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Curriculum Vitae
 
Oliver HAWLITSCHEK, Dr.rer.nat. (PhD), Mr.
Head of the molecular lab
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change
Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research
Zoological Museum, Hamburg
GERMANY
+49-40-238317-712
Office: 243a
oliver.hawlitschek@gmx.de
Institute website

 
Work experience:  
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 (since 2010). Teaching experience since 2004: university lectures, field classes, professional training events. Classes at LMU: Biodiversity of insects, Conservation Biology and Management, Zoological Biodiversity, Systematic Data and Evidence (4 ECTS / Semester). Classes at Universität Hamburg: Zoological Biodiversity, Zoological Field Course (2 ECTS / Semester).
  • Associate editor of the journals The Science of Nature (Naturwissenschaften; since 2017) and Evolutionary Systematics (since 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 ca. 49 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