Neda Rahimzadeh

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Research interests

Neda Rahimzadeh

Image: Neda Rahimzadeh

I am a soil scientist by training and a geochronologist by heart. My research focuses on identifying rapid environmental changes and understanding their significance for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions, as well as their links to modern environmental systems. To constrain the timing of events and processes, I apply luminescence dating techniques, with a strong emphasis on developing new methods and pushing beyond established limits. My work spans diverse geographic regions, including Iran, Italy, Germany, China, and Mongolia. My current project investigates deformation and exhumation in the Albanian Hellenides from the Neogene to the Quaternary, using thermoluminescence (TL) dating of calcite and dolomite.

University education

  • 2019-2024 Ph.D. at the department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
  • 2013-2019 Ph.D. in Soil Science- Soil genesis and classification and land evaluation, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Golestan, Iran.
  • 2011-2013 M.Sc. in Soil Science- Soil Biology and Biotechnology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Golestan, Iran.
  • 2007-2011 B.Sc. in Soil Science, Sari University of agricultural science and natural resources, Mazandaran, Iran.

Awards and Scholarships

  • 2022: Best poster award, UKLED2022
  • 2020: Best poster award, DLED2020
  • 2017: Research grant from Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and technology (7000 €)

Publications

  • von Soest, N., Rahimzadeh, N., Colarossi, D., Malis, F., Lauer, T., Spychala, Y., Brandes, C., Fälber, R., Tsukamoto, S., Winsemann, J. 2026. Refining the timing of Middle Pleistocene (MIS 12 to MIS 6) ice-advances into northern Central Europe: sedimentological analysis and single-grain luminescence dating of glaciotectonic complexes and tunnel-valley fills. Boreas. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70049External link.
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Soest, N., Tsukamoto, S., Winsemann, J. 2026. Luminescence dating of glacial deposits from northern Germany: A comparison of multigrain aliquots and single grains K-feldspar methods. Quaternary Geochronology. 91: 101711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101711External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Wolf, D., Tsukamoto, S., Frechen, M., Lehmkuhl, F. 2025. Luminescence dating of palaeoshoreline deposits from Khyargas Nuur, Western Mongolia: A comparative study of multigrain and single-grain K-feldspar dating. Journal of Quaternary Science. 40: 1043-1055. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3731External link. 
  • Wolf, D., Lehmkuhl, F., Schaubert, V., Rahimzadeh, N., Frechen, M., Stauch, G., Batkhishig, O., Wegmann, K. 2025. Drivers of late Quaternary lake level fluctuations of the Khyargas Nuur, western Mongolia - glacial meltwater pulses or atmospheric moisture supply?. Quaternary Science Reviews. 359: 109373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109373External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Hein, M., Urban, B., Weiss, M., Tanner, D.C., Khosravichenar, A., Tsukamoto, S., Lauer, T. 2024. Dating the Neanderthal environment: Detailed luminescence chronology of a palaeochannel sediment core at the Palaeolithic site of Lichtenberg in the Lower Saxony, northern Germany. Quaternary Geochronology. 83: 101564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2024.101564External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Zhang, J, Tsukamoto, S., Long, H. 2023. Characteristics of the quartz isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) signal from the 375 °C peak and its potential for extending the age limit of quartz dating. Radiation Measurements. 161: 106899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2022.106899External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Tsukamoto, S., Thiel, C., Frechen, M. 2023. Progress and pitfalls of the SAR protocol for the quartz violet stimulated luminescence (VSL) signal: a case study from Sardinia. Quaternary Geochronology. 75: 101433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2023.101433External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Tsukamoto, S., Zhang, J. 2022. A comparative study of sand- and silt-sized quartz fractions for MAR-VSL dating using loess-palaeosol deposits in southern Germany. Quaternary Geochronology. 70: 101276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2022.101276External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Tsukamoto, S., Zhang, J., Long, H. 2021. Natural and laboratory dose response curves of quartz violet stimulated luminescence (VSL): Exploring the multiple aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) protocol. Quaternary Geochronology. 65: 101194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2021.101194External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Sprafke, T., Thiel, C., Terhorst, B., Frechen, M. 2021. A comparison of polymineral and K-feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence ages of loess from Franconia, southern Germany. E&G Quaternary science journal. 70: 53-71. https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-53-2021External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Khormali, F., Gribenski, N., Tsukamoto, S., Kehl, M., Pint, A., Kiani, F., Frechen, M. 2019. Timing and development of sand dunes in the Golestan Province, northern Iran-implications for the Late-Pleistocene history of the Caspian Sea. Aeolian Research. 41: 100538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2019.07.004External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Khormali, F., Olamaee, M., Amini, A., and Dordipour, E. 2015. Effect of canola rhizosphere and silicate dissolving bacteria on the weathering and K release from indigenous glauconite shale. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 51: 973-981. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-015-1043-yExternal link. 
  • Khormali, F., Rezaei, F., Rahimzadeh, N., Hosseinifard, S.J., and Dordipour, E. 2015. Rhizosphere-induced weathering of minerals in loess-derived soils of Golestan Province, Iran. Geoderma Regional. 5: 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2015.02.002External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Khormali, F., Olamaee, M., and Amini, A. 2015. Mineralogical changes in glauconite resulted from inoculation of silicate dissolving bacteria in the root zone of canola. Journal of soil biology. 2: 2. 87-97. (In Persian with English abstract). https://doi.org/10.22092/sbj.2015.100860External link. 
  • Rahimzadeh, N., Olamaee, M., Khormali, F., Dordipour, E., and Amini, A. 2013. The effect of silicate dissolving bacteria on potassium release from glauconite in Canola (Brassica napus) rhizosphere. Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production. 3: 2. 169-185. (In Persian with English abstract)