Group photo August 2024

My topic of research is phenotypic and functional biodiversity. With broad integrative comparative and phylogenetic approaches I aim to contribute to the understanding of why life on our planet is so diverse, the drivers of phenotypic and functional change, and how different components of the phenotype (morphology, behaviour and mechanical properties) evolve in concert and affect ecological functions. One focus of research is 'evolutionary biomechanics', i.e. I aim to clarify the evolutionary origins and effects of outstanding physical performance of biological materials, structures and organisms. This is crucial for the understanding of the biological roles of organisms (such as in predator prey interactions) and their change over time. Furthermore, my research helps to identify interesting model systems that can inform technological innovations in a process called 'biomimetics'. Besides, I am interested in the phylogenetics, systematics, biogeography and functional morphology of arthropods, especially arachnids.

My preferred research topic is computational modelling of soft biological materials. By combining computational physics and the mechanics of elastic soft bodies, I aim to investigate the behaviour of complex composite materials, as spider silk threads and anchorages. One focus of this topic of research is understanding how different natural systems can have different response to external stimuli while using similar "building blocks", e.g. a small set of proteins. This is usually achieved by exploiting different geometries with peculiar degrees of freedom, which allows for a tunability of the physical properties of the system. This tunability is crucial, for example, in the vertical locomotion of the animals. During locomotion, arthropods and reptiles continuously alternate strong adhesion and easy detachment by tuning the angles formed by their pads and toes, or the direction of the applied force. The same principles can be extended to other biological bodies, e.g. human organs, and aid in the development of biomedical devices. Other topics I like to explore are soft tissue mechanics, bone mechanics, artificial and biological adhesive systems, extreme mechanics, molecular dynamics, C/C++/Python developing.

My research interests include animal behaviour (especially predator-prey interactions), neuroanatomy, and evolutionary ecology. I aim to contribute to our understanding of the macro-scale dynamics involved in evolution and natural selection, including the limitations of trait evolution. For this purpose, I am combining diverse comparative trait measurements and imaging techniques with phylogenomic methods. My previous research was focused on mimicry, more specifically the paradox of inaccurate mimicry, using ant-mimicking (myrmecomorphic) spiders. With the production of a large phylogenetic dataset and the development of a new method to quantify mimicry accuracy, I uncovered the tempo and mode of mimicry evolution in myrmecomorphic spiders. Further, I studied the consequences of a myrmecomorphic habitus on anatomical features (central nervous system and venom glands) as an example for a potential trade-off between functional traits, driving the evolutionary dynamics of trait expression. During my research I have also obtained experience in behavioural assays. Specifically, I ran predator experiments in which I presented video simulations to predatory jumping spiders to test what the key traits are for predator decision making in relation to ant mimicry. My current work focuses on the evolutionary dynamics of the marronoid clade of spiders - a group of closely related spiders known for possessing an array of prey capture techniques including cursorial and snare-based hunting.

I am interested in animal behavior and ecology. My past research experiences on reptiles, mammals, and arachnids in broad-spectrum have motivated me to appreciate and understand the complex systems of animal phylogeny and ecology. Invertebrates, especially arachnids have fascinated me since my college days. With passion, I strived to pursue my interest, especially in spiders by choosing it as a study model. My current research focuses on studying the biology of spiders and their silk glands. This will be achieved by combining field and behavioral studies in the lab. I aim to establish a detailed understanding of the functioning of spider silk glands through morphological studies and experiments in the lab. This will allow a comprehensive study on silk gland diversification, web architecture, and behavioral applications.

I am passionate about polymeric materials, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. My previous research was on the topic of biomimetic meniscus scaffolds from electrospun Poly(lactic acid) / Silk fibroin. I have gained experience in biomaterials, electrospinning process, materials characterization (mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology, degradation), and in vitro cell culture studies (such as cytotoxicity, cell viability, and histological studies). For my present study, I focus on the mechanical properties of the bundles of spider silk.

I am broadly interested in the morphology of athropods of all types, especially with regards to the reproductive system, the musculature and the structure of the nervous system. I find the comparative approach particularly interesting and like to work with imaging methods with a focus on 3D reconstruction.

Lab retreat, Hiddensee, November 2023

Group photo September 2023