Professor Jochen Brocks

Professor of Geobiology
ANU College of Science

Areas of expertise

  • Organic Geochemistry 040204
  • Palaeontology (Incl. Palynology) 040308
  • Palaeoecology 060206
  • Evolutionary Biology 0603

Research interests

Jochen Brocks, from the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University, calls his field of research ‘Paleobiogeochemistry' as he is fascinated by biological processes in deep time from the origin of life to mysterious ecosystems in Earth's earliest oceans, and events that may have spawned the evolution of complex multicellular life. To find clues about ancient ecosystems, he studies molecular fossils of biological lipids (biomarkers) that can be preserved in sedimentary rocks for billions of years. Currently he and his students investigate the question why large, multicellular and active creatures appeared on Earth some 600 million years ago, and whether ancient oceans harbored a lost world of complex life that left no traces … possibly apart from a few obsolete molecules.

Publications

Projects and Grants

Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.

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Updated:  01 December 2023 / Responsible Officer:  Director (Research Services Division) / Page Contact:  Researchers