I have been fascinated by nature and animal diversity since I was a young boy, and have observed and collected a variety of animal groups. As a trained zoologist, I am still curious to understand the origins and evolution of species and biodiversity. In terms of species, I focus on higher arthropods, particularly pancrustaceans (insects and crustaceans). I became intrigued by evolutionary biology because it is arguably the most diverse and interdisciplinary field in biology. It encompasses philosophy, history, molecular biology, bioinformatics, ecology, and the ‘classic’ areas of zoology and systematics.

One major evolutionary invention that has caught my attention since 2012 is venom, which evolved in all major animal lineages. Modern venomics, the study of animal venom, is extremely diverse, combining almost all areas of modern biology and evolution, including applied and translational research.

As a scientist interested in the theory of evolution who loves being in the field collecting specimens and has a passion for technology, modern evolutionary venomics is an ideal and fascinating playground. Using an integrative approach, I utilise synchrotron facilities to describe morphological structures and new molecular omics methods to address venom gene expression and evolution. This involves many bioinformatic tools, and, thanks to my strong background in data science, I also use artificial intelligence (deep learning) to test my hypotheses.

Through my major projects in venom research, I am contributing to a better understanding of the evolutionary processes that drive the development of such an adaptive trait as venom. I am particularly interested in invertebrate and pancrustacean groups that have not been studied much so far, such as centipedes, nemerteans, remipede crustaceans, robber flies, solitary bees and wasps, and assassin bugs, among other selected species. Insects remain my primary focus.

As head of entomology at the Natural History Museum Karlsruhe (SMNK), I have the joy and responsibility of maintaining and working with the insect collection in our museum, as well as engaging more with the public. This involves a variety of topics and various events, which gives me the opportunity to introduce non-scientists to the incredible diversity, beauty and functionality of evolution, biodiversity and in particular insects, and to fascinate them with it. In short, my dream job.