Simone Colmanet is a PhD candidate in Paleoclimatology and Geochemistry at the University of Pisa. Growing up in the Alps, he developed a deep curiosity about the processes that shape the Earth and the interactions between climate, landscapes, and ecosystems.
His doctoral research, conducted within the framework of the LAST NEANDERTHAL Project, focuses on speleothem records from the circum-Mediterranean region, including Sardinia, Tuscany, and Bosnia, spanning the last ~150,000 years. By combining high-resolution stable isotope (δ18O, δ13C) analysis with trace element geochemistry on U-Th dated speleothems, he aims to reconstruct past hydroclimate variability and investigate the environmental mechanisms that have influenced regional climate. His work provides a window into the dynamics of hydroclimatic systems and supports the development of robust interpretations of geochemical proxies in complex settings.
He holds a BSc in Geological Sciences from the University of Bologna and an MSc in Climate Reconstruction from Utrecht University. His MSc thesis focused on speleothem-based isotope records from the Western Tropical Pacific, examining hydroclimate variability between 220 and 125 ka BP. His academic background provided a foundation in both field-based and analytical approaches, which now underpin his investigations into past climate and environmental change.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Environmental Geochemistry
- Stable Isotope Analysis
- Trace Element Geochemistry
- Climate and Environmental Reconstruction
- Geochronology and Dating Methods
Research project: Climate variability over the last ca. 150,000 years in the circum-Mediterranean area: an integrated geochemical approach from continental deposits.
Supervisors:
Professor Andrea Columbu (DST, Università di Pisa)
Professor Giovanni Zanchetta (DST, Università di Pisa)
Dr Ilaria Isola (INGV)
Simone Colmanet
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia