Jörg Hermann received his Masters at the ETH Zürich for a work combining structural geology, metamorphism and tectonics in the Eastern Central Alps. He conducted a PhD thesis at ETHZ under the supervision of Volkmar Trommsdorff, where he studied the evolution of gabbros and felsic granulites in a preserved lower crust to upper mantle section in Val Malenco, Italy. Together with Marco Scambelluri (university of Genova, Italy) he also investigated the metamorphism of serpentinites in the Voltri massif, Italy. A study that led to the discovery that antigorite (serpentine) represents the main water carrier in subducted slabs. Masters, PhD studies as well as the compilation of the geological map of Val Malenco he did in close collaboration with Othmar Müntener. The intense discussions in the field and laboratory were crucial for shaping Jörg Hermann’s approach to investigate geological processes. Jörg Hermann has received the ETH Medal for his master thesis and the Paul Niggli Medal, the young scientist award of the Swiss Geological Society.
During his post-doctoral research Jörg Hermann’s focus shifted to experimental investigations of subducted continental crust and sediments, under the expert supervision of David Green and Hugh O’Neill at the Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australia. He combined results from experiments with observations from natural rocks in order to constrain phase and melting relations in subducted crust and to quantify the trace element and volatile recycling along convergent margins. An important result from this work was the postulation that top-slab temperatures needed to be sufficiently high so that the upper part of the subducted slab can undergo fluid assisted melting. His expertise in trace element geochemistry, experimental petrology and high-grade rocks created fertile grounds for a strong synergy with Daniela Rubatto, also at the Australian National University. Together they developed new approaches to link geochronology of accessory phases to metamorphic petrology, opening new avenues for investigating the rates of high-grade metamorphic processes.
A third major research topic in Jörg Hermann’s career has been the investigation of water incorporation into upper mantle minerals by FTIR spectroscopy and SIMS on experimental charges and natural rocks. His current studies focus on alpine eclogite-facies rocks and how they can be used as a natural laboratory to understand the transfer of water from hydrous minerals to nominally anhydrous minerals in subduction zones and how this influences the global deep-water cycle.
In 2010 he was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2013 to Full Professor at ANU. In 2015 he moved to Bern with Daniela Rubatto, his wife, both are now professors at the University of Bern.
