Academic Curriculum Vitae
See my digital calling card and contact here
Professional experience
02/2022 - Present
• Principal Investigator (Senior PostDoc) of the FWF-funded projects ‘ECO-CACAO’ (I5272), ‘ECO-OLIVES’ (V 933) and 'SOUNDS WILD' (WKP 193) at the University of Vienna, Austria
01/2016 - Present
• Associate Editor of the scientific journal Biological Conservation – Elsevier Limited, Oxford, UK
• Associate Editor of the scientific journal Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation – Elsevier Limited, Oxford, UK
10/2015- Present
• Lecturer at the Dpt. of Botany and Biodiversity Research – University of Vienna, Austria
10/2021- 02/2022
• Project Coordinator of the Campus & Sustainability Network of the Faculty of Life Sciences as part of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the University of Vienna, Austria
06/2020-01/2022
• Freelance consulting assignments in international conservation NGOs and research projects such as ‘Biodiversity Initiative’, ‘Bioversity International’ and ‘Naturschutzhunde.at’
12/2019-06/2020
• Post Doc at the Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) - Vienna, Austria
04/2018 - 03/2020
• Collaborative Postdoctoral Researcher at Bioversity International – Lima, Peru
12/2016 -11/2019
• Post Doc at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology (CVL) – University of Vienna, Austria
05/2015 - 11/2016
• Research Fellow at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity – University of Vienna, Austria
02/2013 - 07/2014
• Research Assistant/Associate of the Agroecology Group – University of Göttingen, Germany
07/2009 - 01/2010
• Research Assistant/Associate of the Agroecology Group – University of Göttingen, Germany
Education
02/2010 -11/2013
• PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Dr. sc. agr.) - completed with summa cum laude (0.0)
Department of Crop Sciences, Agroecology – Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany. Title: Birds, bats and arthropods in tropical agroforestry landscapes: Functional diversity, multitrophic interactions and crop yield (Field work in Indonesia: 09/2009-10/2014).
03/2009
• Diploma/MSc in Biology/Ecology (Mag. rer. nat.) - completed with magna cum laude (1.0)
Department of Population Ecology – University of Vienna, Austria. Title: Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species (Field work in Indonesia: 01-06/2008)
10/2004 -03/2009
• Study of Biology/Ecology (diploma studies) - University of Vienna, Austria
Including field work in conservation projects (e.g., BirdLife) and Indonesia (diploma research)
Born 1986 in San Francisco (USA) - American and German Citizen
Projects - see our new project overview page here (in progress)
See my digital calling card and contact here
Professional experience
02/2022 - Present
• Principal Investigator (Senior PostDoc) of the FWF-funded projects ‘ECO-CACAO’ (I5272), ‘ECO-OLIVES’ (V 933) and 'SOUNDS WILD' (WKP 193) at the University of Vienna, Austria
01/2016 - Present
• Associate Editor of the scientific journal Biological Conservation – Elsevier Limited, Oxford, UK
• Associate Editor of the scientific journal Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation – Elsevier Limited, Oxford, UK
10/2015- Present
• Lecturer at the Dpt. of Botany and Biodiversity Research – University of Vienna, Austria
10/2021- 02/2022
• Project Coordinator of the Campus & Sustainability Network of the Faculty of Life Sciences as part of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the University of Vienna, Austria
06/2020-01/2022
• Freelance consulting assignments in international conservation NGOs and research projects such as ‘Biodiversity Initiative’, ‘Bioversity International’ and ‘Naturschutzhunde.at’
12/2019-06/2020
• Post Doc at the Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) - Vienna, Austria
04/2018 - 03/2020
• Collaborative Postdoctoral Researcher at Bioversity International – Lima, Peru
12/2016 -11/2019
• Post Doc at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology (CVL) – University of Vienna, Austria
05/2015 - 11/2016
• Research Fellow at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity – University of Vienna, Austria
02/2013 - 07/2014
• Research Assistant/Associate of the Agroecology Group – University of Göttingen, Germany
07/2009 - 01/2010
• Research Assistant/Associate of the Agroecology Group – University of Göttingen, Germany
Education
02/2010 -11/2013
• PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Dr. sc. agr.) - completed with summa cum laude (0.0)
Department of Crop Sciences, Agroecology – Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany. Title: Birds, bats and arthropods in tropical agroforestry landscapes: Functional diversity, multitrophic interactions and crop yield (Field work in Indonesia: 09/2009-10/2014).
