilizes lipid biomarkers found in molecular fossils of Earth’s sedimentary records to reconstruct past atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Presently, her studies emphasize relatively 'recent' algae that emerged over 250 million years ago, aiming to establish a framework for understanding the carbon isotopic fractionation pathways of ancient algae to aid in the reconstitution of atmospheric CO2 levels during the Paleozoic era.

Research Interests