The Organic Geochemistry Lab focuses on the analysis of so-called lipid biomarkers, which are specific molecules that can be linked to certain producers or environmental conditions, derived from (micro)organisms and plants, and their diagenetically altered products.

At Utrecht University, these biomarkers are mostly used to study past and present carbon cycle dynamics and climate change. Typically, biomarkers are extracted from soils, lake or marine sediments. The compounds of interest are subsequently isolated and analyzed for their occurrence, distribution, and/or isotopic composition using our state-of-the-art analytical equipment.