Review Panel
The Review Panel German Research Vessels (GPF) currently comprises 29 members, who are assigned to one or both of the panel’s subpanels. Below you will find information on the panel’s composition and structure.
Composition of the Panel
| Subpanel „Oceans and Marginal Seas“ | |
|---|---|
| Katarina Abrahamsson | U Gothenburg, Marine Chemistry |
| Udo Barckhausen | BGR Hannover, Geodynamics / Geophysics |
| Barbara Bayer | U Vienna, Microbial Ecology |
| Peter Brandt | GEOMAR Kiel, Physical Oceanography |
| Sebastian Krastel | U Kiel, Marine Geophysics / Hydroacoustics |
| Mirjam Perner | GEOMAR Kiel, Geomicrobiology |
| Nadezhda Rismkaya-Korsakova | U Jena, Invertebrate Zoology |
| Miriam Römer | MARUM, U Bremen, Marine Geology |
| Florian Scholz | U Hamburg, Biogeochemistry / Paleoceanography |
| Katrin Schröder | ISMAR Venice, Physical Oceanography |
| Subpanel “Polar Regions” | |
|---|---|
| Stefan Bünz | Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Marine Geophysics |
| Sebastian Gerland | NPI Tromsø, Sea Ice Physics |
| Martin Könneke | University of Oldenburg, Benthic Microbiology |
| Björn Lund | U Miami, Physical Oceanography / Sea Ice |
| Torben Riehl | Senckenberg Frankfurt, Marine Zoology |
| Ralph Schneider | U Kiel, Marine Geology / Paleoclimatology |
| Florence Schubotz | MARUM, U Bremen, Organic Geochemistry |
| in beiden Panels vertreten | |
|---|---|
| Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller | IOPAN Sopot, Physical Oceanography |
| Michael Böttcher | IOW Rostock, Biogeochemistry / Geochemistry |
| Susanne Crewell | U Cologne, Meteorology / Atmospheric Physics |
| Thorsten Dittmar | U Oldenburg, Marine Chemistry |
| Marc-André Gutscher | IUEM Plouzané, Geodynamics / Seismics |
| Karsten Haase | U Erlangen-Nürnberg, Geochemistry / Petrology |
| Sebastian Lindhorst | U Hamburg, Marine Geology / Sedimentology |
| Katrin Linse | British Antarctic Survey, Benthic Biology |
| Bettina Meyer | AWI / U Oldenburg, Pelagic Ecophysiology |
| Bernhard Steinberger | GFZ Potsdam, Geodynamics / Geophysics |
| Inna Sokolova | U Rostock, Marine Biology |
| Scarlett Trimborn | AWI, Ecological Chemistry |
| Subpanel „Oceans and Marginal Seas“ | |
|---|---|
| Johanna Baehr | University of Hamburg, Climate Modelling |
| Udo Barckhausen | BGR, Hannover, Geodynamics / Geophysics |
| Christian Berndt | GEOMAR Kiel, Marine Geophysics / Seismics |
| Sabine Gollner | NIOZ Texel, Benthic Ecology |
| Tilmann Harder | University of Bremen / AWI, Marine Chemistry |
| Jochen Knies | NGU Trondheim, Marine Geology |
| Heiko Pälike | Marum, University of Bremen, Paleoceanography |
| Jillian Petersen | University of Vienna, Microbial Ecology |
| Ralf Schiebel | Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Micropaleontology |
| Karina von Schuckmann | Mercator Ocean, Ramonville Saint-Agne, Climate Dynamics and Oceanography |
| Subpanel “Polar Regions” | |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Gerland | Norwegian Polar Institute, Sea Ice Physics |
| Ronnie Glud | University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Microbiology and Biogeochemistry |
| Martin Könneke | University of Oldenburg, Benthic Microbiology |
| Robert Larter | British Antarctic Survey, Glaciology and Geophysics |
| Katrin Linse | British Antarctic Survey, Benthic Biology |
| Hanne Sagen | NERSC Bergen, Physical Oceanography / Acoustics |
| Ralph Schneider | University of Kiel, Paleoceanography |
| in beiden Panels vertreten | |
|---|---|
| Katarina Abrahamsson | University of Gothenburg, Marine Chemistry |
| Helge Arz (Co-Chair) | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Marine Geology |
| Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller | IOPAN Sopot, Physical Oceanography |
| Michael Böttcher | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Biogeochemistry and Geochemistry |
| Marleen De Troch | Ghent University, Marine Biodiversity and Zoology |
| Rolf Gradinger | University of Tromsø, Arctic and Marine Biology |
| Christian Hübscher (Co-Chair) | University of Hamburg, Geologically Applied Geophysics |
| Bettina Meyer | University of Oldenburg / AWI, Pelagic Ecophysiology |
| Thorsten Nagel | Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Petrology and Geodynamics |
| Markus Rex | Alfred Wegener Institute, Potsdam, Atmospheric Physics |
| Karin Sigloch | Université Côte d’Azur, Seismology and Geodynamics |
| Subpanel „Oceans and Marginal Seas“ | |
|---|---|
| Johanna Baehr | University of Hamburg, Climate Modelling |
| Jan Behrmann (Co-Chair) | GEOMAR Kiel, Marine Geodynamics |
