Franka Neumann

Franka Neumann studied physics at Heidelberg University in Germany, finishing first her Bachelor in 2022 and graduating with a Master of Science in 2024.

Next to her studies, she was a highly active member of the young German Physical Society (jDPG), organising multiple events for physics students as well as participating in outreach activities for high school students. In 2022-2023 she spent one year serving on the National Board of this youth association, coordinating its scientific programme.

Driven by a wish to contribute to our understanding of Earth’s climate system and the effects of climate change, she specialized in environmental physics. Her master’s thesis was written at the Institute of Environmental Physics in Heidelberg on the potential of Argon-39 as a cosmogenic nuclide tool for exposure dating of rock on short (decadal to centennial) time scales.

Now, she has joined the AUFRANDE program for her PhD and she is shifting her focus much further into the past to analyse a warm period about 400,000 years ago (Marine Isotope Stage 11).

Global and regional climate & drivers at millennial-to orbital scale during a past warm period (Marine Isotopic Stage 11)

Franka’s research interests include paleoclimatology, natural climate archives, and dating methods.

Outside academia she enjoys swing dancing, board games and hiking.