Curriculum Vitae

• 20.03.1977 born in Stuttgart (Germany)
• Studies in Biology at: the University of Tübingen (Oct. 1997 to Jul. 1999; BSc/Vordiplom), the University of Edinburgh (Oct. 1999 to Jun. 2000; 2nd & 3rd year courses: animal physiology, ecology, evolution in action, behavioural ecology & brain and behaviour) and the University of Würzburg (Oct. 2000 to Feb. 2005; courses in botany, genetics & neurobiology, sociobiology & behavioural physiology, animal ecology & tropical biology)
• Internship at the "World of Snakes" (Aug. to Sep. 2000) in Grecia, Costa Rica and at the "Working group on amphibian & reptile conservation in Hessen, Germany (AGAR)" (Mar. to Apr. 2001): adder research and conservation
• Awards: Second place at the Chimaira Science prize 2005 for the best herpetological follow up work within the years 2003, 2004 to July 2005. The prize is written out by Chimaira and the German Society for Herpetology and Terraristic [LINK]
• Diploma thesis (Feb. 2005): Reptile Communities in the Kirindy Dry Forest (Western Madagascar) - What is the Pattern? (Department of Animal Ecology & Tropical Biology; Head: Prof. Dr. K.E. Linsenmair)
• Scientific Research Assistant: Jan. to Jul. 1999 (Tübingen) - Anatomical Institute Tübingen (Dr. M. Ott); Apr. to Dez. 2001 (Würzburg) - Collaborative Research Centre: Arhtropod Behaviour (Prof. Dr. E. Strohm); Oct. 2001 to Feb. 2002 (Wü) - Dep. of Zoology 3 (PD Dr. A. Floren); Mar. 2001 to Sep. 2002 (Wü) - Dep. of Zoology 3 (Dr. M.-O. Rödel); Feb. to May 2005 (Namibia) - Biota S10 (Dipl. Biol. C. Grohmann)
• Conference Organisation: 14th - 17th Aug. 2006 Co-Organiser of the 12th African Amphibian Working Group Meeting in Abomey (Benin), 19th - 22nd Aug. Co-Organiser of the Pendjari Amphibian Workshop in Batia (Benin); 19th Sep. 2007 Organiser of the roundtable "Identification of individual amphibians and reptiles - problems and possible solutions" at the 14th European congress of herpetology in Porto (Portugal)
• Scientific Employments: Sep. to Oct. 2001 - "Working group on amphibian and reptile conservation in Hessen, Germany (AGAR)": adder research & conservation; Oct. to Nov. 2004 - Conservation International: rapid assessment of the amphibians & reptiles of the Lokutu region, Democratic Republic of Congo; Since June 2005 - Subproject Coordinator Biota Western Africa, Amphibians (formerly W08) (6/2005 - 3/2007 University of Mainz, 3/2007 - 3 2008 University of Würzburg, since 3/2008 Museum of Natural History of the Humboldt University, Berlin) [LINK]

Current Research

• Phd on distributional patterns of herps in Western Africa with special emphasis on conservation issues
• Ecology and Conservation of Ball Pythons (Python regius) (Benin)
• Ecology and Conservation of European Adders (Vipera berus) (Spessart, Germany) [LINK]