About Me

and my Research

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Technische Universität Berlin, a PostDoc alumni from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin with a Ph.D. in Urban Ecology from the University of Melbourne and German Diplom in Biology from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Since my PhD, I am passionate about combining ecological research with social science theories. I strongly believe that conservation is much more effective when we also understand people since most threats to wildlife and their habitats are caused by human behaviour.  So, I love to come from ‘both sides’: from the wildlife as well as from the human side to find solutions for ‘shared urban landscapes’ in which both coexist and thrive. When it comes to wildlife, my major passion are bats. When it comes to people, I am interested in questions around what drives the acceptability of wildlife management strategies and effective communication (e.g. photo stimuli, storytelling). Working with vibrant colleagues and students, I enjoy conversations around ethics in conservation practices (acknowledging that our approach to science is never free from our own values).

 

Since I can remember, I was always passionate about wildlife, conservation and the natural world around us. Hence, as soon as I had the chance, I volunteered for environmental NGOs. In my academic life, I always try to stay closely connected with NGOs and I was fortunate to work together with and in international NGOs, including the Jane Goodall Institute Germany, German Animal Welfare Federation, WEMA HOME e.V. and Earthwatch Australia and was holding board roles in the Jane Goodall Institute Germany and WEMA HOME e.V.. Knowing also these both ‘worlds’, I enjoy building  bridges between NGOs and academia and to learn from each other.

I am an avid traveler and appreciate learning more about other cultures and the conservation issues that people in other parts of this world hold. Given my passion for conservation and travels, I was fortunate to work in amazing parts of the world, including West Africa, India, New Zealand and Australia. 

Other Academic Activities

IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group member, International Association for Society and Natural Ressources (IASNR) Coordinator European Hub, Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence (specialty section of Frontiers in Conservation Science), Reviewer for e.g. Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation, Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Journal of Urban Ecology.  

Education

Ph.D. (Urban Ecology). Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, c/o School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne. Thesis title: ‘The Shared Habitat – Understanding and Linking Needs of Insectivorous Bats and People at Urban Wetlands.’

German Diplom in Biology (Approximately equivalent to a Master’s Degree). Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.

Studies in the Master’s Degree Psychology and Pedagogy (2 semesters). Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.