Change in the OCCR Directorate

Martin Grosjean will retire on 31 January 2027 and step down after 20 years as the Director of the OCCR and the Graduate School of Climate Sciences. Now, after an international competitive selection process, the Executive Board of the University of Bern has appointed his successor: Hendrik Vogel. 

Hendrik has been conducting research at the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Bern since 2012. In 2019, he took over as head of the OCCR's Sedimentary Geochemistry group. Three years later, he was promoted to “assoziierter Professor”.

In his research, Hendrik uses sediments from lakes and oceans to investigate climate fluctuations during the Quaternary, i.e. over the last 2.6 million years. During his career, he has led numerous multinational and interdisciplinary projects. Most recently, he was involved in the knowledge transfer of research into climate fluctuations in the past using sediment cores from lakes and in setting up the corresponding infrastructure in Indonesia.

Hendrik will be promoted to Professor (“ausserordentlicher Professor”) of Climate Geochemistry on 1 August 2026. From August 2026 until January 2027, he will get familiar with the new position to guarantee a smooth transition. On 1 February 2027, he will officially take up his post as the new OCCR Director.

Martin Grosjean says he is delighted with the choice of Hendrik Vogel as his successor: "Hendrik not only brings his experience and reputation as a scientist to the table, but also his organizational skills, his understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration and his interest in the 'big picture’ – the OCCR will be in good hands."