PhD Alumni/ae Club
We intend to connect Alumni/ae with each other and with current members of the VDSEE, the Faculty of Life Sciences and the University of Vienna and create mutually beneficial relationships.
We aim to establish an Alumni/ae programme in the future! If you want to be included in the VDSEE Alumni/ae Club, please send an email to docschool.vdsee@univie.ac.at
You can also join the general Alumni/ae network from the University of Vienna. Further information can be found here.
List of PhDs / Dr. graduates
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Defences of 2023
Kirsten Mandl, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Multi-modal imaging for and experiments into identifying and visualizing bioerosion in archeological bone.
- Supervisor: Martin Grassberger (Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität), Maria Teschler-Nicola (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien)
- Defended on 12.04.2023
Johannes Herpell, MSc PhD
- Thesis: How beneficial plant-microbe-interactions in the phyllosphere contribute to plant performance
- Supervisor: Wolfram Weckwerth (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna), Christa Schleper (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 30.03.2023
Muhammad Ahmad, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Population genetics of selected Boraginaceae and their transcriptomic changes upon phytohormonal and microbial interaction
- Supervisor: Ovidiu Paun (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna), Angela Sessitsch (Center for Health & Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology)
- Defended on 20.03.2023
Elena Ritschard, PhD
- Thesis: Evolutionary origins and functional impact of novel genes on cephalopod developmental and morphological innovations
- Supervisor: Oleg Simakov (Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 07.03.2023
Katherine Jennifer Salazar Alekseyeva, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Extracellular enzymatic activities of marine pelagic fungi and the influence of temperature and salinity
- Supervisors: Federico Baltar and Gerhard Herndl (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 30.01.2023
Mujahid Ali, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Development and Evolution of Drosophila Chromatin Landscape in a 3D genome context
- Supervisor: Qi Zhou (Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 26.01.2023
Otto Monge, PhD
- Thesis: Land use and warming effects on tropical birds: diversity and physiological vulnerability
- Supervisors: Leonida Fusani (Department of Cognitive Biology), Christian Schulze (Division of Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity), Stefan Dullinger (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research)
- Defended on 17.01.2023
Zhiqing Xue, PhD
- Thesis: Biogeography of the Grass Deschampsia cespitosa s. lat. on a world-wide scale
- Supervisor: Josef Greimler (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 11.01.2023
Defences of 2022
Michael Melcher, Bakk.techn. PhD
- Thesis: Metabolism and Physiology of mesophilic and thermophilic Thaumarchaeota
- Supervisor: Christa Schleper (Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 19.12.2022
Rohit Anil Dnyansagar, PhD
- Thesis: Insights into the evolution of Gene Regulatory networks from the bioinformatic analysis of transcriptomic and genomic data
- Supervisor: Ulrich Technau (Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 16.12.2022
Dr. rer. nat. Bianca Lintner
- Thesis: Recent deep-sea foraminifera assemblages in the NE Atlantic
- Supervisor: Petra Heinz and Martin Zuschin (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 21.09.2022
Jing Liu, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Evolutionary dynamics of chromosome synteny and nuclear organization across amniote species
- Supervisor: Qi Zhou (Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 16.09.2022
Gil Yardeni, MSc PhD
- Thesis: Phylogenetic relationships and the evolutionary history of Tillandsia, a species-rich genus of Bromeliaceae
- Supervisor: Ovidiu Paun (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 09.08.2022
Mag.pharm. Dr. Mirta Resetar
- Thesis: Characterization of LRK071, a structural analog of the natural product honokiol, as a novel RXR agonist
- Supervisor: Verena M. Dirsch (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 22.07.2022
Faviel Alejandro López Romero, PhD
- Thesis: "Morphological evolution of elasmobranchs: Quantitative approaches from ontogeny to ecomorphological signals among clades"
- Supervisor: Jürgen Kriwet (Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 07.07.2022
Sinje Neukirchen, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Evolution of dissimilatory sulfur metabolism: a comparative phylogenomic approach"
- Supervisor: Filipa Sousa (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 13.06.2022
Philipp Moritz Weber, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Morphogenesis and chromosome organization in animal-attached bacteria"
- Supervisor: Silvia Bulgheresi (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 01.06.2022
David Andrés Salamanca-Díaz, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "How to build a bivalve: Lessons from gene expression and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses."
