About me
As an ecologist, I am fascinated by the ingenuity and diversity of complex life strategies and interactions in nature. My research focuses on aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, particularly on community ecology and food web dynamics of arthropods on land and in water. Driven by curiosity, I aim to better understand the dynamic interactions between species and their environment and share my enthusiasm for biodiversity in nature with others, especially the next generation of scientists.
Activities
Here you can find a selection of my most recent science and non-science related activities. If you would like a more detailed update follow me on X here.
I have joined the research group of Prof. Dr. Jochen Fründ on Animal Network Ecology as a PostDoc/Lecturer at the university of Hamburg. I will continue my research on aquatic-terrestrial linkages now more incorportating a network perspective. I am affiliated to both the Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology (IPM), and the nstitute of Animal Cell and Systems Biology (IZS).
Nature & Science
Festival
At this outreach event I had the opportunity to teach people from young to old how interesting, cool and so close aquatic biodiversity can be! Judging by the number of happy faces, wet boots and critters collected, people seemed to enjoy it a lot!
What a huge honoeu
I have joined this RTG to investigate biodiversity patterns along the Elbe estuary. Estuaries are dynamic transition zones linking terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. Their steep environmental gradients govern the distribution and diversity of multiple taxonomic groups. Yet, how these gradients jointly shape biodiversity across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces remains insufficiently understood.
Euphoria
I have joint this year's "FreshProject", which is the fifth Collaborative European Freshwater Science Project for Young Researchers. This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of aquatic plant phenology across Europe by fostering collaboration among Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from multiple European countries.
Forest field work
I have helped out a fellow PhD student on her project about water-filled tree holes. She examines the communities and food webs in these understudied ecosystems.
My learning, teaching and supervision philosophy
01
Curiousity
Curiosity drives my approach to learning, teaching, and supervision. Getting inspired by nature and people around us not only broadens our horizon but also unlocks new insights and perspectives that enrich our lives. I try to foster a culture of curiosity and discovery that encourages to make mistakes, learn, and grow from them.
02
Collaborative and reciprocal learning
Collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential for novel insights and opening up new research avenues. By working together and learning from a diverse set of persective, we can advance our understanding beyond our areas of expertise.
03
Reflection
Reflecting on our progress and learning journey is crucial to allow new insights to sink in and build upon them. By taking the time to look back, we can gain a better understanding of our achievements and challenges, and use that knowledge to move forward.
04
Feedback
Regular feedback is a highly efficient tool for learning. It allows us to continuously improve in both the roles of a learner and a teacher. By giving and receiving feedback, we can enhance our collaborations and learn from each other.
CV
Here is a brief summary of my education, work experiences and scientific outputs.
Data Science, Biodiversity
University of Hamburg
CV
Education
2020- 2024
2018-2020
Teaching Certification in Environmental Sciences
ETH Zurich
Thesis: “The Role of Riparian Forests for Aquatic-Terrestrial Linkages, Ecosystem Functions, and Biodiversity in Stream Food Webs” (supervised by Dr. Andreas Bruder, Prof. Dr. Marcelo Moretti, and Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt)
Didactic education on how to efficiently teach environmental sciences for different audiences
2017-2020
MSc Environmental Sciences
ETH Zurich
2014-2018
BSc Environmental Sciences
ETH Zurich
Thesis: “The influence of fish community on photoprotective compounds of copepods” (supervised by Dr. Blake Matthews)
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Thesis: “Vegetative and sexual reproduction of Ranunculus ficaria as influenced by different environmental factors “(supervised by Dr. Sabine Güsewell)
Work experiences
2025- now
PostDoc/Lecturer
Research and teaching at the university
2020
Project manager
Gutwasser GmbH
2019
Reseach assistant
Eawag
2018
Field assistant
WSL
Designing and executing biodiversity monitoring programs
Collecting limnological data from lakes
Surveying people’s perception of forests and their functions
2017-2019
Lab assistant
Eawag
Dissecting snails and extracting their parasites under the microscope
Teaching experiences
2025-now
Data Science, Biodiversity
University of Hamburg
Leading seminars and practicals
2021-2023
Microbial Ecology
University of Zurich
2021-2023
Animal Behaviour
University of Zurich
2021
Limnoecology
Eawag
2020
Biology
High school Lucerne
2018-2019
Vegetation Ecology
ETH Zurich
Organising field trips and morphological identification of diatoms and fungi
Supervision of students on study design, data collection, data analysis, and scientific writing
Supervision of student projects
Introduction to ecology and evolution
Introduction to field-based assessment of community ecology and biodiversity
Awards
2023
SME8
Switzerland
2022
PLPF9
Portugal
Best poster
Best oral presentation
2021
SEFS12
Ireland
2019
CEEB
Switzerland
Most active participant
Best poster
Reviewing for
2025
Schwoerbel-Benndorf-Nachwuchspreis
DGL
Germany
Arthropod Plant Interactions
Ecological Indicators
Ecological Monographs
Ecology & Evolution
Freshwater Biology
Fundamental & Applied Limnology
Global Ecology & Conservation
Hydrobiologia
Microbiology Ecology
Oikos
Plant and Soil