Curriculum Vitae

Prof. Dr. Yamirka Rojas-Agramonte studied Engineering Geology in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and obtained her Dr. rer. Nat. degree at Salzburg University, Austria, under the supervision of Prof. Franz Neubauer. She came to Germany for the first time in 2004 as a Humboldt fellow. Her research focuses on isotope geochemistry and geochronology to gain a quantitative understanding of recycling processes in subduction zones and mantle compositional heterogeneities. She combines detailed fieldwork and petrological observations with advanced geochemical analyses to study volcanic arc and ocean island systems through time. Recently, she has focused on investigating the role of inherited/xenocrystic zircon grains in juvenile mantle-derived igneous rocks. 

 

Nationalities: German/Cuban                                                                 ResearcherID: I-3776-2015                            
Languages: Spanish (Native), German, English                                   Scopus Author ID: 36174436600                 
                                                                                                                      Orcid ID: 0000-0003-2019-6234                                        

EDUCATION AND POSITIONS

Degrees

Tectonic evolution of the Sierra Maestra mountain range, Cuba: from subduction to arc-continent collision and transform motion. - Faculty of Natural Sciences, Univ. of Salzburg, Austria. Advisor: Franz Neubauer. (Awarded cum laude).

1995/07  Geology Engineer (equivalent to M.Sc). Métodos de extracción de Petróleo usando bombas de varilla (Oil extraction methods using rod pumps). University of Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

1989/07  Bachelor, IPVCE (Vocational Polytechnic Institute of Sciences): Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz. Ciego de Avila, Cuba. 

Present academic positions

Since 2025/01              Full Professor at Institut für Geowissenschaften, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Professional Experience

– 2024/12       DFG-Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Heisenberg position Research associate at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.

2020/02 – 2024/03       Research associate at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.

2017/08 – 2020/01       Assistant Professor at Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.

2014/08 – 2019/12       Post-doctoral researcher at Mainz University, Germany.  (Eigene Stelle, DFG-Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).

2014/03 - 2016/03         Prometeo research fellow and lecturer geosciences at Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Quito, Ecuador.

2013/04 – 2014/03       CERCAMS Scientific Associate at National History Museum (NHM) London; collaborative research projects CERCAMS team in Altaids.

2012/07 – 2013/05       Post-doctoral researcher at Mainz University. Forschungszentrum Erdsystemwissenschaften (Geocycles).

2012/04 – 07                  Post-doctoral researcher at Lausanne University, Switzerland (supported by the Herbette Foundation).

2012/02 – 2009/01       Post-doctoral researcher at Mainz University (DFG-Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).

2007/04 – 07; 2008/01 – 06: Post-doctoral Research fellow at Mainz University. Landesexcellenzcluster Geocycles: Time and Space in the Earth Sciences.

2006/02 - 11; 2007/08 – 09; 2008/06 – 2008/12: Georg Forster Research Fellow (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation) at Mainz University, Germany.

2008/03 – 06                 Lecturer at University of Namibia (UNAM) Windhoek.

2005/04 – 09                 Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Mainz University, Germany.

1999/09 – 2000/08       Research Fellow at Salzburg University (ÖAD scholarship).

1997/09 –1998/08       Post-graduate course at the International Training Center (ITC), Enschede, The Netherlands (NFP Scholarship), Netherland Fellowship Program.

1995/09 - 2004/07       Assistant Researcher, Instituto de Geología y Paleontología, La Habana, Cuba. 

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

2024 – 2029                 Heisenberg position of the Deutsche Forschugnsgemeinschaft.

2022 – 2026                 Elected member of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

2018 –                         GSA Fellow of the Geological Society of America (USA).

2016 – 2017                 Scholarship of the German Exchange Service (DAAD) (Germany).

2006 – 2008                 Georg Forster Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany).

1999 – 2003                 PhD Scholarship of the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD) (Austria).

1997 – 1998                 Post Graduate scholarship of the Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) (The Netherlands). 

MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANISATIONS AND SOCIETIES

2020 – present             German Geological Society - Geological Association (DGGV).

2017 – present             Sociedad Colombiana de Geología (SCG).

2016 – present             Geological Society of America (GSA).

1995 – present             Sociedad Cubana de Geología (SCG). 

RESEARCH INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION IN CRUISES

Scientific interest:

Isotope geochemistry, subduction zones and mantle compositional heterogeneity (recycling of the continental crust), time scales of magmatic processes (U-Pb zircon geochronology of arc rocks), zircon inheritance in mantle-derived igneous rocks, evolution of mantle plumes and hotspot related islands, sedimentary provenance analysis (source-to-sink processes), hydrothermal systems related to the genesis of Colombian emeralds, in situ U-Pb dating of low-U phases, orogenic evolution.

