Sarah Coffinet

I am an organic geochemist and biogeochemist interested in the organic carbon cycle in continental wetland soils. I combine tools from organic geochemistry (lipidomics, compound-specific isotope analysis, organic matter characterization) and microbial ecology (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics) to study how microorganisms utilize organic matter and contribute to the global carbon cycle. I use stable isotope analysis to track the fate of organic carbon in laboratory incubations as well as in natural environments. 

Current project: Microbial contribution to continental wetland carbon budget (MICADO)

Continental wetlands are major carbon sinks but are also the second largest source of CH₄ emissions worldwide. The overall objective of the MICADO project is to provide a mechanistic and quantitative understanding of CO₂ and CH₄ production in the anoxic horizons of continental wetlands to constrain the microbial drivers of wetland carbon budget. It will combine microbial ecology and organic geochemistry tools, in the field as well as in laboratory incubations.

EDUCATION

2015   PhD in organic geochemistry, UMR Métis, Sorbonne Université, France - PhD Supervisors: Sylvie Derenne & Arnaud Huguet

Title: Validation and application of lipid biomarkers to reconstruct past environmental changes in East Africa

2012     Master in Analytical Chemistry with honors, Sorbonne Université & Ecole Normale Supérieure Ulm, France

2009-2010    Exchange program at University of California at San Diego (UCSD), USA

2007-2010    Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (highest honour), Sorbonne Université, France - Bachelor’s degree in Political Science SciencesPo., France

RESEARCH POSITIONS

2021 – 2022    Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow, UMR ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1/CNRS, France  -  Supervisors: Anniet Laverman & Alexis Dufresne

Title: Microbial contribution to continental wetland carbon budget (MICADO)

2018 – 2020    Senior postdoctoral position, Deutsche Forschung Gemeinschaft (DFG) Excellence Cluster,    Hinrichs’ lab, MARUM, Universität Bremen, Germany  

Theme: Deep biosphere and element cycling in sediments

2016 – 2017     Early Career Postdoctoral Position DFG Excellence Initiative, MARUM, Universität Bremen, Germany, host: Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Hinrichs  

Title: Novel archaeal lipids with a non-glycerol backbone: deviation from the universal biosynthetic building plan as adaptation to the deep biosphere?

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2021 – 2022    Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship, European Union’s Horizon Program, ECOBIO, CNRS, France

2016 – 2017    Early Career Postdoctoral Position, DFG Excellence Initiative, Universität Bremen, Germany

2014    Best poster award, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, France

2014    European Association of Organic Geochemists (EAOG) travel scholarship, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

2014    Young Scientist's Travel Award (YSTA), waiver fees for the European Geosciences Union (EGU) annual meeting, Austria

2013    Albert Demolon young researcher prize of the French association of soil science (AFES), France

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