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Personal information:
Research interests:
I am a paleontologist documenting and interpreting the relative contributions of abiotic (e.g., climate) and biotic factors (e.g., parasitism) in driving large-scale patterns in the evolution of life.

Current research focuses on biotic interactions, biomineralization, and macroecology. For example: How does parasitism relate to host biodiversity and skeletal disease? How does seawater chemistry affect biomineralization of marine invertebrates? How does body size distribution and growth respond to climate warming and related paleoenvironmental stressors?

For this purpose, I strive to work across disciplines and find means to test hypotheses with different lines of evidence, ranging from geology, paleontology, over quantitative paleobiology, to ecology and biology.

I have also worked in other areas, principally quantitative stratigraphy, biogeography, developmental paleobiology, paleoenvironmental analysis and taphonomy. I remain active and maintain interest in methods used in these fields. I would therefore be happy to advise students in these and other areas.

Latest student research includes: diversity and body size dynamics of marine invertebrates, Holocene trends in parasite-host prevalence captured in coprolites and skeletal pathologies, 3D-reconstruction and morphometry as well as experimental taphonomy of invertebrates and vertebrates.

Qualifications:
  • 2019:  Veni Legendi in Paleontology/Paleobiology, Geozentrum Nordbayern, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
  • 2012: Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology, Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, University of Zürich, Switzerland (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christian Klug)
  • 2006: Master in Geology awarded with Great Distinction, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Belgium (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jacques Verniers; Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Cecca, University Marie & Pierre Curie, Paris, France)
  • 2004/2006: Studies in Geology (2nd cycle), Ghent University, Belgium
  • 2002/2004: Studies in Geology (1st cycle), Ghent University, Belgium (Kandidatuur with Great Distinction in June 2004)
  • 1998/2002: Koninklijk Atheneum Zelzate, Belgium
  • 1996/1998: Middenschool Zelzate, Belgium

​Positions held:
  • 6/2019 –  now :  Akademischer Oberrat – Geozentrum Nordbayern, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
  • 6/2013 – 5/2019:  Akademischer Rat (~ Assistant Professor) – GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität            Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
  • 5/2012 – 4/2013:  SNF Visiting Fellow, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • 9/2011 – 3/2012:  Postdoctoral Researcher, Palaeontological Institute and Museum, University of Zürich, Switzerland

Attended International Courses:
  • 2020:  Blended-Learning and ILIAS Courses (Institute for Learning Innovation)
  • 2019:  Workshop “Herkunft macht Karrieren” (FAU Learning Lab)
  • 2019:  Workshop on Gender Bias at the Workplace (FAU Learning Lab)
  • 2019:  Workshop Teaching in Motion – Digital Lehre bewegt!
  • 2018:  Ecological Modelling in Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Austria (lecturer: Adam Tomasovych)
  • 2017:  International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstätten, University of Cork, Ireland (organiser: Maria McNamara)
  • 2016:  TERSANE Summer School on Macroevolutionary and Macroecological Impacts of Temperature-Related Stresses, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • 2013:  EMBO Post-Genomic Phylogenetic Course, Fondazione Majorana, Erice, Italy
  • 2013:   International Flügel Course on Carbonate Microfacies, Geozentrum Nordbayern, Erlangen, Germany (organiser: Prof. Dr. Axel Munnecke)

Three significant publications (a full list can be found here)
  1. De Baets, K., Antonelli, A., Donoghue, P. C. J. (2016). Tectonic blocks and molecular clocks. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 371: 20160098 (20/33 Citations in ISI/Scholar) – develops an approach to more meaningfully compare the divergence of lineages with tectonic events such as the break-up of continents.
  2. De Baets, K., Dentzien-Dias, P., Upeniece, I., Verneau, O., Donoghue, P.C.J. (2015). Constraining the Deep Origin of Parasitic Flatworms with Fossil Evidence. Advances in Parasitology 90: 93-135 (15/21 Citations in ISI/Scholar) – illustrates how the evolutionary history of parasitic flatworms can be meaningfully constrained
  3. De Baets, K., Klug, C., Korn, D., Landman, N.H. (2012). Early Evolutionary trends in ammonoid embryonic development. Evolution 66: 1788-1806 (59/78 Citations in ISI/Scholar) – evidence for a decrease in hatchling size during early ammonoid evolution.

