Curriculum Vitae
Education and Qualifications
HABILITATION (June 2015) in Zoology, Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn ('Cognition in Fish')
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (2008) in Neuroscience and Population Genetics. The University of Queensland, Australia. Title: ‘Life History, Population Genetics and Sensory Biology of the White Spotted Eagle Ray Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) with Emphasis on the Relative Importance of Olfaction’.
DIPLOM (2003) in Biology. Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Institute of Zoology, Title: ‘Orientation Strategies in the Elasmobranch Potamotrygon sp.’
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc.) (1999) University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA
ABITUR (1995) Städtisches Anno Gymnasium Siegburg
EXCHANGE STUDENT, 07/1992-01/1993, Pilgrim High School, Rhode Island, USA
Positions
Akademische Rätin/Oberrätin 04/2014-present, University of Bonn, Institute of Zoology, Prof. H. Bleckmann
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter 02/2009-03/2014, University of Bonn, Institute of Zoology, Prof. H. Bleckmann
Biology Teacher (08/2008-01/2009), Alexander von Humboldt Realschule Siegburg
Research Assistant/ Lab Manager (02/2008-06/2008), University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, Prof. S.P. Collin, Australia
Other Positions
IMPRS Faculty, International Max Plank Research School for Brain and Behavior 2021
Guest Editor for the Journal 'Animals' with Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini for a Special Issue on 'Fish Cognition' (2021)
Guest Edtor for the Journal 'Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology' with Theo Bakker, Joachim Mogdans and Horst Bleckmann on 'From Sensory Perception to Behavior' (2017)
Review Editor 'Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution'
Member of the Editorial Board 'Animal Cognition'
Scientific author for the German dive magazine ‘Unterwasser’ since 03/2010.
Elected member of the University of Bonn Equal Opportunity Committee, 2014-2016
Elected member of the University of Queensland Senate (2006-2007), elected member of the University of Queensland Academic Board (2007).
Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee (2006-2007), Postgraduate student representative
Member of the Research Committee (2006-2007), Postgraduate student representative
Member of the Postgraduate liaison group (2005-2007), School of Biomedical Sciences representative
Member of the Postgraduate Committee (2005-2007)
Grants and Scholarships
DFG (German Science Foundation) Research Grant (2019)
DAAD Conference Grant (2018)
Scientific Meeting Grant - The Company of Biologists (2015)
DFG (German Science Foundation) Research Grant (2014)
Maria von Linden Frauenförderprogramm (2012)
Oceania Chondrichthyan Society Meeting Travel Fund (2007)
Australian Neuroscience Society Conference Travel Fund (2006)
University of Queensland Conference Travel Grant (2005-2007)
University of Queensland Confirmation Scholarship (2005-2007)
Graduate School Research Travel Award (2005)
Project Aware Grant (2005)
DAAD Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2004-2006)
Professional Experience
SUPERVISION:
University of Bonn: 3 PhD students, 7 Diplom (MSc.) students, 5 Master students, >45 Bachelor students
University of Queensland, Australia: 2 Introduction to Research students
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Lecturer(since 2009),University of Bonn, various seminars, field excursions, practicals and lectures in the Department of Zoology (Prof. Bleckmann)
Lecturer (2005-2007),University of Queensland, Australia, Courses: ANAT 7000 Anatomical Fundamentals for Speech Pathology, ANAT 6001 Occupational Therapy, ANAT 2005 Neuroanatomy, BIOM 2019 Human Anatomy
Tutor (Biology), Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Zoology
Teaching Assistant (1998-1999), University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Field Research (September 2013), University of Darwin, Australia. Tagging and sampling of river sharks (Glyphis sp.) and sawfish (Pristis pristis) in the South Alligator River, Northern Territory
Scientific Advisor on a research trip to the Red Sea (Egypt) to test a potential shark deterrent (shark pole) on Carcharhinus longimanus and C. falciformis, 29/04/2010-04/05/2010, funded and organized by the NGO ‘Sharkproject’.
Project Leader on international field expeditions (2005-2008), Australia and Taiwan, 3 months total
Co-Organizer (2017) of the ‘12th Annual Meeting of the Ethological Society, From Sensory Perception to Behaviour’, Bonn University, Institute of Zoology, Co-Organizer (2006) of the ‘2nd annual Southern Queensland elasmobranch research forum’, North Stradbroke Island, Australia, Organizer of a Symposium (2016) at the 12th International Congress of Neuroethology, Montevideo, Uruguay
Volunteer Researcher (01/2002-03/2002), White Shark Trust, South Africa
Cell Biological Internship (10/2001-12/2001), University of Newcastle, Department of Gerontology, UK
Volunteer Researcher (01/2000-06/2000), Bimini Biological Field Station, Bahamas
REFEREE DUTIES:
DFG, DAAD, Leverhulme Trust (UK), Macquarie University (AUS), New College of Florida (US); Journals: Proceedings B, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Behavioural Processes, PloS One, Animal Cognition, Animal Behavior, Animal Behavior and Cognition, Behavioural Processes, Ethology, Marine and Freshwater Research, Journal of Fish Biology, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, The Biological Bulletin, Fish and Fisheries, Journal of Morphology, Environmental Biology of Fishes, Fisheries Management and Ecology, Zoology, Aquatic conservation: Marine and Freshwater Research, Caribbean Journal of Science, Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution
PUBLIC SERVICES:
WDR 5 Quarks - Wissenschaft und mehr, 'Lernen bei Haien', Radiobeitrag 14.5.2021
WDR5 Quarks - Wissenschaft und mehr, 'Faszination Haie', Radiobeitrag 2020
BBC Animal Impossible - Fernsehbeitrag 2019
WDR5 Leonardo - Radiobeitrag, 'Fische sind nicht stumm und dumm, Radiobeitrag 2018
Discovery Channel 'Shark Week' - Smart sharks, Fernsehbeitrag 2015
WDR Lokalzeit - Fernsehbeitrag 2015
RTL Punkt 12 – Fernsehbeitrag 2013
ARD ‚Neuneinhalb‘ - Fernsehbeitrag 2013
WDR Beitrag zur Sendung 'Neuneinhalb' zum Thema Delphinarien, 2013WDR 5 ‚Leonardo-Wissenschaft und mehr‘, Radio Interview, Schwerpunkt: Gejagte Jäger - Haie sind vom Aussterben bedroht. 30/11/2011
WDR Bonn Lokalzeit, September 2011, 'Haie im Poppelsdorfer Schloss'
Interview, ZDF ‘Volle Kanne’, 12/01/2011, ‘Haie – Jäger und Gejagte’, Düsseldorf, Germany
Public lecture, WDR Radio ‘Naseweis - Wissenschaftstag für Kinder’, 09/05/2010, Lüdenscheidt, Germany
Public lecture ‘Kinderuni Bonn’, 11/01/2010 ‘Die Welt der Haie’, Bonn, Germany
Participant (Judge) in Fig Tree Primary School Science Fair, 2004, Brisbane, Australia
Judge in Kelvin Grove High School Science Fair, 2005, Brisbane, Australia
