About me
As a conservation biologist, my commitment to sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife drives my interdisciplinary research. I am passionate about devising solutions that allow for wildlife and humans to thrive in shared landscapes, informed by both ecological and social science perspectives. The heart of my work lies in the synergy of stakeholder collaboration, which results in impactful research with real-world applications aimed at improving human-wildlife relations. My work is anchored in three core areas:
- Human-wildlife interactions: Central to my research is the quest to better understand and manage the complex relationships between human communities and wildlife. By assessing community perceptions and conflicts with wildlife, I aim to develop strategies that reduce negative interactions. My work here involves not only the study of these interactions but also the creation of frameworks that enable communities to live in greater harmony with wildlife, thereby enhancing conservation outcomes.
- Effectiveness of area-based conservation: I scrutinize the success of conservation areas, such as national parks, community-based conservation areas and REDD+ projects, in achieving their intended ecological and socio-economic goals. My evaluations help refine conservation efforts, ensuring they effectively protect biodiversity while considering the human dimension.
- Disease ecology: Recognizing the growing importance of zoonotic diseases, I explore the interface between human health and animal ecology. My research contributes to understanding how behaviors link to pathogen spillover, which is paramount in developing strategies to prevent future outbreaks.
Through these lenses, I aim to bring clarity and innovation to conservation practices, always with the goal of fostering a balance where both humans and wildlife can prosper. To achieve this, I usually combine observational field studies (behavioral observations, line transects, camera trap surveys), behavioral experiments (e.g. playback calls, flight initiation experiments), structured interviews, choice experiments and modelling in R. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with fun and enthusiastic people from across the globe.
In my free time I enjoy sports (field hockey, soccer, skiing), being outdoors (nature photography, hiking), travelling and meeting friends.