Research Cruises:

2024/05 – 07               Research Vessel (RV) POURQUOI PAS, "Haïti-TWiST" (Haïti TWIn fault Seismic Transect).

2022/10/07 – 11/14     RV MARIA S. MERIAN 112, RioM ROFI (Colombia). The Rio Magdalena Delta ROFI system - Land-Sea Interaction of the major tributary of the Caribbean Sea. 

PRESENTATIONS

Invited talks

2024/09/26                  Seminar at Sorbonne University, Paris, France: “Asthenospheric zircon from Galápagos and Pascua dates hundreds million years of plume activity: Implications for upper mantle dynamics”, Invited by Sylvie Leroy and Sara Lafuerza

2023/05/26                  Seminar at IFREMER, Brest, France: “The Caribbean: A natural laboratory to understand the consequences of ridge subduction and the evolution of intraoceanic arc systems”, invited by Dr. Frauke Klingelhoefer.

2022/11/30                  Seminar at Institut für Geowissenschaften, Heidelberg University: "Zircon dates long-lived plume dynamics in oceanic islands", invited by Prof. Axel Schmitt.

2022/06/                     Seminar at Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, FU Berlin: “Zircon dates long-lived plume dynamics in oceanic islands”, Invited by Dr. Elis Hoffmann.

2022/02/22                  Online Seminar at Institut für Geographie und Geologie, Universität Greifswald: “Evolution of a fossil intra-oceanic convergent margin: The Cuban example”, Invited by Profs. Gerald Kerth and Martin Meschede.

2021/03/26                  Online seminar at USGS, Menlo Park, California: “Isotopes and Lithospheric Properties: Toward a New View of the Earth”, invited by Prof. Walter Mooney.

2020/01/14                  Seminar at University of Freiburg: “Isotope Geology Applied to Understanding Lithosphere Processes”, invited by Prof. David Dolejs.

2019/12/06                  Invited talk at Salzburg University: “From where do old zircons from Pacific islands come from? - Galapagos, Gorgona, Easter Island”. on the occasion of the retirement of Prof. Franz Neubauer.

2019/04/02                  Invited talk in the Session: “Geology of the northwestern branch if the Caribbean”. Talk to be presented: “Early Cretaceous to Paleogene Arc Rocks of Cuba”. VIII Earth Sciences Convention (GEOSCIENCES´2019), in Havana, Cuba from April 1st to 5th 2019.

2017/11/03                  Seminar at Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede en Medellín “Palaeogene to Archaean zircons in the Galapagos hotspot: where do they come from?” Invited by Prof. Agustin Cardona.

2016/09/25 – 28          Invited talk at Session: P4. Geologic Evolution of Cuba. Pardee Keynote Symposia. GSA 2016, Denver, Colorado, USA: “Early Cretaceous to Paleogene Arc Rocks of Cuba”.

2016/09/04 – 08/27     Keynote talk at the 35th International Geological Congress, Cape Town, South Africa. “Palaeozoic to Archaean zircons in rocks derived from the Galápagos mantle hotspot: where do they come from?”. 

2016/07/13                  Geo-Kolloquium - TU Bergakademie Freiberg: “Old zircons in juvenile arc crust – new evidence for crustal recycling and assimilation in subduction zones of the Caribbean: Cuba and Grenada”. Invited by Dr. Delia Rössel.

2016/01/29                  Invited talk at the Galápagos National Park (Santa Cruz Island) “Estudio de acrecimiento de la plataforma continental Ecuatoriana a través del estudio de circones heredados en el manto litosferico (islas Floreana, San Critóbal), cresta submarina (Cresta de Carnegie) y continente (Cordillera Volcánica Interandina y Real)”. Invited by Galo Quezada, Director of the environmental section at the Galápagos National Park.

2015/11/24                  Seminar at Salzburg University: Significance of inherited zircons in mantle-derived magmatic rocks of the Caribbean: evidence for recycling of continental crust. Invited by Prof. Franz Neubauer.

2015/04/23                  GeoKolloquium at the Instituts für Geowissenschaften, Freie Universitaet; Berlin. Significance of inherited zircons in mantle-derived magmatic rocks of the Caribbean: evidence for recycling of continental crust. Invited by Dr. Elis Hofmann.

2013/06/19                  Seminar at Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada. “Zircon Inheritance in the Lesser Antilles intra-oceanic arc (Grenada and Carriacou Islands): Evidence for recycling of sediments in a juvenile intraoceanic arc”. Invited by Prof. Antonio García-Casco.

