DrMaxwell Lechte

Dr Lechte is a geobiologist researching the co-evolution of life and Earth's surface environments in deep time. Life has been around on Earth since its very early history, terraforming our planet, and changes in the ocean–atmosphere system and climate have shaped the trajectory of the biosphere. By studying the Precambrian sedimentary rock record, Max aims to reconstruct the environmental conditions of the ancient Earth. In particular, his research focuses on chemical sedimentary rocks, such as iron deposits and carbonates, and using their geochemistry as a proxy for ocean chemistry and biogeochemical processes.

He completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2019, researching the significance of iron formations associated with 'Snowball Earth', the most extreme climate event in Earth's history. After graduating, Max joined the McGill University to work with Prof Galen Halverson. This research, funded by the Moore–Simons Project on the Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell, sought to resolve the habitat preferences and metabolism of the earliest complex life. Following this, he returned to the University of Melbourne to work on the origin of sedimentary metal sulphide deposits, and their relationship with the evolution of the sulphur cycle. 

In 2026, Dr Lechte joined the QuESt (Quantitative Earth Systems) Lab at the University of Sydney, integrating the geological record with landscape evolution models in order to constrain chemical weathering and associated long-term climate change.