Curriculum Vitae
Oliver HAWLITSCHEK, Dr.rer.nat. (PhD), Mr.
Lecturer for Biodiversity of Invertebrates
Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Room Y13-H-46
Phone +41 44 635 52 86
[email protected]
Institute website
Work experience:
Academic achievements:
Skills and further achievements:
List of publications
Oliver HAWLITSCHEK, Dr.rer.nat. (PhD), Mr.
Lecturer for Biodiversity of Invertebrates
Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Room Y13-H-46
Phone +41 44 635 52 86
[email protected]
Institute website
Work experience:
- Since 2023 Lecturer for biodiversity of invertebrates in the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich.
- 2019-2023 Head of the molecular genetic lab at the Centrum für Naturkunde (CeNak), Universität Hamburg, since 2021 Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB).
- 2017-2019 Postdoctoral researcher at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (ZSM), Munich, DFG framework TaxonOMICS (previously Department of Coleoptera).
- 2015-2017 Postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF).
- 2014-2015 Scientific coordinator of the project DNA Barcoding Fauna Bavarica II at the ZSM.
- 2013-2014 Conservation consultant at the Planungsbüro Beutler, Munich.
- Since 2011 Freelance biologist.
- 2011-2013 Graduate fellow at the ZSM, Department of Herpetology.
- 2009-2011 Graduate fellow at the ZSM, Department of Coleoptera.
- 2004-2013 Assistant conservation consultant at the Planungsbüro Beutler, Munich.
Academic achievements:
- Winner of the 18. R.J.H. Hintelmann Scientific Award for Zoological Systematics.
- 2009-2013 Dissertation (PhD) at the University of Munich (LMU) and ZSM. Grade: Summa cum laude (excellent). Thesis: Speciation and species delimitation in insular and continental systems: the cases of the Comoros Islands and Australia. Available here.
- 2002-2008 Diploma (eq. MSc) Biology, University of Munich, grade: 1.0 (excellent). Thesis: Reptiles and amphibians of the Comoro Islands.
Skills and further achievements:
- Languages: German, English, French, Spanish.
- 54 publications in international scientific journals, 19 as first author, 3 as senior author, +10 in regional scientific journals, with focus on conservation, molecular phylogenetics, biogeography, taxonomy; since 2009 (see list of publications).
- Grants and awards for research: Total sum ca. 674,791 EUR (= 795,143 US$); since 2006.
- University teaching: Technical advisor of > 20 student theses at the ZSM and UHH (since 2010). Teaching experience since 2004: university lectures, field classes, professional training events. Classes at UZH: Evolution and Biodiversity I, Introduction to Invertebrate Identification, Identification Systematics and Taxonomy of Invertebrates, Excursions. Classes at Universität Hamburg: Zoological Biodiversity, Zoological Field Course (2 ECTS / Semester). Classes at LMU: Biodiversity of insects, Conservation Biology and Management, Zoological Biodiversity, Systematic Data and Evidence (4 ECTS / Semester).
- Associate editor of the journals Salamandra (since 2023), Evolutionary Systematics (since 2022), and The Science of Nature (Naturwissenschaften; 2017-2022).
- Referee for 30+ scientific journals, e.g.: Biodiversity and Conservation, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Journal of Biogeography, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, PLOS ONE, Nature Scientific Reports, Zoologica Scripta (since 2009).
- Scientific field surveys to various tropical and subtropical regions, e.g., Comoros Islands, Madagascar, Brazil, Pemba Island (Tanzania), Libya, sum > 50 weeks (since 2004).
- Molecular genetics and genomics: DNA extraction, amplification, real-time PCR, Sanger-sequencing, library preparation for ddRAD and amplicon sequencing in Illumina MiSeq and NextSeq.
- Computer skills in phylogenetics, ecological niche modeling, GIS, and basic programming skills.
- Leading teams of up to six members under field and office conditions.
- Implementation of EU Birds and Habitats Directives and of German national conservation law: 53 studies on environmental impact assessment and other expert reports, 13 of these as first author, with a total of more than 2,200 pages (since 2004).
- German, EU, and international conservation legislation (Bundesprogramm Biologische Vielfalt, National Biodiversity Strategy, Natura 2000, Access and Benefit Sharing, CITES, IUCN Red List, etc.).
- Faunal and biodiversity knowledge (for professional conservation management): amphibians, reptiles, orthopterans, odonates, butterflies, aquatic beetles, fish, bats.
- Member of the IUCN Snake and Lizard Red List authority (since 2011) and Chameleon Specialist Group (since 2021).
- Member of various species conservation societies in Germany, e.g., Bavarian Bird Conservation Society (LBV, since 1992), Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP, since 2007), Friends of the NaMu (Natural History Museum Munich, since 2012, founding member).
List of publications