Grants
2022/07 – 2025/06: Hybridization-induced escalation of TE-related genomic conflict: Source of structural variation and integral component of reproductive isolation? Research Grant, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Principle Investigator. CHF 575’300.-
2020/11 – 2021/10: Systematics and molecular bases of speciation and plumage coloration in the Oenanthe picata complex. Co-PI with Dr. M. Schweizer, NMBE. Basler Stiftung für biologische Forschung. Co-PI. CHF 12’000.-
2018/08 – 2021/07: Genomics of hybridization, speciation, and phenotype evolution in wheatears. Research Grant, German Research Foundation (DFG). Principle Investigator. EUR 370’000.-
2019/08 – 2021/07: Reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships and origins of color polymorphisms in the Oenanthe hispanica-pleschanka-cypriaca complex. Host. Research cost subsidy, Georg Forster Stipend of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation towards Dr. Niloofar Alaei Kakhki. EUR 19’000.-
2010/07: Travel grant, EMBO course “Computational molecular evolution”, Crete (Greece), Swiss Society of Zoology, CHF 700.-
2010/06-2010/09: Evolutionary history of the avian MHCIIB. Research grant, Société Académique Vaudoise (SAV); CHF 8’000.-
Host to PhD and Postdoc Grants
2023/07 – 2026/06: Transposable elements as a source of structural rearrangements, genetic conflicts and constraints to gene flow. International Postdoc Grant to Dr. Valentina Peona, Vetenskapsrådet (VR) Sweden. SEK 1’200’000.-
2020/12 – 2023/11: Genomics of hybridization, speciation and phenotypic evolution in a color polymorphic songbird radiation. PhD grant to Dave Lutgen, Fond National de la Recherche (FRN) Luxembourg. Ca. EUR 180’000.-
2019/08 – 2021/10: Reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships and origins of color polymorphism in the Oenanthe hispanica-pleschanka-cypriaca complex. Georg Foster Stipendium to Dr. Niloofar Alaei Kakhki, Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. Ca. EUR 84’000.-
Supervision of Junior Researchers
2023/06 – : Dr. Madeline Chase, Swiss Ornithological Institute
2023/04 – : Dr. Fritjof Lammers, postdoc, Swiss Ornithological Institute
2023/01 – : Dr. Valentina Peona, Swiss Ornithological Institute
2019/07 – : PhD supervisor, Dave Lutgen, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. “Genomics of hybridization, speciation, and phenotype evolution in wheatears”
2019/11 – 2020/10: Laura Pabon Viteri, MSc student, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2019/11 – 2020/10: Lisa Deak, MSc student, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2019/06 – 2021/05: Dr. Niloofar Alaei, postdoc, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. “Reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships and origins of color polymorphisms in the Oenanthe hispanica-pleschanka-cypriaca complex”
2019/06 – 2020/05: Nicolas Auchli, MSc student, University of Bern, Switzerland. “Genomic landscapes of structural variation in wheatears”
2018/06 – 2019/05: Raphael Ritter, MSc student, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. “Genomic landscapes of diversity and gene tree variation in wheatears”
2012/03 – 2017/09: Arnaud Gaigher, external PhD advisor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. “MHC evolutionary ecology in European barn owls (Tyto alba)”
2012/06 – 2016/08: Julien Goebel, PhD co-supervisor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. “Evolutionary origin of the avian MHC class IIB”
2007/10 – 2008/10: Sylvain Antoniazza, MSc student, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. “Local adaptation of pheomelanin-based coloration in the European barn owl”
2007/10 – 2008/10: Karim Ghali, MSc student, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. “MHC class IIB evolution in barn owl”
Scientific Reviewing Activities
– 168 peer reviews for 41 journals, incl. Current Biology, Evolution, Evolution Letters, Genome Research, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Molecular Ecology, Molecular Ecology Resources, Nature Communications, PLoS Biology, PLoS Genetics, PNAS, Science.
– Reviewer awards: Publons Peer Review Award 2017, Top 1% peer reviewers in Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Top Reviewer for Molecular Ecology 2012, 2014
– Reviewing Editor, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2014-2017
– Grant reviews and evaluation committees: German Research Foundation (DFG); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK; National Science Centre, Poland; Evaluator research activities of the Institutes of the Czech Acad of Sci.
– Thesis committees: Thesis committee Ana Paula Machado, University of Lausanne. Mid-thesis committee Catalina Palacios, University of the Andes, Bogota. PhD committee Marlene Haider, University of Innsbruck.
