Since 2009, Stefano Bernasconi has been Adjunct Professor for Biogeochemistry at the Geological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences.

He was born 1961 in Neggio.

He studied Geology and Petrography at ETH Zurich, where he also completed his PhD in Geology in 1991.

After the PhD, he took over the responsibility for the Stable Isotope Laboratory of the Geological Institute which, over the years, he developed and expanded with an organic geochemistry laboratory.

Stefano Bernasconi participated in a cruise with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and various international projects. In 2000 he was a guest professor at the University of Strasbourg, France.

Stefano Bernasconi’s research focuses on the study of paleoclimate and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial and marine environments, and on the development of novel analytical techniques and approaches for solving earth science questions.

Over the years he has strongly promoted interdisciplinary research at the interface between geology and biology with numerous joint projects and students with environmental scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, plant-​ and soil scientists. Currently one of the major focuses is the application of carbonate clumped isotopes for paleoclimate reconstructions from foraminifera and coccoliths in marine sediments and from paleosols. In addition, he is using clumped isotopes to study diagenesis and burial history of sedimentary basins, tectonics and processes of dolomitisation.