2012/04/11                  National History Museum (NHM), London. “Intra-oceanic arcs and ophiolites of Cuba: an overview of Cuban geology”. Invited by Prof. Reimar Seltmann. 

2012/04/24                  Lunch Seminar at the Geology Departments of the Royal Holloway of the University of London: “Intra-oceanic arcs and ophiolites of Cuba: an overview of Cuban geology”. Invited by Prof. Robert Hall. 

2010/06/15                  Salzburg University: “New zircon and Ar-ages and whole-rock geochemistry of Precambrian and Palaeozoic rocks from the Tianshan belt of Kyrgyzstan”. Invited by Prof. Franz Neubauer.

2007/11/07                  Salzburg University. “New zircon age data from Cuba: implications for the tectonic evolution of the Caribbean”. Invited by Prof. Franz Neubauer. 

2006/05/23                  Department of Geology, Peking University, China. Overview of Cuban Geology. Invited by Prof. Zhang Lifei.

2005/02/22                  Department of Geology, University of Western Australia. Perth. “Overview of Cuba and Cuban Geology”. Invited by Prof. Peter Cawood. 

2000/10/11-17            Keynote talk by the Geowissenschaftliches Lateinamerika-KolloquiumLA-Kollokium. “Overview of Cuban geology: Perspectives for research”.  Stuttgart, Germany. 

RESEARCH MANAGEMENT

Meetings and fieldtrips organized since 2016

2022/03                       Co-leader with Douwe van Hinsbergen of a boat field expedition to the Revillagigedo Islands (Socorro and San Benedicto; Mexico). Participants: Janne Koornneef, Christian Winter, Melody Philippon, Pablo Davila Harris.

2022/07                       Session organizer and Co-convener (together with Sanzhong Li and Reimar Selt-mann): Session: 3bF - Deep-time microplate tectonics and mineralization. Goldschmidt Hawaii 2022.

2019/10                       Main organizer and leader of field expeditions to Easter Island. Participants: Natalia Pardo and members of Ma'u Henua community (Rapa Nui, Eastern Island).

2019/04                       Session Organizer and co-convener (together with Antonio Garcia-Casco and Joaquin Antonio Proenza): Session: VIII Earth Sciences Convention (GEOSCIENCES´2019), in Havana, Cuba. Session: “Geology of the northwestern branch if the Caribbean”.

2017/01; 2018/01; 2019/06 Main organizer and leader of field expeditions to the National Park Galápagos Archipelago. Participants: Alfred Kröner, Antonio García-Casco, Ian Willians, Klemens Seelos, Theo Toulkeridis and students.

2016/09                       Session Organizer and co-convener (together with Bob Stern, Brendan Murphy, Antonio Garcia-Casco, Manuel Iturralde-Vinent, Darrel Cowan): Session: P4. Geologic Evolution of Cuba. Pardee Keynote Symposia. GSA 2016, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Presenations at international conferences and workshops from 2015

2023/04/10 – 14          Dispersión de la litosfera y flujo del manto a través de los límites de placas tras la ruptura continental: el caso del Caribe.  Talk presented at X Earth Sciences Convention (GEOSCIENCES´2023), in Havana, Cuba Session: Geología Regional.

2021/02/15 – 17          Evidence of the migration of a ridge triple junction during the Late Cretaceous subduction in the Greater Antilles (Haiti). Online talk presented at Geosciences Haiti 2021

2022/07/03 – 06          History of the Easter mantle plume based on U-Pb-Hf isotopic data from detrital zircons in an isolated sedimentary system. Online talk presented at the XII South American Symposium on Isotope Geology, SSAGI, Santiago de Chile.

2019/04/02                  Early Cretaceous to Paleogene Arc Rocks of Cuba. Talk presented at VIII Earth Sciences Convention (GEOSCIENCES´2019), in Havana, Cuba from April 1st to 5th 2019. Session: Geology of the north-western branch of the Caribbean.

2018/11/07                  The Geochronological database of Colombia. Poster presented at GSA Annual Meeting Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

2016/09/25 – 28          Early Cretaceous to Paleogene arc-magmatic evolution of Cuba: Implications for arc-magmatism in the Caribbean. Invited talk presented at GSA Annual Meeting Denver, Colorado, USA. (First Cuban-US meeting after the Cuban revolution).

2016/08/27 – 09/04     Palaeozoic to Archaean zircons in rocks derived from the Galápagos mantle hotspot: where do they come from?. Keynote talk at the 35th International Geological Congress, Cape Town, South Africa.

