Prof. Dr. Lena Noack

Planetary Geodynamics
Professor
Head of Planetary Geodynamics and Managing Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences
Room D211
12249 Berlin
Main research interests
Geodynamic modeling of planetary processes
Habitability of rocky (exo-)planets
Feedback between interior, surface and atmosphere
Recent research grants & awards (full list)
FUB TEAMS grant, 2025-2026: Project "Bewohnbarkeit als grundlegender planetarischer Prozess: Paradigmenwechsel in unserer Wahrnehmung der vermeintlichen Einzigartigkeit der Erde" (PI)
Die 100 wichtigsten Köpfe der Berliner Wissenschaft - Forschen für die Zukunft 2024: Selected as one of the "The 100 most important minds in Berlin science - research for the future 2024" by publisher "Der Tagesspiegel"
Research grant, 06/2023-05/2028: Project "DIVERSE: DIVerse Exoplanet Redox State Estimations" (PI), ERC Consolidator Grant
FUB STRUCTURE grant, 2023-2024: Project "Planetare Habitabilität: Vergleich und Bedeutung der Bewohnbarkeit von Planeten im Sonnensystem und darüber hinaus" (PI)
Einstein Circle (project meeting grant), 2022-2025: Project "Exploring otherness on Earth and beyond: Integrating perspectives from natural sciences, social sciences and humanities" (Co-I)
Paolo Farinella Prize 2021, Europlanet Society: Awarded for research within the field of “Terrestrial Planets and Super-Earths”
Research grant, 01/2021-12/2024: Project "PORTAL - PhOtotrophy on Rocky HAbiTAble PLanets" (Co-I), Belgian BELSPO research grant for BRAIN-be 2.0 project
DFG grant, 01/2021-12/2023: 'EXO-HEAT – Interior Heating of Exoplanets' (PI, SPP 1992 network “Exploring the Diversity of Extrasolar Planets”).
DFG grant, 01/2020-12/2023: 'Crust formation and outgassing on early Earth and Mars' (PI, TRR 170 II–C6, SFB TRR 170 'Late Accretion onto Terrestrial Planets').
DFG grant, 02/2019-02/2022: 'Global Volatile Cycles on Early Earth' (PI, N-1324/2-1, SPP 1833 'Building a Habitable Earth').
DFG grant, 01/2019-12/2021: 'The Archaean Earth - Coupling between geodynamics and 3D climate modelling' (Co-PI, SPP 1833 'Building a Habitable Earth').
Teaching Award 2019: Awarded by the students of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin
Selected papers of the last years (full list)
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D. Ramette, L. Noack, S. Walter, F. Postberg, and K. Schepanski (2026): Making observed and modeled Martian dust storm trajectories visible using a new automatic tracking algorithm. JGR: Planets, 131(1), e2025JE009194
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L. Noack, R.-S. Taubner, S. Pohl, S. Pinna, S. Robert, F. Foucher, and J.-P.P. de Vera (2026): Exploring the Diversity within EANA and AbGradE as Mirror of the European Astrobiology Community. International Journal of Astrobiology, 25, e2, 1–18, DOI: 10.1017/S1473550425100207
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L. Noack, I.L. ten Kate, E.J. Javaux, S. McMahon, Ch. Malaterre, J.L. Grenfell, F. Klenner, Y.J. Lara, N. Khawaja, C.H.L. Patty, V. Debaille, M. Baqué, J. Hillier, and F. Postberg (2025): Why do we need (another) universal tracers portal in Astrobiology? International Journal of Astrobiology, International Journal of Astrobiology, 24, e11, 1–9, DOI: 10.1017/S1473550425100086
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C. Brachmann, L. Noack, Ph. Baumeister, and F. Sohl (2025): Distinct types of C-H-O-N atmospheres and surface pressures depending on melt redox state and outgassing efficiency. Icarus 429, 116450, DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116450
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L. Carone, R. Barnes, L. Noack, K. Chubb, P. Barth, B. Bitsch, A. Thamm, A. Balduin, and Ch. Helling (2025): From CO2- to H2O-dominated atmospheres and back. How mixed outgassing changes the volatile distribution in magma oceans around M dwarf stars. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 693, A303, DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202450307
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S. Vulpius and L. Noack (2022): Intrusive magmatism strongly contributed to the volatile release into the atmosphere of early Earth. G-Cubed, 23, e2021GC010230
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J.M. Schmidt and L. Noack (2021): Clinopyroxene/Melt Partitioning: Models for Higher Upper Mantle Pressures Applied to Sodium and Potassium. International Journal On Advances in Systems and Measurements, 14(1-2):125-136
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L. Noack, K. G. Kislyakova, C. P. Johnstone, M. Güdel, L. Fossati (2021): Interior heating and outgassing of Proxima Centauri b: Identifying critical parameters. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 651, A103, DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202040176
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L. Noack and M. Lasbleis (2020): Parameterisations of interior properties of rocky planets. An investigation of planets with Earth-like compositions but variable iron content. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 37723. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202037723
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G. Ortenzi, L. Noack, F. Sohl, C. M. Guimond, L. Grenfell, C. Dorn, J. M. Schmidt, S.Vulpius, N. Katyal, D. Kitzmann, and H. Rauer (2020): Mantle redox state drives outgassing chemistry and atmospheric composition of rocky planets, Scientific Reports, Nature publishing group, 10, 10907, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67751-7