03/2009
• Diploma/MSc in Biology/Ecology (Mag. rer. nat.) - completed with magna cum laude (1.0)
Department of Population Ecology – University of Vienna, Austria. Title: Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species (Field work in Indonesia: 01-06/2008)
10/2004 -03/2009
• Study of Biology/Ecology (diploma studies) - University of Vienna, Austria
Including field work in conservation projects (e.g., BirdLife) and Indonesia (diploma research)
Born 1986 in San Francisco (USA) - American and German Citizen
Projects - see our new project overview page here (in progress)
Distinctions
2023 and 2024
Nominations for the Ars Docendi - State prize for excellent teaching by the University of Vienna, Austria
11/2022
GfÖ-BAAE Award for "most cited review paper" - awarded by he Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the journal Basic and Applied Ecology. Value: 500 EUR
06/2022
Teaching Award for "Communicating the Relevance and Impact" - awarded by the Center of Teaching and Learning at the University of Vienna, Austria Value: 3,000 EUR
05/2022
Elise Richter Fellowship Award for “outstanding scientific project” – awarded by the Austrian Science Fund and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Value: see third party funded projects
09/2020
GfÖ Award for “outstanding research in ecology” – nominated and awarded by the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Value: 10,000 EUR
04/2019
Young Investigator Award for “outstanding publication output” – awarded by the Faculty of Life Sciences of the University of Vienna, Austria. Value: 7,000 EUR
04/2015
Maria Sibylla Merian Award for "best oral presentation" at the GtÖ conference in Zürich, Switzerland. Value: Book prize.
10/2013
Young Scientists Award for "best oral presentation" at the DO-G conference in Regensburg, Germany . Value: Book prize.
03/2013
Thomas H. Kunz Award for "best oral presentation" at the 3rd Int. Bat Meeting in Berlin, Germany. Value: Book prize and 500 EUR.
02/2010-01/2013
Doctoral Scholarship by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation – “The largest and oldest German sponsorship organisation for the academically gifted, promoting future excellence.“ (1,050 EUR/month). Value: 25,200 EUR
01/2008
Diploma Scholarship by the University Vienna. Value; 2,000 EUR
Teaching, mentoring and supervising
Teaching at the University of Vienna (since 2015)
See u:find for overview
10/2022- Present
Scientific Writing (SE; 2 ECTS)
Science Communication“ (UE; 3 ECTS)
10/2021- Present
Science Writing & Communication (UE; 2 ECTS)
10/2017- Present
Conservation research in international practice - socio-ecological perspectives and implementation (VO; 3 ECTS)
03/2017- 04/2021
Writing scientific theses (UE; 2 ECTS)
10/2015- Present
Nature Conservation - Strategies, Programmes, and Demonstration-cases (VO; 2 ECTS)
International teaching (since 2009)
02/2019
Invited contribution: Quantitative Ecology Workshop in Yaounde, Cameroon (Jan 28-Feb 4 2019): Sustainable Agriculture & ecosystem services: quantitatively understanding the pest-eating services provided to farmers by wild birds and bats using R. Invited by Luke Powell; University of Glasgow, Scotland
05-07/ 2014
Lead: Lecture series for students in Indonesia at the Tadulako University, IPB Bogor, KSHE; LIPI research institute and Burung Indonesia
2010-2012
Lead: Student lectures in the fields of conservation biology, ecology and agroecology. Hosted by Shabuddin Saleh - University of Tadulako, Palu, Indonesia
06/2014
Lead: Practical field course in the field of agroecology (three days: 01-03 June 2014). Hosted by Aiyen Tjoa - University of Tadulako, Palu, Indonesia
09/2009
Tutorship: Teaching a group of 10 international students (Indonesia/Austria) in the ecological field course “Investigation of successional gradients between West-Java and the Krakatau islands” led by Christian Schulze; University of Vienna, Austria
Mentoring and supervising students
04/2020 - Present
Member of the ATBC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
10/2019 - 07/2021
Mentor in the BES Women in Ecology Mentoring Scheme (today: Peer Group Mentoring)
