Meryem MOJTAHID

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Family name, First name: Mojtahid Meryem

Researcher unique identifier(s): D-2636-2014

Date of birth: 28/07/1981

Nationality: Moroccan/French

EDUCATION

07/2018               HDR (habilitation thesis to supervise research) Defense: “The role played by foraminifera in documenting past climates”

11/2007               PhD in Oceanic Environments and Paleoenvironments “Benthic foraminifera: bio-indicators of natural and anthropogenic eutrophication in open marine environments”

06/2004               MSc in Oceanography and Paleoceanography. University of Bordeaux, France.

CURRENT POSITION(S)

Since 09/2010     Associate professor at University of Angers, in the Research Unit UMR6112 LPG-BIAF

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2009 – 2010        Post-doctoral researcher. NOC–National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK -

                              Marie Curie Fellowship (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008)

2008 – 2009        Assistant professor (ATER) - Faculty of Sciences, University of Angers. I spent the teaching part of the contract in the Geology Department in Angers (09 to 12/08). I spent the research part in two institutes in Australia:

                              - From 01 to 04/09: ANU–Australian National University, Canberra, Australia -      Supervisor:  Prof. Patrick De Deckker.

                              - From 05 to 08/09: JCU–James Cook University, Cairns, Australia - Supervisor:  Michael Bird.

2007– 2008         Assistant professor (ATER)

                              Faculty of Sciences, Geology Department, University of Angers, France.

2004– 2007         Assistant lecturer (monitorat) during PhD training

                              Faculty of Sciences, Geology Department, University of Angers, France.

FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS and RESEARCH LEAVES

2020                     Award winner of the 2020 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe as a member of the MedECC network

07/18                   Award winner of “Rising Star” initiative for science of the Pays de la Loire Region

01 to 08/18         I obtained a research Leave (CET) from the University of Angers that allows a half teaching charge for 2017/2018.

01 to 08/14         I obtained a research Leave (CRCT) from Universities National Council (CNU) that allows a half teaching charge for 2013/2014.

2014                     Beneficiary of the Research and doctoral supervision grant PEDR

19/12/2008        Marie-Curie fellowship (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008). Title: Linking foraminiferal diets and shell chemistry: an experimental approach to improving paleoceanography proxies.

                              NOC–National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK. 

2008                     Award winner of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Title: Ultra structural changes and trace element/isotope partitioning in calcifying organisms (Foraminifera, Ostracods). AWI–Alfred-Wegener Institute for polar and marine research, Bremerhaven, Germany.

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, PhDs AND POSTDOCS

2019 – 2020        Post-doc: S. Le Houedec on the “Teleconnections between the main modes of climatic variability between the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean basins during the Holocene”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112

2019 – 2022        PhD: P. Dupuydt on the “Temporal and spatial reconstructions of intermediate water masses in the Bay of Biscay and along the Iberian margin during the last climatic cycle”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

2018 – 2021        PhD: E. Fossile on the “Marine bio-indicators of Arctic freeze/thaw Cycles: Storfjorden and Kongsfjorden as Climate change key zones”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

2014 – 2017        PhD: M. Durand on the “From estuary to ocean: local and global forcings and the dynamics of the Loire since the Mid- Holocene”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

2011 – 2015        PhD: C. Caulle on the “Benthic Foraminifera from the Minimum Oxygen Zone of the Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean): Developing a paleooxygenation proxy”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

2010 – 2013         PhD: J. Garcia, on the “Holocene records in the southeastern Bay of Biscay: Global vs regional climate signals”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

02 to 06/2020    MSc: S. Santoni, on “Benthic foraminiferal communities from a Holocene core from the Kongsfjorden (Svalbard)”, University of Rennes/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

02 to 06/2020    MSc: F. Rihani, on “Culture experiment of deep-sea benthic foraminifera: Sr/Ca as a proxy of the marine carbonate system”, University of Brest/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.    

02 to 06/2019    MSc: P. Dupuydt, on “Benthic foraminiferal response to the past 50 kyrs climatic changes as recorded in the southern Australian margin”, University of Rennes/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

02 to 06/2019    MSc: F. Bouhdayad, on “Holocene variability of the western Mediterranean traced by benthic foraminiferal assemblages and stables isotopes from the Var tubiditic system”, University of Perpignan/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.    

02 to 06/2018    MSc: M. Demol, on “Benthic foraminiferal response to brine formation under arctic ice in Storfjorden (Norway); Cruise Step17”, University of Nantes/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

02 to 06/2017    MSc: A. Jouini, on “Benthic foraminiferal response to brine formation under arctic ice in Storfjorden (Norway); Cruise Step16”, University of Perpignan/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.    

