CV Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons
Education
2016 Habilitation, Faculty for Physics and Geosciences, University of Leipzig, Dissertation title: Addressing the challenge of reconstructing palaeoenvironments in studies of human-environmental interactions
2003 - 2007 PhD, Quaternary Geology, Australian National University (ANU), Thesis title: The late Quaternary history of aridity in the Strzelecki and Tirari Desert dunefields, South Australia
1998 - 2002 Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Melbourne, Thesis title: The dynamics of longitudinal and transverse dunes in the Strzelecki Desert, South Australia
1998 - 2001 Diploma of Modern Languages (German), University of Melbourne
Professional Experience
Dec 2016 – Max Planck Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
2017 – Junior Faculty, Max Planck Graduate College
2017 – Associated Researcher, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for evolutionary AnthropologyAssociated Researcher, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for evolutionary Anthropology
2016 – Privatdozentin, Institute for Geography, University of Leipzig, Germany
2010 – 2016 Junior Researcher, Luminescence dating group leader, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
2007 – 2010 Postdoctoral Fellow, Luminescence Dating Laboratory Manager, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2007 Research Assistant, Australian Research Council Network “OZPACS: Recent human impact on Australian ecosystems”, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2006 – 2007 Research Assistant, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2004 Full time volunteer, Sunseed Desert Technology, Almería, Spain
Prizes
2018 Hans-Bobek-Prize für Geographie, Österreichisch Geographische Gesellschaft (ÖGG), EUR 2000
2014 Albert Maucher-Preis für Geowissenschaften, DFG. EUR 10 000. www.dfg.de/gefoerderte_projekte/wissenschaftliche_preise/maucher-preis/2014/index.jsp
2007 Director’s Prize for Scientific Communication, Australian National University
2007 Student Travel Prize, Australasian Quaternary Association
2006 Student Award, Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments & Mineral Exploration
Professional Service
Speaker (elected): for Max Planck Research Group Leaders, CPT Division of the Max Planck Society (2019-2020)
Deputy Speaker from June 2020-
Ombuswoman (elected): Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (2017-2020)
Editor: Journal of Palaeolithic Archaeology (2017-), Quaternary Australasia (2007-2015)
Executive Committee: Australasian Quaternary Association (2007-2015) <
Steering Committees: INTIMATE (Integrating Ice Core, Marine and Terrestrial Records; 2014-); Palaeolakes of the arid southern hemisphere INQUA Focus Group (2016-)
Mentoring: Minerva FemmeNet (Max Planck Society; 2017-)
Professional Societies: European Geosciences Union, Verband der Geographen an Deutschen Hochschulen, DEUQUA, Arbeitskreis Geoachäologie, Arbeitskreis Geomorphologie
European Society for Human Evolution, Australasian Quaternay Association
Graduate student supervision
Current students
2019- BSc Felix Hettwer (MPI/University of Mainz): Palaeoclimate reconstruction in loess using stable isotopes in sedimentary carbonates
2019- MSc Maike Nowatzki (MPI/University of Tübingen): Automated GIS mapping of aeolian landforms in the Central Asian piedmont
2018- PhD Alexandra Engström Johansson (MPI/University of Mainz): Quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction in Central Asian loess archives using organic geochemistry
2017- PhD Aditi Dave (MPI/University of Mainz): Geochronology and age model generation of loess archives along the Central Asian piedmont
Completed students
2018 PhD Nina Doerschner (MPI/University of Leiden): Chronology and environmental context of archaeological sites, Morocco
2012 PhD Anja Guhl (MPI/University of Leipzig): Addressing the challenges of dating archaeological sites, Jonzac, France
2010 PhD Tegan Smith (ANU/co-supervised): Palaeoenvironment and landscape evolution at Lake Mulurulu, NSW
Practicum supervision
2019 Yao Zhang, PhD (Lanzhou University), 3 months
2018 Maike Nowatzki, MSc (University of Tübingen), 3 months
2018 Kristina Reetz, MSc (University of Mainz), 3 months
2018 Christian Laag, MSc (University of Bayreuth), 6 weeks
2017 Yue Li, PhD (Chinese Academy of Sciences Xi’an), 5 months
2017 Johannes Albert, PhD (University of Mainz), 5 months
Teaching (overview)
• 16 years’ teaching experience at all levels (undergraduate, MSc and PhD)
• Privatdozentin, Institut für Geographie, Universität Leipzig
• Teaching at 5 universities and graduate schools in Australia and Germany
- Institut für Geographie/Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
- Institut für Geographie, Universität Leipzig
- Leipzig School of Human Origins
- Geographisches Institut, Universität zu Köln
- School of Geology (later Earth and Marine Sciences), Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University
• Course „Steps into academic teaching“, ProLehre Medien und Didaktik, 2019
• Training course in academic teaching, ANU Science Communication Division, 2005
• Teaching in both English and German
Research Funding
Total funding awarded: EUR >3 400 000
As Primary Investigator:
2019-2020 Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. AUD 100 000.
2017-2021 Max Planck Research Group. EUR 2 000 000.
2017-2019 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Sachbeihilfe. EUR 258 000.
2012-2013 DFG International Cooperation Grant. EUR 8 300.
2010-2013 Australian Research Council Discovery Project. AUD 406 000.
2010-2012 Max Planck Society seed funding. EUR 24 500.
2007 Australian National University College of Science. AUD 8 600.
As Partner Investigator/Senior Scientist:
2017-2018 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). EUR 104 000.
2016-2018 National Science Foundation (USA). USD 228 000.
2016-2017 International Quaternary Association (INQUA) Focus Group (Southern Hemisphere Assessment of Palaeoenvironments). EUR 8000.
2016-2017 International Quaternary Association (INQUA) Focus Group (Palaeolakes of the Arid Southern Hemisphere). EUR 3500.
2012-2014 National Science Foundation (USA). USD 169 000.
2011-2013 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project. AUD 360 000.
Media coverage and scientific communication
2019 Scientific Advisor, BBC natural history documentary “One planet seven worlds”
2018 Television Interview, German popular science show “Quarks und Co”, WDR
2015 Media interest in response to Fitzsimmons et al. (2015) PLOS ONE; The Australian (national newspaper) p.3, 18.6.2015; Other Australian papers (selection): The Age; Sydney Morning Herald; Brisbane Times. Kurier (Austria); Global Times (China), Shanghai Daily (China)
2013 Media interest in response to Fitzsimmons et al. (2013) PLOS ONE; “Zeugen der Super-Eruption” Leipziger Volkszeitung, 25.7.2013
2009 Radio Interview for Willandra Lakes Project, ABC Mildura-Swan Hill
2007-2009 Regular radio presenter, Fuzzy Logic Science Radio Show, Canberra 2XX FM
Research Grants and Funding
2003-2007 Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (CRC LEME): Postgraduate research funding. AUD 34 000.
2007-2009 ANU Luminescence Dating Laboratory Commercial Income: Income from commercial samples, under my direction. AUD 136 300.