Questionnaire: Prof Dr Heike Wägele

Your Title, Name, Place of work?
Prof Dr Heike Wägele, zmb, Bonn

What is your current position/function at our institute?
Head of Section Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Biology, zmb (Centre of Molecular Biodiversity Research)

What do you like about your job/position?
There are few professions that give so much flexibility and diversity in the work, the way of working and the realization of one’s own ideas. I have been able to travel to many countries, have met so many nice people around the world, am still learning new methods and am thrilled every time I get to work on my group of animals in the field or in the lab.

Can you please describe your tasks at the LIB?
My main interest is to understand the evolutionary processes that explain biodiversity especially in the oceans, using marine sea slugs (Heterobranchia) that exhibit a large variety of biological phenomena which are rather unique within animals. With this topic I teach students from all levels (beginners up to PhD students and postdocs) in theoretical background, practical work, methodologies and everything else related to education in a biological topic.  Furthermore, I am helping in methodology transfer of biodiversity research to Indonesia by teaching and performing joint research at Sam Ratulangi University in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Keyword
Evolutionary biology

Is there something about the Institute that particularly appeals to you?
I am fascinated by the numerous methodological possibilities that are all represented in our house by specialists and experts in their disciplines and that I can use. And at the same time, this diversity of methods also leads to a collegial network in the house, which makes working so pleasant.

 

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