Introducing our doctoral researchers Lisa, Martina, Jakob and Yadav

In November 2025, one year has passed since the FluxBEATS doctoral network was launched.

​A total of ten doctoral researchers have been recruited to the network and the first data are being gathered. In this newsletter, we will introduce four of them.

Analyzing the oceanic crust: Martina Spinella aims to determine its modern composition

Martina Spinella joined the University of Münster, Germany, in the beginning of June 2025. 

With her research in FluxBEATS position DC1, she focuses on determining the chemical balance of the oceanic crust by combining major and trace element analyses with isotopic ratios. “This approach will allow us to refine existing models with the aim of quantifying mass fluxes between the mantle and the oceanic crust”, Martina explains.​

Martina Spinella

“What fascinates me most is how small fragments of rock can help us better understand the wonders that surround us.

Before embarking on her career in the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Martina completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Natural Sciences at the University of Messina, Italy, and a Master’s degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development at the University of Pavia, Italy. 

During her Master’s, Martina took part in an Erasmus internship in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where she carried out her thesis research. 

“My work focused on analysing volatile elements in basaltic glasses from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with the aim of investigating the role of mantle heterogeneities. What fascinates me most is, how small fragments of rock can help us better understand the wonders that surround us”, she says. 

Martina’s analyses will be carried out on whole-rock samples collected from different sites in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Ocean. Examples of her study sites are Hess Deep and the Galapagos Ridge in the Pacific Ocean. 

“I am currently focusing on the first stage of sample preparation, grinding them into powder”, Martina describes. She has also begun analysing the major elements of some of her samples. 

“I am highly motivated and eager to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field, alongside my colleagues”, Martina adds. 

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On the trail of hidden processes: Lisa Pirko Heinz uses trace elements and isotopes to better understand how black smokers form

Lisa Pirko Heinz joined the Marine Mineral Resources Group at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, in the beginning of July 2025.

With her research in FluxBEATS position DC5 she aims to understand the controls of critical meltal fluxes from the mantle to the crust and into the water column at spreading centers. She is focusing on hydrothermal systems in back-arc basins and the magmatic processes associated with these.

Lisa Pirko Heinz. Photo © Lisa Harms

“My research allows me to combine my love for the ocean with my experience in petrology and mineral resources.

Lisa studied geosciences at the University of Tübingen, and completed her MSc at LMU Munich focusing on economic geology and mineral resources. Afterwards she went to Camborne School of Mines to investigate the resource potential of UK mine waste.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Lisa was working in industry, mostly doing science communication. She developed virtual lab environments for Earth Science students, and was guiding and lecturing about geosciences and climate change in polar areas.

At GEOMAR, Lisa now works on a hydrothermal system in the Southwest Pacific. Using geochemical data as tracers, she aims to find out more about the processes forming “black smokers” in the East Manus Basin. “My research allows me to combine my love for the ocean with my experience in petrology and mineral resources”, she explains. 

She is excited to cooperate with the other PhD candidates in the FluxBEATS project, for example during the doctoral network’s summer schools. “The planned secondments are a great opportunity for us to visit relevant research institutions and industry partners”, Lisa adds.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys being close to the ocean. From enjoying kite-surfing in Denmark, she now wants to learn sailing in Kiel. “Being on the water makes me happy and relaxed. One highlight in Kiel is my daily ferry ride to GEOMAR.” What a nice way to start and end your workday!

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Modelling the deep-sea – Yadav Krishna aims to create a model for hydrothermal systems

Yadav Krishna also joined the GEOMAR Helmholz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, in July 2025.  

He was recruited to FluxBEATS position DC6 , and his research aims to address the multi-scale permeability-temperature-heat flux tryptic quantification at deep-sea hydrothermal systems and its implementation in a “unifying model.” 

Yadav Krishna

“I am deeply inspired by the significant real-world application of this project in geosciences, energy, and environmental sustainability.

“I am deeply inspired by the significant real-world application of this project in geosciences, energy, and environmental sustainability”, Yadav says. 

“By improving our understanding of heat and mass transfer in hydrothermal systems, the research will refine global heat budget models, aiding climate and ocean circulation predictions”, he continues. Yadav’s research also has implications for sustainable deep-sea mining by informing the extraction of critical minerals while minimizing environmental impact.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Yadav was a Junior Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG). He was involved in paleoclimatic reconstruction of the Arabian Sea using magnetic studies on samples from the international ocean discovery programme (IODP). 

Yadav graduated with an integrated BSc-MSc dual degree at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal. 

“There I became interested in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and I started majoring in this discipline. My master’s thesis focused on the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility analysis of the Pachmarhi dyke swarms within the Deccan Volcanic Province”, Yadav explains.

Beyond academic research, he is passionate about applying high-performance simulations to real-world challenges including geothermal energy, subsea engineering, CO2 storage, and environmental fluid dynamics. Yadav aims to leverage his computational skills for both scientific discovery and industry innovation.

In his free-time, Yadav loves to spend his time on photography, travelling, reading and playing games like volleyball and table tennis.

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Reading the smoke signals: Jakob Rahner explores hydrothermal plumes in the ocean

Jakob Rahner joined the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, Italy,  as a PhD student in the beginning of June.

In his position as DC10 , he works on hydrothermal plumes in the ocean, examining the dynamics of fluid transport and chemical reactions by means of numerical simulations.

Jakob Rahner

“What led me to study Environmental Sciences in the first place, was a desire to perceive the complicated entanglement of nature and humanity as a whole.

Jakob completed his BSc. in Geoecology at the University of Potsdam and his MSc. in Marine Environmental Sciences at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. In his MSc thesis, he used numerical modeling to study the transport of plant seeds in the North Sea – research he expanded during a six-month internship at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, where he focused on the dispersal of mangroves and coral larvae.

“What led me to study Environmental Sciences in the first place”, he says, “was a desire to perceive the complicated entanglement of nature and humanity as a whole.” 

“But as my studies progressed, I felt myself more and more drawn to the language of physics. I see my position in the FluxBEATS network as a symbiosis of these two inclinations: the interdisciplinarity of the network and the rigor of computational fluid dynamics”, Jakob continues.

Just before the first FluxBEATS summer school in Iceland , Jakob spent two weeks at the University of Helsinki working with his second supervisor Ekaterina Ezhova. 

“After half a year, I already had the chance to meet many inspiring researchers in three different countries”, he says. “I value this opportunity as something very unique that keeps me motivated every day.”

Beyond his work, Jakob is passionate about climbing, reading, literary translation and movies.

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FluxBEATS doctoral researchers Linus, Francesco and Jaime have been featured in previous newsletter. If you missed their introductions, get to know them in this newsletter. 

In the next newsletter you’ll get the chance to meet rest of our doctoral researchers. Follow us in Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated! 

FluxBEATS is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.