02 to 06/2016    MSc: P.-O. Coste, on “High resolution study of benthic foraminifera from the northern Bay of Biscay over the past 7000 years”, University of Brest/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

02 to 06/2015    MSc: M. Tribondeau, on “Distribution and geochemistry of benthic foraminifers in sediments of the Bay of Biscay”, Université Paris Sud XI/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

01 to 06/2015    MSc: G. Justine, on “15000 years of palaeoenvironmental and paleoceanographic reconstitution of northern Scotland based on benthic foraminifera”, Université de Nantes/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

01 to 06/2014    MSc: M. Durand, on “Benthic foraminiferal characterization for determining the origin of turbidites. Ecuador Margin”, University of Rennes 1/UMR6118 CNRS Géosciences.

02 to 06/2014    MSc: R. Fentimen, on “High resolution study of the Last Glacial Maximum off the ‘Manche’ palaeoriver”, University of Angers/LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

01 to 06/2013    MSc: R. Manceau “High resolution study of planktic foraminifera from the Nile prodelta over the past 13 ka”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.  

01 to 06/2013    MSc: L. Zozzolo “Spatial distribution of live benthic foraminifera in the Loire estuary: towards the development of a biotic index”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

04 to 05/2006    MSc: A. Pillet “Benthic ecosystem of Loch Etive: the use of benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of the impact of aquaculture activity”, LPG-BIAF–UMR6112.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Since 2004           I taught a total of 2520 h as Associate and Assistant Professor and Teaching Assistant

Degrees                Undergraduate to MSc degrees

Teaching units    External and internal earth geodynamics, climatology and paleoclimatology, paleontology and micropaleontology, biostratigraphy, sedimentology, earth history, petrography and mapping, marine ecosystem bio-monitoring.

Institution           All my teaching took place in the Geology Department, University of Angers, France.

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

06/2016               Organizer of the international conference: TMS Foraminifera and Nannofossil Groups, Joint Spring Meeting 2016, held at University of Angers. This conference was a great success. We received over 140 participants from 17 different nationalities. My role was to manage a team of volunteers, to deal with all administrative (accounting, search for sponsors, registrations, invoice and certificate management ...), scientific (organization of sessions and presentations, reception abstracts, selection of presentations and posters ...) and general public communication aspects (press releases, educational video ...). This work required nearly 3 month’s full time.

05/2013               Member of the organizing committee of the PhD student day, University of Angers, France.

01/2011               AERES «Agence d’Evaluation de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement supérieur» meeting, Nantes, France. Ø I made a movie presenting the research held at the LPG-BIAF laboratory. This video is used in various occasions to introduce the research in our laboratory.

06/2007              Organization Committee member of TMS Foraminifera and Nannofossil Groups. Joint Spring Meeting, June 2007, Angers, France.

Since 2010           Organization of several scientific meetings in the course of the different projects I am leading and before PhD and HDR defenses.

SCIENTIFIC ANIMATION AND DISSEMINATION

11/2020               Co-chairman of the session “Climate and ocean dynamics of the Atlantic basin at all timescales” in the conference Climat et Impacts, November 2020 in Paris Orsay.

2020                     Participation in the organization of the 6-month exhibition on foraminifera at the museum of natural history of Angers starting in October 2020.

08/2018               During a sampling cruise in the Arctic in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Archipelago), I organized a day of participatory science aboard a sailboat carrying tourists. This adventure was published in the daily Ouest France: https://www.ouest-france.fr/economie/economie-de-la-mer/economie-de-la-mer-chercheuses-au-svalbard-bord-de-l-aztec-lady-5983409

01/2017               Invited public conference speaker at the Angers Municipal Institute. During this one-hour conference, I introduced the public to the history of Earth's climate over the past two million years.

10/2016               Co-chairman of the session (Holocene and Quaternary changes) with Christophe Colin (IDES, University Paris Sud XI) held during the 26^th edition of the Meeting of Earth Sciences 2016 (Caen, France). In the same theme of TANDEM, this session focused on climate oscillations at decadal to millennial scales, the response to external forcing (orbital variations, solar cycles, volcanism), and the role of the ocean (internal forcing) and ocean-atmosphere coupling.

