Education
2015 – 2020
Dr. sc. nat. in Evolutionary Biology – University of Zurich
Micropaleontology, biostratigraphy, taxonomy, paleo-ecology and paleo-climate with conodonts
2013 – 2015
MSc in Evolutionary Biology – University of Zurich Micropaleontology
2008 – 2012
BSc in Biology – University of Zurich
Minor in environmental studies
Career
Since 2025
Collection Manager for micropaleontology, Natural History Museum Basel
2021 – 2024
Postdoc at University of Zurich, micropaleontological research with conodonts
2015 – 2020
Leader of micropaleontological collection and chemistry lab, Paleontological institute and museum, University of Zurich
2015
Scientific assistant at paleontological institute and museum, University of Zurich
Micropaleontological collection and chemistry lab
Projects and Museum Activities
Documentation and mapping of the micropaleontological collection of the Natural History Museum Basel
Membership
Member of the Pander Society (paleontological association for the study of conodonts)
Scientific interest
Micropaleontology, biostratigraphy taxonomy, paleo-climate, paleo-ecology, conodonts
Publications (selection)
Leu, M., Brosse, M., Baud, A., Bhat, G., Vennemann, T., Bucher, H., & Goudemand, N. (2025). Conodont diversity, biostratigraphy, and environmental dynamics: Unravelling the Smithian-Spathian transition at Guryul Ravine, Kashmir. Gondwana Research.
Leu, M., Schneebeli-Hermann, E., Hammer, Ø., Lindemann, F. J., & Bucher, H. (2024). Spatiotemporal dynamics of nektonic biodiversity and vegetation shifts during the Smithian–Spathian transition: conodont and palynomorph insights from Svalbard. Lethaia, 57(2), 1-19.
Leu, M., Bucher, H., Baud, A., Vennemann, T., Luz, Z., Hautmann, M., & Goudemand, N. (2023). An expanded Smithian–Spathian (Lower Triassic) boundary from a reefal build‐up record in Oman: implications for conodont taxonomy, high‐resolution biochronology and the carbon isotope record. Papers in Palaeontology, 9(1), e1481.
Leu, M., Bucher, H., Vennemann, T., Bagherpour, B., Ji, C., Brosse, M., & Goudemand, N. (2022). A Unitary Association-based conodont biozonation of the Smithian–Spathian boundary (Early Triassic) and associated biotic crisis from South China. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 141(1), 19.
Goudemand, N., Romano, C., Leu, M., Bucher, H., Trotter, J. A., & Williams, I. S. (2019). Dynamic interplay between climate and marine biodiversity upheavals during the early Triassic Smithian-Spathian biotic crisis. Earth-Science Reviews, 195, 169-178.
Leu, M., Bucher, H., & Goudemand, N. (2019). Clade-dependent size response of conodonts to environmental changes during the late Smithian extinction. Earth-Science Reviews, 195, 52-67.