| Kai Horst George | Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhemshaven, Marine Biodiversity and Zoology |
| Michele Giani | National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, Sgonico, Marine Biogeochemistry |
| Tilmann Harder | University of Bremen / AWI, Marine Chemistry |
| Hans van Haren | Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, Physical Oceanography |
| Jürgen Koepke | University of Hannover, Petrology and Geochemistry |
| Jillian Petersen | University of Vienna, Microbial Ecology |
| Ralf Schiebel | Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Micropaleontology |
| Karin Sigloch | University of Oxford, Seismology and Geodynamics |
| Rüdiger Stein | Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Paleoceanography and Sedimentology |
| Oliver Zielinski | University of Oldenburg, Marine Sensor Systems |
| Subpanel “Polar Regions” | |
|---|---|
| Xavier Crosta | University of Bordeaux, Paleoceanography |
| Marleen De Troch | Ghent University, Marine Biodiversity and Zoology |
| Anja Engel | GEOMAR Kiel, Biological Oceanography |
| Ilker Fer | University of Bergen, Physical Oceanography |
| Hauke Flores | Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Microbiology and Ecology |
| Christian Hübscher (Co-Chair) | University of Hamburg, Geologically Applied Geophysics |
| Robert Larter | British Antarctic Survey, Glaciology and Geophysics |
| Martin Melles | University of Cologne, Quaternary Geology |
| Thorsten Nagel | Aarhus University, Petrology and Geodynamics |
| Katharina Pahnke-May | University of Oldenburg, Chemical Oceanography and Paleoceanography |
| Markus Rex | Alfred Wegener Institute, Potsdam, Atmospheric Physics |
| Gunnar Spreen | University of Bremen, Sea Ice and Remote Sensing |
| in beiden Panels vertreten | |
|---|---|
| Helge Arz | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, Marine Geology |
| Dieter Franke | Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Marine Geophysics |
| Ronnie Glud | University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Microbiology and Biogeochemistry |
| Rolf Gradinger | University of Tromsø, Arctic and Marine Biology |
| Heiko Pälike | Marum, University of Bremen, Paleoceanography |
| Dr. Karina von Schuckmann | Mercator Ocean, Ramonville Saint-Agne, Climate Dynamics and Oceanography |
Structure of the Panel by research areas
Subpanel „Oceans and Marginal Seas“ | Subpanel “Polar Regions” |
Biogeochemistry | Biogeochemistry |
Marine Chemistry |
|
Geology (Sedimentology, Fluids) |
|
Paleoceanography / Paleoclimatology | Paleoceanography / Paleoclimatology |
Microbiology / Plankton | Microbiology / Plankton |
Ecology / Benthos | Ecology / Benthos |
Seismics / Hydroacoustics / Bathymetry | Seismics / Hydroacoustics / Bathymetry |
Physical Oceanography (Dynamics) | Physical Oceanography (Polar Regions) |
Physical Oceanography (Hydrography) | Glaciology / Sea Ice |
Geodynamics / Petrology / Magmatic and Structural Geology |
|
Biogeochemistry | |
Marine Chemistry | |
Geodynamics / Petrology / Magmatic and Structural Geology | |
Geology (Sedimentology, Fluids) | |
Microbiology / Plankton | |
Marine Biology / Zoology / Fisheries | |
Ecology / Benthos | |
Seismics / Hydroacoustics / Bathymetry | |
Marine Geophysics (Seismology, EM etc.) | |
Physical Oceanography | |
Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry / Climate Science | |
Geochemistry | |
Responsibilities of the Panel and the Co-Chairs
A panel is assembled for each meeting based on the proposals received and is made up of both standing GPF members and additional subject experts. Cruise proposals are reviewed based on uniform review criteria: these are to be found in the (Download). Assessments are discussed individually at meetings, with any panel members who may potentially be subject to a conflict of interest being excluded from the discussion. The panel then arrives at a joint recommendation on inclusion in the cruise scheduling process and, where applicable, on funding under SPP 2520. In the case of SPP proposals, this also includes a recommendation on the amount of funding to be awarded. For all positively reviewed proposals, the panel determines the number of working days at sea, the number of berths and the chief scientist. It may also make inclusion in the cruise scheduling process subject to certain requirements: in this case, approval is granted on a provisional basis. Subsequent assessment of whether such conditions and requirements have been met likewise falls within the panel’s remit.
