People

Education

• Master of Science (2010), University of Vienna
• Philosophiae Doctor (2015), University of Vienna

Previous appointments

• 2009-2010 Research assistant (stage M2) at the INRA Versailles-Grignon with Sylvia Anton and Christophe Gadenne
• 2012-2016 Research assistant at the University of Vienna in the Drusinae project in the lab of Johann Waringer
• 2014-2018 Lecturer at the University of Vienna
• 2016 Visiting scientist (SYNTHESYS grant) at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in the lab of Steffen Pauls
• 2016 Visiting scientist at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna in the lab of Wolfram Graf
• 2017-2018 PostDoc at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum with Steffen Pauls

Research Interests

Everything starts somewhere. Here, it starts at two simple questions - ‘what is that’ and ‘why is it there’. What follows is ‘what does it do’ and ‘how does it do that’. Sometimes there also is ‘why are there so many of them‘, ‘What on earth could it do with that’, and ‘Does it really need all those legs’ if only out of curiosity. Consequently, my research focus is on diversity and the underlying evolutionary and ecological processes shaping biodiversity at different scales, using mostly Trichoptera and Plecoptera as model systems. At the same time, I am interested in the significance of diversity per se, and its relevance in maintaining ecosystem function and interlinkage. As aquatic entomologist I aim at developing a holistic approach to study stream insect communities and their single components. I recently acquired a taste for the applied side of aquatic entomology and now engage in various collaborations on the Water Framework Directive, and am part of the «Scientists for Vjosa» committee.

Further Information

Profile from Simon Vitecek on ORCID