2016                     Following the accomplishment of the two main projects on the Loire estuary (RS2E and SEMHABEL) initiated in 2012, we proposed with my colleague E. Metzger (LPG-BIAF, University of Angers) a special issue in the Journal of Sea Research on the recent and past evolution of sedimentary, biogeochemical and benthic ecosystems in the Loire estuary. These two major scientific projects brought together about twenty researchers from different disciplines (biology, geology, chemistry, sedimentology and biogeochemistry) who managed to produce a large dataset giving 9 publications for this special issue. With my colleagues E. Metzger (LPG-BIAF, University of Angers) and P. Anschutz (EPOC, University of Bordeaux), we animated the special issue as guest editors.

Since 2010           Yearly active participation in the animation of wide audience scientific events such as the night of researchers, the science festival, the open doors of the University of Angers and orientation forums.

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Since 2020           Elected member of the academic council and the research commission of Angers University

Since 2019           Head of the Geology Department (University of Angers)

Since 2017           Member of the selection jury for PhD candidates for the doctoral school “Mer et Littoral UBL”

Since 2017           Member of the selection jury for Master candidates PPP (Angers/Rennes)

Since 2017           Member of the Editorial board of the international Journal "Revue de micropaléontologie"

April 2018           Selection Committee member for attribution of Associate Professor positions in the Geology Department, University of Angers.

2017-2018          Member of the Mixed Commission for ATER Recruitment

2017-2018          Substitute member for the Geology department direction

2011 – 2016        Member of the Scientific Council of LPG (Elected December 2011)

April 2014           Selection Committee member for attribution of Associate Professor positions in the Geology Department, University of Angers.

2010-2015           Responsible for the first undergraduate year of Geology, University of Angers.

2010-2015           Member of Advisory Committee 7 for Universities National Council (CNU, 23, 24, 63).

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

• Member of the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MEDECC) assessment report on the current state and risks of climate change (http://www.medecc.org/?p=1818). Lead Author in the "Ecosystems: past and present marine and coastal ecosystems" chapter.
• Twice reviewer of PhD manuscripts and dissertations.
• Twice reviewer of national INSU project.
• Four times member of 2 Master jury evaluations (Angers and Rennes Universities).
• Over 26 reviewed papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals: Continental Shelf Research (IF: 2,064), Marine micropaleontology (IF: 1,889), Palaeoceanography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (IF: 2,578), Journal of Foraminiferal Research (IF: 1,700), The Holocene (IF: 2,324), Quaternary Science Reviews (IF: 4,797), Annales de Paléontologie, Revue de micropaléontologie.

MAJOR COLLABORATIONS

In alphabetical order of last names

- Prof. P. De Deckker (Australian National University): We are working on Quaternary paleoceanographic reconstructions from the south Australian margin.

- Dr. F. Eynaud (Bordeaux University): We collaborate on Quaternary marine records from Northeast Atlantic margin.

- Dr. B. Hoogakker (Heriot Watt University, Scotland): We are working on the application of I/Ca ratio as a proxy of paleoxygenation.

- Dr. K. Husum (The Norvegian Polar Institute): We are working on arctic Holocene sediment cores from Svalbard fjords.

- Prof. G. de Lange (Utrecht University): We collaborate on Mediterranean marine cores.

- Dr. E. Michel (LSCE, France): We work together on foraminiferal oxygen and carbon stable isotopes.

- Dr. A. Penaud (Brest University): We collaborate on the Loire estuarine cores and the mid-shelf mud-belt of the Bay of Biscay.

- Prof. G.J. Reichart, Dr. L.J. de Nooijer and Dr. R. Hennekam (NIOZ, The Netherlands): We are working on E/Ca proxy ratios in foraminiferal calcite and Quaternary cores from the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas.

- Prof. G. Schmidt and Dr. A. Le Grande (NASA GISS, New York): We are collaborating on Holocene CGM modelling.

- Prof. M. Snoussi (Mohammed V University in Rabat), and Prof. L. Dezileau (Montpellier University). We are working on Holocene marine cores from the Moroccan Atlantic margin to reconstruct paleostorms.

- Dr. S. Toucanne (IFREMER, France): We collaborate on sedimentological analyses on Atlantic and Mediterranean cores.

TRACK-RECORD

Current and submitted grants

Publications

In a nutshell:

33 publications in peer review journals, 3 under review

15 papers as first author, 7 as second author, and 4 as last author

1 international report

800 citations (Scopus 04/2021), H-index: 15 (Scopus 04/2021), i10-index: 20 (Google scholar 04/2021)

*indicates the publications without the presence of my PhD supervisor (F. Jorissen). In italics are the names of the post-doc, PhD or MsC students I supervised.

                                                        Participation to chapters in collective reports

Guiot J., Cramer W. and 71 CLAs and LAs, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - First MedECC Assessment Report (MAR1), Under review.