- Supervisor: Andreas Wanninger (Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 18.05.2022
Dr. Manuel Amadori, MSc
- Thesis: "Palaeobiology and Taxonomy of the extinct elasmobranch shark, +Ptychodus (Vertebrata, Chondrichthyes)."
- Supervisor: Jürgen Kriwet (Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 04.05.2022
Mimmi Eriksson, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Rinse and repeat: genome dynamics following repeated allopolyploidization in marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza)."
- Supervisor: Ovidiu Paun (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 27.04.2022
Suzanne Freilich, BA MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Shedding light on past human histories with ancient DNA and stable isotopes."
- Supervisor: Martin Fieder and Helmut Schaschl (Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 25.04.2022
Jaime Andrés Villafaña Navea, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Insights into Cenozoic fishes (Chondrichthyes, Teleostei) from South America and Europe."
- Supervisor: Jürgen Kriwet (Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 25.04.2022
Dott.ssa Aglaia Szukala, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Parallel and adaptive processes during ecotype formation in Heliosperma pusillum."
- Supervisor: Ovidiu Paun (Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 04.04.2022
Jan Steger, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Patterns and ecological impacts of the Lessepsian invasion - novel insights from molluscan living and death assemblages."
- Supervisor: Paolo Giulio Albano and Martin Zuschin (Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 01.04.2022
Logan Henry Hodgskiss, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Exploring the Physiology of the Ammonia Oxidizing Archaeon Nitrososphaera viennensis."
- Supervisor: Christa Schleper (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna)
- Defended on 29.03.2022
Alexander Schahbasi, PhD
- Thesis: "Social cohesion in the context of evolutionary anthropology"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Martin Fieder, Privatdoz.,
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology - Defended on 31.01.2022
Gabriela Fabiola Paredes Rojas, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Omics-based physiology of marine nematode ectosymbioses"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Dr. Silvia Bulgheresi, Privatdoz.,
Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology - Defended on 21.01.2022
Defences of 2021
Michael Lintner, BSc MSc MSc PhD
- Thesis:"Feeding-experiments of foraminifera with particular focus on the carbon and nitrogen uptake"
- Supervisors: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Petra Heinz, Department of Palaeontology & Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Martin Zuschin, Department of Palaeontology
- Defended on 14.12.2021
Hannah Schmidbaur, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Evolutionary mechanisms in cephalopod genomes: genes, synteny and chromosome architecture"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Dr. Oleg Simakov,
Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology - Defended on 02.12.2021
Zihao Zhao, PhD
- Thesis: "Patterns of microbial cleavage of organic matter in the global ocean"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Herndl, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- Defended on 05.11.2021
Nima Ranjbar Sistani, PhD
- Thesis: "Assessment of the rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbionts to improve the yield and seed quality in Pisum sativum under biotic stress caused by Didymella pinodes"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Dipl.-Biol. Dr. Stefanie Wienkoop, Privatdoz., Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- Defended on 22.10.2021
Dr. John Joseph Cawley, BSc MSc
- Thesis: "New perspectives on pycnodont fishes (Neopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) concerning evolutionary success, niche partitioning, extinction and taxonomy"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Geol. Dr. Jürgen Kriwet, Department of Palaeontology
- Defended on 16.10.2021
Waltenberger Lukas, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Parturition scars as evidence of birth? A geometric morphometric reappraisal of pelvic features"
- Supervisors: Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Philipp Mitteröcker, Privatdoz., Department of Evolutionary Biology & Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Katharina Rebay-Salisbury, Austrian Academy of Sciences