2009-Present
9 Master theses co-supervised and co-advised
11 PhD theses co-supervised and co-advised
For example:
REGRASS project - Vienna, Austria
DIFFcacao project in Göttingen and Würzburg, Germany
Scholarships & Funding
Total of 272,955 EUR (651,307 EUR as single principal investigator)
• Science Communication project SOUNDS WILD („Vögel und Fledermäuse neu entdecken“; No.: WKP193; PI: Bea Maas) duration: 02/2023-01/2025; funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Wildlife Acoustics Equipment Grant; Role: PI and thesis supervisor of the awarded grant for the research project ECO-OLIVES (FWF No.: V933); duration: 09/2022-02/2025; funded by: Wildlife Acoustics
• Research project ECO-OLIVES („Ecological management of European olive agroforestry: linking biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and productivity“; No.: V933; PI: Bea Maas) Funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification and multifunctionality of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No: I5272; PI: Bea Maas) Funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No.: 459058783; PI: Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter) Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No.: 459058783; PI: Teja Tscharntke) Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Research project DiFF-Cacao („Diversifying native fine or flavor cocoa production systems in Peru for enhanced productivity and income”; No: 81219430; PI: Evert Thomas) Funded by: German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ)
• Fact Finding Mission “Kakaoproduktion in Peru: Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen”. Funded by: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Research project INNOVALAND (“Integrated processes to support innovative, sustainable land-use concepts in social-ecological systems”; PI: Yves Zinngrebe). Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany (BMBF)
• Research project ELUC (“Ecosystem services in cacao agroforestry: predation by birds, bats and ants on spiders and insect herbivores”; No.: CL-474/1-1; PI: Yann Clough). Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Scholarship for doctoral research project “Birds, bats and arthropods in tropical agroforestry landscapes: Functional diversity, multitrophic interactions and crop yield”. Funded by: German Academic Scholarship Foundation
• Scholarship for diploma research project “Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species”.
• Travel grants for scientific conferences provided by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); German Research Foundation (DFG); Göttingen Internaional and international scientists/ institutes
• Academic awards with prize money (see distinctions above)
2023 and 2024
Nominations for the Ars Docendi - State prize for excellent teaching by the University of Vienna, Austria
11/2022
GfÖ-BAAE Award for "most cited review paper" - awarded by he Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the journal Basic and Applied Ecology. Value: 500 EUR
06/2022
Teaching Award for "Communicating the Relevance and Impact" - awarded by the Center of Teaching and Learning at the University of Vienna, Austria Value: 3,000 EUR
05/2022
Elise Richter Fellowship Award for “outstanding scientific project” – awarded by the Austrian Science Fund and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Value: see third party funded projects
09/2020
GfÖ Award for “outstanding research in ecology” – nominated and awarded by the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Value: 10,000 EUR
04/2019
Young Investigator Award for “outstanding publication output” – awarded by the Faculty of Life Sciences of the University of Vienna, Austria. Value: 7,000 EUR
04/2015
Maria Sibylla Merian Award for "best oral presentation" at the GtÖ conference in Zürich, Switzerland. Value: Book prize.
10/2013
Young Scientists Award for "best oral presentation" at the DO-G conference in Regensburg, Germany . Value: Book prize.
03/2013
Thomas H. Kunz Award for "best oral presentation" at the 3rd Int. Bat Meeting in Berlin, Germany. Value: Book prize and 500 EUR.
