Alexandra S. Rodler, PhD

Postdoc Isotopes
Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen

Photo by Mikkel S. Rørbo

I have a PhD in geochemistry from the Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), and have previously worked as postdoctoral researcher as part of the Polychromy Research Group at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (NCG) in Copenhagen.

My research interests include the application of isotope tracers to questions in geology and archaeology.

During my PhD, I worked with a multitude of elemental and isotopic tracers to further constrain environmental conditions that prevailed on Earth during the Neoproterozoic eon. This time was shaped by Snowball Earth events, the development of an oxygenated atmosphere and the emergence of complex life.

This was followed by a postdoctoral position in the field of archaeometry. There, I used lead isotopes to trace the provenance of the metal compound of ancient human-made pigments (Egyptian blue) and polychrome glasses/glazes (Neo-Babylonian glazed brick reliefs). Archaeological artefacts, such as pigments and glazes can retain an original lead isotope signature that can be used to trace the geologic source of raw materials.

As part of TIMBER, I now have the exciting possibility to apply isotope geochemistry to trace the provenance of archaeological oak. First, I will focus on method development and then on the application of strontium isotopes to elucidate the provenance of oak used for constructing Northern European ships.

The most relevant publications

Rodler A.S., Artioli G., Klein S., Fink-Jensen P., Brøns C., 2017. Provenancing ancient pigments: lead isotope analyses of the copper compound of Egyptian blue pigments from ancient Mediterranean artefacts. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 16, 1-18. doi.10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.09.008 

Rodler A.S., Frei R., Gaucher C., Korte C., Rosing S.A., Germs G.J.B., 2017. Multiproxy isotope constraints on ocean compositional changes across the late Neoproterozoic Ghaub glaciation, Otavi Group, Namibia. Precambrian Research 298, 306-24. doi.10.1016/j.precamres.2017.05.006

Rodler A.S., Hohl S.V., Guo Q., Frei R., 2016. Chromium isotope stratigraphy of Ediacaran cap dolostones, Doushantuo Formation, South China. Chemical Geology 436, 24-34. doi.10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.05.001

Rodler A., Sánchez-Pastor N., Fernández-Díaz L., Frei R., 2015. Fractionation behavior of chromium isotopes during coprecipitation with calcium carbonate: implications for their use as paleoclimatic proxy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 164, 221-35.doi.10.1016/j.gca.2015.05.021

Schindlbacher A., Rodler A., Kuffner M., Kitzler B., Sessitsch A., Zechmeister-Boltenstern S., 2011. Experimental warming effects on the microbial community of a temperate mountain forest soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 43, 1417-25. doi.10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.03.005