PhD Students

Antonio is one of those students who stand out from day one. I first noticed him during his freshman year — a period constrained by the pandemic — yet even under those circumstances, his seriousness and consistency were unmistakable. Our collaboration began through fieldwork, where Antonio actively participated in data collection and developed invaluable practical skills: habitat identification, crayfish capture, and population assessment techniques. This kind of hands-on experience is increasingly rare and genuinely valuable in the making of a biologist. Over the years, he evolved steadily, completing both his Bachelor's and Master's theses under my supervision, each one building toward a solid doctoral project. His research now focuses on methods for biodiversity data collection, management, and integration — developing workflows that bridge field ecology with biodiversity informatics at the interface of conservation science and data-driven research.

Olga launched her doctoral journey on her own initiative, reaching out from Saint Petersburg in search of the right academic direction. Building this collaboration required trust and openness on both sides, given our different starting points. Holding a dual Master's degree from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and Lincoln University (New Zealand), Olga brings extensive international field experience spanning Paraguay, Thailand, Japan, and Turkey — from wildlife research to environmental education. After an initial period of calibration, she quickly distinguished herself through rigor, perseverance, and genuine attention to quality. Her doctoral research focuses on the global analysis of crayfish distribution, leveraging World of Crayfish® datasets and geospatial predictors to decode spatial patterns across invasive and endemic species at a planetary scale.

Andrei is the first doctoral student I began supervising — a milestone that also marked the start of my own path as a mentor. Our connection goes back to a time when we were both students, and the decision to embark on this journey together felt natural. We both embraced this new beginning, and over time, our collaboration has proven remarkably solid. With a professional career rooted in nature conservation and a Master's degree from the University of Oxford, Andrei brings real-world conservation leadership to his research. He is actively involved in civil society, contributing to habitat and species protection across the Bihor region, where he has secured and managed grants exceeding €3 million. His journey reflects a rare balance between scientific rigor and hands-on commitment, making our working relationship both productive and genuinely rewarding. To date, his progress has been steady — built on professionalism, dedication, and a deep understanding of his field.