Conferences

In a nutshell:

33 national and international conferences, 22 as first author

21 talks and 12 posters

2 Invited conferences

 (* The person presenting the study; **Invited conference. In italics are the names of the PhD or MsC students I supervised)

*Mojtahid M., Schweizer M., Douarin M., Gabriel J., Colin C., Tisnérat-laborde N., Pons-branchu E., Elliot M. From glacial times to late Holocene: benthic foraminiferal communities from cold water coral reefs off north west Scotland. Oral presentation, Journées “Climat et Impacts”, Nov 2020, Paris Orsay.

*Depuydt P., Mojtahid M., Barras C., Soulet G., Toucanne S. A new 45 kyr-high resolution record from the Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic): insights from benthic foraminifera on hydrological and environmental changes. Poster, Journées “Climat et Impacts”, Nov 2020, Paris Orsay.

Le Houedec, S., Mojtahid, M., Bicchi, E., Hennekam, R., de Lange, G. High resolution deep-sea ecosystem variability of the Nile prodelta during the past 20 Ka revealed by Benthic Foraminifera. Poster, ICP 2019, Sydney.

*Mojtahid, M., Jouini, A., Howa, H., Lansard, B., Michel, E., Peron, O., Baltzer, A., Nardelli, M. P., 2018. Benthic foraminiferal dissolution index for marine sediments in the Svalbard (Storfjorden). Poster, Arctic Frontiers 2018, Tromsø (Norvège).

*Nardelli, M. P., Jouini, A., Howa, H., Lansard, B., Michel, E., Baltzer, A., Mojtahid, M., 2018. Reconstructing historical changes in sea-ice production at Storfjorden (Svalbard): benthic foraminifera as proxies of brine shelf waters. Oral presentation, Arctic Frontiers 2018, Tromsø (Norvège).

Durand, M., Mojtahid, M., Maillet, G.M., Murat, A., Baltzer, A., Schmidt, S., Blet, S., Garlan, T., Marchès E., *Howa, H., 2017. Late Holocene record from the Loire incised valley (Bay of Biscay): Insights into regional vs global climate forcing factors. Poster, IMS 2017, Toulouse (France).

*Maillet, G., Blanchet, L., Vella, C., Durand M., Mojtahid M., 2017. Spatial variability of superficial surface sediments grain-size of the Loire estuary. Poster, IMS 2017, Toulouse (France).

*Mouret A., Metzger E., Dubosq N., Durand M., Howa H., Maillet G., Bénéteau E., Haquin S., Lelong F., Tessier B., Mojtahid M., 2017. Diagenetic transformations of phosphorus, iron and manganese in the Loire estuary (France). Oral presentation, IEBS 2017, Rimouski (Canada).

*Sepulcre, S., Tribondeau, M., Bassinot, F., Mojtahid, M., Nardelli, M. P., Dessandier P.-A., Bonnin, J. 2017.  Calibration of benthic foraminifera elemental ratios from the Northeastern Atlantic. Oral presentation, Goldschmidt 2017, Paris (France).

* ^; **Mojtahid M., 2017. The ocean and the history of Earth's climate for two million years. Oral presentation, Terre des sciences, Cycle of conferences on the ocean, Institut Municipal d'Angers.

*Mojtahid M., Durand M., Penaud A., Coste P-O., Ganne A., Howa H., Nizou J., and Toucanne S., 2017. High resolution study of benthic foraminiferal community from the northern Bay of Biscay (northeastern Atlantic) over the past 7000 years: a look at climatic and oceanic forcing factors. Poster, PAGES OSM 2017, Saragossa (Espagne).

*Mojtahid M., Toucanne, S., Fentimen, R., Barras, C., Le Houedec, S., Soulet, G., Bourrillet, J-F, Michel, E., 2017. Do benthic foraminifera and their geochemical signature from the Celtic margin differentiate the effects of European and Laurentide Ice Sheets meltwaters on the AMOC across Termination 1? International science meeting AMOC. Oral presentation, Brest, 3-5^th of May 2017.

*Mojtahid, M., Toucanne, S., Fentimen, R., Barras, C., Le Houedec, S., Zaragosi, S.,  Michel, E. 2016. Etude à haute résolution temporelle de la Terminaison I dans l’Atlantique Nord-Est: Apport des proxies basés sur les foraminifères benthiques. Oral presentation, RST 2016, Caen (France).

*Mojtahid, M., and P. De Deckker, 2016. Fossil benthic foraminifera from the Murray Canyons Group (South Australia). Poster, TMS meeting, June 2016, Angers (France)

*Durand, M., Mojtahid, M., Maillet, G.M., Proust, J-N., Lehay, D., Ehrhold, A., Barré, A., Howa, H., 2016. Mid- to late-Holocene environmental evolution of the Loire estuary as observed from sedimentary and microfaunal characteristics. Oral presentation, TMS meeting, June 2016, Angers (France).

