I am a biologist interested in a broad range of aspects related to (conservation) ecophysiology and toxicology of ectotherms in general and amphibians in particular. Currently, I am an assistant professor and research group leader at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. Using field, experimental, and theoretical approaches, I investigate how environmental stressors associated with global change affect vital rates such as growth, development, metabolism, and survival and how animals might cope with novel environments and challenges by exhibiting phenotypic plasticity and flexibility. Furthermore, I explore the underlying mechanism of life-stage specific responses to stressful environments as well as possible across life stage effects of environmental variation. These questions are the main focus of work done in my lab Conservation Physiology and Ecotoxicology.

In my research, I make use of various tools associated with conservation physiology such as measuring heart and metabolic rate, thermal tolerance and performance, acclimation capacity, body condition, and stress hormone responses. I am especially interested in endocrine disruptive effects of environmental stressors such as temperature variation and pollution. Thus, helping stressed amphibians is my mission. 

In addition to my research, I am passionate about teaching students in the field of anatomy, physiology, ecology, and biostatistics at university. Proper academic education and supervision of students play an important role in my professional self-concept. Together with Mark D. Scherz and Miguel Vences, I have a YouTube channel called Anatomy Insights, where we post videos featuring anatomical dissection of various animal groups, aimed primarily at university students. Have a look here!

I did my PhD in the Dausmann Lab (Functional Ecology - Ecology & Energetics) at the University of Hamburg in Germany. After finishing my PhD, I was a PostDoc in the Ganzhorn Lab (Animal Ecology and Conservation) at the same place. In Braunschweig, I work together with Miguel Vences (Evolutionary Biology). 

Being a scientist is more than just a job for me: It is my biggest passion, and it fills my life with happiness, joy, and satisfaction. I share my personal interests in and my knowledge of biological phenomena together with my research on my Instagram science blog. In my free time, I love to go hiking, running, or biking. But one can also find me drawing or walking my adopted dog Stina.