I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Biology and my Master's degree in Zoology from the University of Vienna. During my MSc studies, I worked full-time at the Entomology Collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna, where I digitised the Lepidoptera type collection.
For my MSc thesis, I conducted an environmental regulation study, which involved a spectral analysis of commercial street lights and their effects on insects. My research demonstrated that besides high UV emission, insects are also attracted to lamps with higher infrared emissions. After graduating, I worked at Laimburg Research Station in Trentino, Italy, where I empirically tested the effects of invasive species and their antagonists on the endemic fauna. During this time, I developed a strong interest in the genetic adaptations of invasive species. To deepen my knowledge in molecular biology, I pursued a second MSc in Ovidiu Paun’s group, where I investigated differential gene expression in two closely related Bromeliaceae species, which display different photosynthesis systems when exposed to drought stress.
 

Building on this interdisciplinary background, I am excited to pursue my PhD in Robert Kofler's group, where I aim to further develop my bioinformatics skills by studying transposable elements (TEs) and their role in genome dynamics. Transposable elements are powerful drivers of genome evolution and gene regulation, capable of reshaping genomes over time and influencing a wide range of biological processes. In my first project, I will assess if piRNA cluster size predicts the abundance of TE invasions. In my second project, I combine my entomological background with molecular and bioinformatic techniques to detect both past and recent TE insertions in the invasive German Cockroach (Blattella germanica). By integrating data from museum specimens, lab strains, and wild populations, I am investigating how genomic changes have contributed to the adaptation of pest species to anthropogenic environments over time.