The co-chairs are elected from among the standing panel members: they chair the meetings and serve as the primary contact persons for the GPF Office. They are consulted on all essential matters, concerning decisions on individual proposals and the ongoing refinement of the process. The former naturally does not apply in cases where there is the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The panel is not responsible for operational cruise scheduling; this is the task of the respective ship operators. If competing demands arise between different positively reviewed cruise proposals during the scheduling process, the panel may be consulted to advise on scientific priority.
The GPF and the co-chairs also take part in monitoring compliance with reporting requirements. Cruise reports may be reviewed by the panel on a spot-check basis. Extended abstracts submitted for the status conference are reviewed by the GPF, and GPF members participate in the status conference. If any uncertainties remain after the relevant report has been presented at the status conference, the panel may make formal completion of the project subject to certain conditions.
Members of the GPF are selected based on the following criteria:
- The researcher must be an established and reputable figure in the relevant research area, have experience of international projects, and be able to represent the scientific discipline with authority.
- The aim is to ensure that all major scientific disciplines relevant to marine and polar research are represented (physical, chemical and biological oceanography; geology; geophysics; geochemistry and biogeochemistry; organismic biology; meteorology; glaciology) (disciplinary balance).
- The principal national marine institutes and research institutions should be represented on the GPF (regional balance).
- GPF membership should be drawn in roughly equal proportions from universities and non-university research institutions (institutional balance).
- Among GPF members there should be a sufficient number of individuals with hands-on experience of carrying out their own research cruises.
- Female researchers should be appropriately represented in the GPF.
- A significant proportion of members should be employed at research institutions outside Germany.
In order to ensure the participation of international reviewers, the working language of the GPF is English.
Approximately one year before the start of a mandate period, the organisations and institutions entitled to make nominations are invited to propose potential members for the upcoming period.
The following institutions are entitled to submit nominations:
- German Marine Research Consortium
- German Marine Research Alliance
- German Physical Society
- German Meteorological Society
- German Geophysical Society
- German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry
- German Geological Society
- Palaeontological Society
- German Mineralogical Society
- German Zoological Society
- German Society for Plant Sciences
- Association for General and Applied Microbiology
- German Chemical Society
- AWI Board of Directors
- GEOMAR Board of Directors
- IOW Board of Governors
- German Research Fleet Coordination Centre
- Members of the relevant DFG review boards (2.12, 2.13, 2.21, 3.41, 3.42, 3.43, 3.44)
The DFG compiles all nominations and, in coordination with the BMFTR, arranges them in a ranking that reflects the criteria for selecting panel members. Once the members of a panel have been selected, this selection is coordinated with the relevant DFG review board (usually Review Board 3.41) and confirmed by the BMFTR. The term of office begins with the inaugural meeting of the relevant mandate period and ends with the inaugural meeting of the subsequent mandate period.
The GPF Office takes great care in planning the meetings to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Potential conflicts of interest must be declared at the beginning of each GPF meeting. GPF members for whom there is an apparent conflict of interest with regard to a cruise proposal must leave the meeting room while the proposal in question is being discussed. There is a potential conflict of interest if any of the following criteria apply in relation to the authors of a cruise proposal:
- first-degree family relationship, marriage, civil partnership or cohabitation in a marriage-like relationship
- personal financial interests, or financial interests of the persons listed under the first point
- close scientific collaboration, whether current, planned or in the last three years
- institutional dependence or supervisory relationship (e.g. teacher–student relationship up to and including the postdoctoral phase) up to six years after the end of that relationship
- affiliation with, or impending move to, the same university faculty or the same non-university research institution
- preparation of a proposal or implementation of a project in a closely related research area (competition)
- involvement in ongoing or recently completed appointment procedures (within the last twelve months) as an applicant or as an internal member of the appointment committee
Working in the same city but at different institutions does not constitute a potential conflict of interest.
GPF meetings are held in confidence so that members can speak openly and frankly during the discussions. Information on review outcomes and meeting procedures can only be obtained from the GPF Office.