• Diversity of Hymenoptera
• Ecology of stingless bees
• Plant-Animal-Interactions, especially pollination
• Conservation biology
• Tropical ecology

My project aims to investigate the effects of forest disturbance, fragmentation and land use change on Hymenoptera diversity, trophic interactions and population dynamics in the Carribean lowlands of Costa Rica. Two model systems are used: first trap nests colonised by hymenopterans and second social stingless bees.

• Since 05/2010 PhD-student at the University of Würzburg, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Zoology III
  
  Project:
  Impacts of rainforest fragmentation on Hymenoptera diversity, trophic interactions and population dynamics in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica
  
  
• 02/2009 – 04/2010 research assistant at the University of Bayreuth: analysis of trap nests, pan traps, pollination experiments,   identification of trap nest inhabitants
  
  
• 10/2007 – 03/2008 Academic visitor at the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
  
  Diploma thesis:
  Trail pheromones of two Brazilian stingless bee species: Geotrigona mombuca and Geotrigona subterranea
  
  
• 07/2005 – 07/2006 Abroad study at the University of Costa Rica (DAAD scholarship)
  
  Main interest: Taxonomy of tropical insects, biological pest control
  
  
• 10/2002 – 07/2008 Student of Biology at the University of Ulm, Germany ;
  
  Main subject: Ecology
  Minor subjects: Molecular botany, Microbiology, Chemistry, Pharmacology