02/2010-01/2013
Doctoral Scholarship by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation – “The largest and oldest German sponsorship organisation for the academically gifted, promoting future excellence.“ (1,050 EUR/month). Value: 25,200 EUR
01/2008
Diploma Scholarship by the University Vienna. Value; 2,000 EUR
Teaching, mentoring and supervising
Teaching at the University of Vienna (since 2015)
See u:find for overview
10/2022- Present
Scientific Writing (SE; 2 ECTS)
Science Communication“ (UE; 3 ECTS)
10/2021- Present
Science Writing & Communication (UE; 2 ECTS)
10/2017- Present
Conservation research in international practice - socio-ecological perspectives and implementation (VO; 3 ECTS)
03/2017- 04/2021
Writing scientific theses (UE; 2 ECTS)
10/2015- Present
Nature Conservation - Strategies, Programmes, and Demonstration-cases (VO; 2 ECTS)
International teaching (since 2009)
02/2019
Invited contribution: Quantitative Ecology Workshop in Yaounde, Cameroon (Jan 28-Feb 4 2019): Sustainable Agriculture & ecosystem services: quantitatively understanding the pest-eating services provided to farmers by wild birds and bats using R. Invited by Luke Powell; University of Glasgow, Scotland
05-07/ 2014
Lead: Lecture series for students in Indonesia at the Tadulako University, IPB Bogor, KSHE; LIPI research institute and Burung Indonesia
2010-2012
Lead: Student lectures in the fields of conservation biology, ecology and agroecology. Hosted by Shabuddin Saleh - University of Tadulako, Palu, Indonesia
06/2014
Lead: Practical field course in the field of agroecology (three days: 01-03 June 2014). Hosted by Aiyen Tjoa - University of Tadulako, Palu, Indonesia
09/2009
Tutorship: Teaching a group of 10 international students (Indonesia/Austria) in the ecological field course “Investigation of successional gradients between West-Java and the Krakatau islands” led by Christian Schulze; University of Vienna, Austria
Mentoring and supervising students
04/2020 - Present
Member of the ATBC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
10/2019 - 07/2021
Mentor in the BES Women in Ecology Mentoring Scheme (today: Peer Group Mentoring)
2009-Present
9 Master theses co-supervised and co-advised
11 PhD theses co-supervised and co-advised
For example:
REGRASS project - Vienna, Austria
DIFFcacao project in Göttingen and Würzburg, Germany
Scholarships & Funding
Total of 272,955 EUR (651,307 EUR as single principal investigator)
• Science Communication project SOUNDS WILD („Vögel und Fledermäuse neu entdecken“; No.: WKP193; PI: Bea Maas) duration: 02/2023-01/2025; funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Wildlife Acoustics Equipment Grant; Role: PI and thesis supervisor of the awarded grant for the research project ECO-OLIVES (FWF No.: V933); duration: 09/2022-02/2025; funded by: Wildlife Acoustics
• Research project ECO-OLIVES („Ecological management of European olive agroforestry: linking biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and productivity“; No.: V933; PI: Bea Maas) Funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification and multifunctionality of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No: I5272; PI: Bea Maas) Funded by: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No.: 459058783; PI: Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter) Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Research project ECO-CACAO („Ecological intensification of genetically diverse cacao agroforestry in Peruvian landscapes”; No.: 459058783; PI: Teja Tscharntke) Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Research project DiFF-Cacao („Diversifying native fine or flavor cocoa production systems in Peru for enhanced productivity and income”; No: 81219430; PI: Evert Thomas) Funded by: German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ)
• Fact Finding Mission “Kakaoproduktion in Peru: Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen”. Funded by: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Research project INNOVALAND (“Integrated processes to support innovative, sustainable land-use concepts in social-ecological systems”; PI: Yves Zinngrebe). Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany (BMBF)
• Research project ELUC (“Ecosystem services in cacao agroforestry: predation by birds, bats and ants on spiders and insect herbivores”; No.: CL-474/1-1; PI: Yann Clough). Funded by: German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Scholarship for doctoral research project “Birds, bats and arthropods in tropical agroforestry landscapes: Functional diversity, multitrophic interactions and crop yield”. Funded by: German Academic Scholarship Foundation
• Scholarship for diploma research project “Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species”.
• Travel grants for scientific conferences provided by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); German Research Foundation (DFG); Göttingen Internaional and international scientists/ institutes
• Academic awards with prize money (see distinctions above)