2015/08/16 – 21          Zircon Inheritance in a Young Intra-Oceanic Arc System: The Southern Lesser Antilles Arc”. Paper presented at the Goldschmidt conference. Prague, Czech Republic.

TEACHING

Since 2025   Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

                      System Erde
                      Geodynamik, Magmatismus, Metamorphismus                                                       

2020 - 2024  Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel

 MNF-geow-B202 - V: Einführung in die Mineralogie 2

MNF-geow-B202 - V: Einführung in die Geowissenschaften 2

MNF-geow-B406 - V: Regionale Geologie Norddeutschlands

MNF-geow-B306 - V: Einführung in die Strukturgeologie und Plattentektonik

geowB102-01a - V: Mineral- und Gesteinskurs

geopEGPH03: Geophysik des Systems Erde (Mineral- und Gesteinskurs)

SS2023: MNF-geow-B405: Sedimentologie II

Geological field excursion: Exkursion Mitteleuropa: Bornholm (Denmark)

 

2017- 2020  Los Andes University (Colombia)

GEOC1002: Geociencias

GEOC3701: Geología Isotópica y Geocronología

GEOC1022: Geologia

GEOC2040: Geologia Estructural y Tectónica

Geological field excursion (Geochronology class) to the Quetame metamorphic complex, Colombia. 8th semester students of the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá.

Geological field excursion (10 days) on field mapping in La Tatacoa Desert, Colombia. 2^nd semester students of the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá.

Geological field excursion (7 days) on igneous and metamorphic petrology of the Cajamarca Complex, Colombia. 4^rd year students of the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá.

 

2014 – 2016   Mainz University (Germany)

Isotopenanalytik (Block course for MSc students)

 

2014 – 2016                  

Tectónica y geologia regional (block courses for Civil engineer students).

Geological field excursion (7 days) to volcanoes of the central Andean cordillera of Ecuador

 

2014 Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador

Geocronología: Principios y aplicaciones (block course for Geology studens)

 

2008 University of Namibia (UNAM) (Windhoek)

Summer semester. Course on “Caribbean Geology”. Bachelor students.

 

Since 2005                    

Block courses to undergraduate students on “Geochronology and plate tectonics”, 

 

Other Student Field courses 

2012/05                       Field assistant in the mapping and field courses in Corsica, France (3rd year students, Lausanne University, Switzerland).

2010/06                       Field assistant in the mapping and field courses in Gredos, Avila, Spain (3rd year students from Granada University, Spain).

Advisor of students

PhD Studies supervisor

1. In progress       Estefany Paola Villanueva Garcia. “Source-to-Sink Sedimentary Processes Along the Active Margin of the Colombian Caribbean Coast: A Geochronology and Sedimentary Provenance Study”. Co-advisor: Christian Winter.
2. In progress       Haoyu Hu. “The Greater Antilles Arc of Cuba, a natural laboratory to understand the evolution of intra-oceanic convergent margin magmatism” University of Kiel, Germany. Co-advisors. Bob Stern, Antonio García-Casco.

Master Studies:

1. 2023/09           Jorge Felix Cruz Pérez. “Petrology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks from the Gran Piedra area, Sierra Maestra volcanic arc, Cuba”. Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Ciencias, Granada, Spain. Co-advisor: Núria Pujol Solà.
2. 2020/09           Sarah Bonilla-Correa. “Revisión bibliográfica de las lavas komatiiticas de la Isla Gorgona, Colombia”. Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Ciencias, Granada, Spain. Co-advisor: José Maria González.
3. 2017/06           Annika Voight. “The Nature of the Deep Crust beneath Hot-Spot Islands: Constraints from mafic and ultramafic Xenoliths from the Galapagos and Madeira Archipelagos”. Department of Geoscience, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. Co-advisor: John Castro.
4. 2007/09           Yosvany Batista Cruz. “Datación absoluta por el método de SHRIMP de áreas de desarrollo metamórfico en Cuba”. Instituto Superior Minero Metalurgico de Moa, Cuba. Co-advisor: Idael Blanco Quintero.
5. In Progress       Marvin Mosquera. “Aproximación a la historia tectono-magmática y morfotectónica del Bloque Panamá-Chocó y la Cordillera Occidental, a partir de datación múltiple y análisis isotópico de Hf en circones detríticos”. Department of Geoscience, Universidad Nacional de Medellin. Co-advisor: Sergio Restrepo. 