- Defended on 14.10.2021
Wai Yee Wong, PhD
- Thesis: "Transposons genome evolution and regeneration in Hydra"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Dr. Oleg Simakov, Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology
- Defended on 28.09.2021
Huiying Shang, PhD
- Thesis: "Genomics of the speciation continuum in Eurasian Populus species"
- Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Ovidiu Paun, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 04.06.2021
Uliana Nekliudova, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Dynamics of sexual reproduction and embryonic incubation in marine bryozoans"
- Supervisor: Andrey Ostrovsky PhD, DSc
- Defended on 15.04.2021
Britta Uhl, MSc PhD
- Thesis: "How much are isolated relict forest reserves influenced by local and external factors? A case study on vegetation and moths in Northern Italy"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Konrad Fiedler, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 13.04.2021
Dipl.-Biol. Mirko Wölfling, PhD
- Thesis: "The status of a Mediterranean forest reserve (Pineta san Vitale, Ravenna) prone to degradation: A case study on moths"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Konrad Fiedler, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 11.03.2021
Mag Dieter Stephan Reich, PhD
- Thesis: "Endangered grassland species in time and space - insights gained from European taxa of Gentianella Moench"
- Supervisor: Dr. Josef Greimler, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 11.02.2021
Jakob Weiszmann, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Effects of low temperature on photosynthesis and primary metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana"
- Supervisors: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfram Weckwerth, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, & Prof. Dr. Thomas Nägele, LMU München
- Defended on 02.02.2021
Defences of 2020
Mag. Paul Alan Steiner, PhD
- Thesis: "Successional changes in marine snow in the northern Adriatic Sea"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Herndl, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- Defended on 21.12.2020
Ekaterina Pukhlyakova, PhD
- Thesis: "Epithelial morphogenesis, mechanotransduction and the role of cadherins during early development of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Biol. Dr. Ulrich Technau, Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology
- Defended on 07.12.2020
Maria Gomes Ribeiro Teixeira Pinto, PhD
- Thesis: "Prokaryotic communities and plastic pollution in the ocean"
- Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Herndl, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- Defended on 17.11.2020
Metapt. Dr. Alexandros Xafis, MSc
- Thesis: "Out of Africa: dietary transitions of migrating megaherbivores during the Miocene"
- Supervisors: ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Doris Nagel, Department of Palaeontology & Fridgeir Grimsson, Privatdoz. M.Sc. PhD, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 05.11.2020
Christoph Neumayr, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Differential cofactor dependencies define functionally distinct types of human enhancers"
- Supervisor: Dipl.-Biochem. Dr. Alexander Stark, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Defended on 29.10.2020
Lisa-Maria Mauerhofer, BSc MSc PhD
- Thesis: "Comparative Physiology of Methanogenic Archaea with respect to Biotechnological Applications"
- Supervisors: Mag. Mag. Dr. techn. Simon Karl-Maria Rasso Rittmann, Privatdoz. & niv.-Prof. Dipl.-Biol. Dr. Christa Schleper, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology,
- Defended on 15.10.2020
Mag. Sandra Kirchner, PhD
- Thesis: "Shedding light on the evolution of an enigmatic fish. Comparative analyses of cavernicolous and surface-dwelling populations of Garra barreimiae"
- Supervisors: ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Harald Krenn, Department of Evolutionary Biology & Dr. Elisabeth Haring, Privatdoz., Department of Evolutionary Biology and Natural History Museum Vienna
- Defended on 22.06.2020
Mag. Peter Lampert, PhD
- Thesis: "Educational dimensions of plant reproduction - Analyses of students’ conceptions, knowledge base and science content to provide implications and options for teaching"
- Supervisors: Ass.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Suzanne Kapelari, Privatdoz. MA & ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Michael Kiehn, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- Defended on 22.06.2020