* ^; **Mojtahid, M., Hennekam, R., De Nooijer, L., Reichart, G.J., Jorissen, F., de Lange, G. 2015. Reconstructing southeastern Mediterranean bottom and surface water environments during Sapropel S1 using laser-ICPMS elemental ratios on foraminiferal shells. Poster, GSA Baltimore 2015 (USA) – November. 

*Mojtahid, M., Manceau, R., Schiebel, R., Henneckam, R., de Lange, G. 2014. High-resolution study of planktic foraminifera from the eastern Mediterranean over the last 13 cal ka BP. Oral presentation, EGU 2014, Vienna.

*Caulle, C., Koho, K.A., Mojtahid, M., Reichart, G.J. and Jorissen F.J., 2014. Live foraminiferal faunas (Rose Bengal stained) from the northern Arabian Sea: links with bottom-water oxygenation. Poster, EGU 2014, Vienna.

*Caulle, C., Mojtahid, M., Koho, K., Gooday, A. G., Reichart, J.G., Schmiedl, G., Jorissen, F.  2014. Benthic foraminifera from the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone: towards a paleo-oxygenation proxy. Oral presentation, EGU 2014, Vienna.

*Garcia J., Mojtahid M., Michel E., Eynaud F., and Howa H., 2014. Glacial to Holocene environmental changes recorded in the southeastern Bay of Biscay: a global versus regional signal. Oral presentation, EGU 2014, Vienna.

*Mojtahid M., Jorissen F.J., Garcia J., Schiebel R., Michel E., Howa H., et al. 2013. Holocene records in the southeastern Bay of Biscay : global versus regional climate signals. Poster, ICP11, Barcelona, Sept 2013.

*Mojtahid M., Howa H., Garcia J., Jorissen F.J., Michel E., Schiebel R., et al., 2012. High resolution Holocene record from the southeastern Bay of Biscay: global vs regional signals. Oral presentation, EGU, Vienna, April 2012.

*Mojtahid, M., Durrieu, J., and others, 2009, Comparison of benthic foraminiferal and macrofaunal indicators of oily drill disposal. Oral presentation, FACEIT Symposium, January 2009, Leipzig, Germany.

*Mojtahid, M., Bicchi, E., Duchemin, and others, 2008. Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of drill cutting disposals. Oral presentation, The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS), Mai 2008, Tübingen, Germany.

*Mojtahid, M., F. Jorissen, and others, 2007. Spatial distribution of benthic foraminifera in the Rhône prodelta: faunal response to organic matter focussing. Oral presentation, IMBER/LOICZ, September 2007, Shanghai, China.

*Mojtahid, M., F. Jorissen, and others, 2007. Spatial distribution of benthic foraminifera in the Rhône prodelta: faunal response to organic matter focussing. Oral presentation, The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS), June 2007, Angers.

*Mojtahid, M. 2007. Benthic foraminifera from the Rhône prodelta (SEM images). Poster, The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS), June 2007, Angers, France.

*Mojtahid, M., F. Jorissen, T. Pearson, J. Durrieu; F. Galgani, 2007. Towards an operational use of benthic foraminifera for organic pollution monitoring. Poster, The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS), June 2007, Angers, France.

Mojtahid M., *Jorissen F., F.Galgani, J. Durrieu and Pearson T.H., 2006. Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of eutrophicated environments. Oral presentation, International Symposium of foraminifera, Sept 2006, Natal, Brazil,

Mojtahid M., *E. Gelsin, T.H. Pearson and F. Jorissen, 2006. Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of eutrophicated environments. Oral presentation, International Symposium on Research and Management of Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems, June 2006, Nyborg, Denmark.

*Mojtahid M., Jorissen F., J. Durrieu, F.Galgani and Pearson T.H., 2006. Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of eutrophicated environments. Oral presentation, EGU assembly, April 2006, Austria.

*Mojtahid M., Eynaud F., Zaragosi S., Bourillet J-F. and Scourse J. 2004. Paloclimatology and paleohydrology of the celtic and armorican margins over the last 350 000 years. Oral presentation, Conférence URM17, Brest, May 2004.

Mojtahid M., *Eynaud F., Zaragosi S., Bourillet J-F. & Scourse J. 2004. "Paloclimatology and paleohydrology of the celtic and armorican margins over the last 350 000 years”. Poster, ICP8, Septembre 2004, Biarritz, France.