Bachelor Studies:

1. 2021/06           Damm, G. Nature of the plumbing system below Floreana (Galápagos Archipelago): insight from gabbro xenoliths. BSc degree presented at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
2. 2019/04           Alexander Blum. “Geochemical analysis of the Royal Palm lava tunnel; using Raman, XRF, SEM and image processing on Santa Cruz, Galapagos Archipelago”. Institut für Geowissenschaften - Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. Co-advisor: Klemens Seelos.
3. 2019/04           Adriana Lucia Caipa Furque. “Volcanismo Jurásico al norte del Desierto de la Tatacoa (formación Saldaña)”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
4. 2019/04           Camilo Esteban Garzón Rojas. “Reconstrucción geológica y del levantamiento de la Serranía del Majuy en Tabio, Cundinamarca, mediante el análisis de edades geocronológicas por trazas de fisión en circones y apatitos”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
5. 2019/04           Diego Alfonso Moreno Velásquez. “Estudio del levantamiento de la Serranía del Majuy en Tabio, Cundinamarca a partir de análisis de Fission Track en circones y apatitos”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
6. 2019/04           Johana Andrea Barrera González. “GeoTrail del eco parque Tygüa Magüa y análisis de procedencia U-Pb en circones de los Cerros Orientales de Bogotá y Serranía del Majuy, Cundinamarca”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
7. 2019/04           Juan Sebastian Quino Vivas. “Análisis geocronológico del levantamiento de la Serrania del Majuy a partir de datación U-Pb en zircones”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
8. 2019/04           Luis Carlos Cendales Barrera. “Geocronología U-Pb en circón y procedencia detrítica en el río Coello, departamento del Tolima, Colombia. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
9. 2018/12           Juan David Villalobos Balser. “Geochemical characterization in Cunas emerald mine: Implications for emerald classification around the belt)”, Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
10. 2018/12           Juan Pablo Marin Jaramillo. “Depositional environment of the Quebradagrande Complex: implications for the early to mid-Cretaceous tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Andes”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
11. 2018/12           Maria Daniela Muñoz Granados. “U-Th-Pb Detrital zircon geochronology of the Gualanday Group and its tectonic implications”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes. Co-Advisor: Prof. Camilo Montes.
12. 2018/12           María Paula Marroquín Gómez. “In search of the Paleo-Amazon river connection, between the northern South America and the Pacic Ocean”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes. Co-Advisor: Prof. Camilo Montes.
13. 2018/05           Sofía Margarita Delgado Balaguera. “Tectono-magmatic analysis of the Juanambú Canyon, Southwestern Colombian Andes”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
14. 2018/05           Felipe Arrubla Arango. “Geology and Geochemistry of the Frontino-Morrogacho Gold District”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
15. 2018/05           Felipe Charris Leal. “Análisis geoquímico y petrográfico de las minas esmeraldíferas “Quebrada Azul” y “Esmeraldas la Corona” en el sector de Chivor - Boyacá, Colombia”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
16. 2018/05           Juan Sebastian Duran Torres. “Metalogenic approach of the orogenic gold mineralization present at Libano, Tolima, Colombia”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
17. 2018/05           Nicolas Bedoya Jauregui (BSc). “Approach to the geochemical parameters of gold mineralization in the mine El Gran Porvenir del Libano, Tolima”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
18. 2018/05           Sarah Bonilla Correa. “Registro del magmatismo en la isla Floreana (archipiélago de Galápagos) con base en petrografía y geoquímica de xenolitos y de inclusiones minerales y fluidas en circón”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
19. 2018/05           Sergio Esteban Silva Sanchez. “Geochemical and petrographic analyses of mutate Basalts and its relationship with the volcanic expressions of the Colombian northwest, tectonic Implications”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
20. 2017/11           Adriana Ariza Pardo. “Structural characteristics and Mechanical behavior of the rocks present in south of Santander department. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
21. 2017/11           Amira Rosa Ferreira García. “Caracterización Petrográfica y Geoquímica del Granito de Durania en la región de Chitagá, Norte de Santander”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
22. 2017/11           Juan David Fernadez Moreno. “Detailed study and evaluation of the oil potential from the Guadalupe formation: an oil field in Arauca, Colombia”. Department of Geoscience; Universidad de los Andes.
23. 2017/08           Isabelle Leisgang. “LA-ICP-MS zircon ages for clastic sediments of the Moodies Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Afruca and Swaziland”. University of Mainz.
24. 2016/03           Zeinab Hatoum. “Experimentelle untersuchung des Einflusses der Zircon/Reidit-Transformation auf radiogene U/Pb-Alter in Zircon”. Institut für Geowissenschaften - Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. Co-advisor: Stephan Buhre.
25. 2016/03           Francisco Carreño. “Petrogénesis de xenolitos en un ambiente de hot-spot: el caso de la isla Floreana, Archipiélago de Galápagos”. Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile. Co-advisor: José María González Jiménez.