The GFZ researcher Taylor Schildgen is receiving 1.9 million euros in funding from the European Research Council (ERC). The 'Consolidator Grant' of the ERC has a duration of five years. Taylor Schildgen will use the grant to investigate how climate change affects land surface changes (geomorphology), for example through heavy rainfall events, flooding of rivers or increased sedimentation. After the two ERC Synergy Grants awarded in October, this is the third ERC Grant for researchers at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences within a few weeks.

Reinhard Hüttl, CEO of GFZ, congratulates the scientist: "Mrs. Schildgen's work contributes significantly to a better understanding of the Earth system. The award is highly deserved. Just a few days after the excellent result of the strategic evaluation of the programme of our research area and the GFZ shares in it, this is further good news for the GFZ. I am very happy for my colleague."

Taylor Schildgen heads a working group in the Geomorphology Section of the GFZ and holds a professorship at the University of Potsdam. She comes from the USA and studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, USA, and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, before joining the GFZ and the University of Potsdam. The scientific journal Nature listed her as one of 11 outstanding research personalities in 2018. Her ERC-sponsored project is entitled "Geomorphic and Sedimentary Responses to Climate Periodicity (GyroSCoPe)“.

Further information:

• Website of the European Research Council ERC

Scientific contact:
Prof. Dr. Taylor Schildgen
Group Leader
Section Geomorphology
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
Tel.: +49 331 288-27507
E-Mail: taylor.schildgen@gfz-potsdam.de

Media contact:
Josef Zens
Head of Public and Media Relations
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Tel.: +49 (0) 331/288- 1040
E-Mail: josef.zens@gfz-potsdam.de