I’m a biologist by training, currently pursuing my PhD in the Functional Morphology group at the University of Antwerp in Belgium under the supervision of Prof. Sam Van Wassenbergh and Prof. Peter Aerts.

My general research interest lies in tetrapod functional morphology, primarily in the structure and function of musculoskeletal systems.

In my PhD, I explore how small granivorous songbirds move their beak while processing and cracking seeds. I will write more about this research in the Blog section.

During my previous research, I have studied the structure and function of the femur in squirrel-like rodents at the Humboldt University Berlin, Germany (under the supervision of Prof. John Nyakatura in the Comparative Zoology group).

Besides my research, I’m also a passionate amateur (nature-)photographer and (scientific) illustrator.

Short CV:

Education and Academic Studies

10/2014-04/2018
Master of Science (M.Sc.) ”Organismic Biology and Evolution”; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; final grade: 1.0 (very good)
10/2011-12/2014
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), “Biophysics”; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; final grade: 1.7 (good)
07/2011
Abitur; Winckelmann-Gymnasium Stendal; final grade: 1.0 (very good)

Work Experience

since 02/2020
PhD student at the University of Antwerp, group Functional Morphology (promoter: Prof. Sam Van Wassenbergh and Prof. Peter Aerts)
05/2018-01/2020
Follow-up publications; parental leave
11/2017-04/2018
Master thesis: ’Bone Microstructure in Finite Element Modeling: The Functional Role of Trabeculae in the Femoral Head of Sciurus vulgaris’ under the supervision of Prof. John A. Nyakatura (‘Comparative Zoology group’), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
04/2017-12/2017
Student assistant in the group ’Comparative Zoology’ (John A. Nyakatura, Humboldt-University Berlin)
10/2016-03/2017
Lab project in the group ’Comparative Zoology’ (John A. Nyakatura, Humboldt-University Berlin), project: ‘Inner Bone Microstructure in Sciuromorph Femora’
03/2014-10/2014
Lab project and Bachelor thesis in the group ’Molecular Biophysics’ (group leader: Prof. Andreas Herrmann), Humboldt-University Berlin