Frank Förster

Frank Förster is a geologist by training, with a strong specialization in geomaterials and geochemistry developed during his M.Sc. studies. His passion for biomineral formation led to a PhD, in which he explores the connection between volcanic ash exposure on living skeleton-forming corals, reflecting his interdisciplinary interest in the interaction between the biosphere and lithosphere. Through coral culture experiments, he gained expertise in coral physiology and biological assessments, while ash leaching experiments and laser ablation work on coral skeletons enhanced his skills in geochemical analysis using ICP-MS. His research combines data science with geobiological approaches to understand how environmental changes influence biomineral composition. In his current research he investigates the role of essential metals on coral photosynthesis and how different types of tephra impact the coral metallome.