Teaching experience (a full list can be found here)
  • 2013 – 2019   Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (7 hours per week during semester); Main Courses: Paleobiodiversity, Macroevolution, Macroecology,  Paleobiodiversity, General Palaeontology, Evolution of Life, Research Project Design and Implementation
  • 2013 – 2019   Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (> 5 hours per week during semester); Main Courses: Analytical Paleobiology, General Palaeontology, Macroevolution, Paleobiodiversity, Evolution of Life, 5 Paleontological Field Courses to Italy (7 days) and Germany (3 days), Earth System Dynamics
  • 2012 – 2013   Guest lecturer, Controversies in Paleobiology and Macroevolution, University of Bristol
  • 2007 – 2011   Teaching assistant, University of Zürich; Courses: Paleontology and Biostratigraphy Practicals; 12-day Paleontological Field Courses to France (1) and Morocco (2)

​Supervision:   

PhD Students (3):
  • Paulina Nätscher: Size reductions during hyperthermal events: early warnings of environmental deterioration or signs of extinction? (main supervisor and PI, finishing in December 2022)
  • Patricia Rita: Diversity and body size dynamics of marine invertebrate assemblages across the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis (main supervisor and PI, finishing in August 2019)
  • Carole Naglik, Universität Zürich (part of PhD committee, defended on 28.9.2018, Main supervisor: Christian Klug; )
 
    MSc Students (8):
  • 2020:
    • Fabian Dirscherl (ongoing): Prevalence of Skeletal Disease and Phanerozoic Diversity*
    • Laura Mulvey (2020, ongoing): Molecular constraints on the impact of host biogeography on polystomatid flatworm evolution* (Co-Supervisor: Dr. Rachel Warnock)
  • 2019:
    • Wyatt Petrishan (2019): Uncovering the evolutionary history of Sweetognathus using high-resolution 3D element models (Co-Supervisors: Dr. Emilia Jarochowska, Prof. Charles Henderson, University of Calgary)
    • Paulina Nätscher (2019): Modelling distribution of belemnite morphotypes during Early Jurassic radiations and extinctions
  • 2018:
    • Pascal Abel (2018): Macroecological patterns in Paleozoic ammonoids (Co-Supervisor: Manuel Steinbauer, FAU)
    • Christof Übelacker (2018): Body size dynamics of belemnites during the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis in Normandy (Co-Supervisor: Manuel Steinbauer, FAU)
  • 2016:
    • Marianne Kunkel (2016):  Body size dynamics of Late Devonian Ammonoids (Supervisor: K. De Baets, FAU)
  • 2013:
    • Thomas Clements (2013) Experimental Taphonomy of Squids and Octopods (Co-Supervisor: Dr. Jakob Vinther, UoB)
Bachelor Students (19)
  • 2020:
    • Kerstin Frühbeißer (2020, ongoing): Sclerochronology of belemnites across the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis* (Co-Supervisor: Dr. Emilia Jarochowska)
  • 2019:
    • Romy Eichler (2019): Influence of Holocene climate and migration on parasitic disease
    • Thomas Wolkenstörfer (2019): Morphological diversity of Toarcian belemnites
    • Peter Laschinger (2019): Impact of the Toarcian anoxic event on belemnite body size in the Cleveland basin
  • 2018:
    • Fabian Dirscherl (2018): Taphonomie eines Unter-Devonischen Ammonitenschlachtfelds
    • Manuel Blank (2018): Trends in parasite-host prevalence: coextinction or independent evolution?
  • 2017:
    • Paulina Nätscher (2017): Body size dynamics of Lusitanian Belemnites across the Pliensbachian-Toarcian
    • Martina Schlott (2017): Fluctuations in body size between Bavarian belemnite battlefields 
    • Hans Bähr (2017): 3D-morphometrische Analyse von Oulodus siluricus und Oulodus excavatus (Conodonta): P-Elemente (Co-Supervisor: Dr. Emilia Jarochowska)
    • Alexandra Kölbl (2017): 3D-morphometrische Analyse von Oulodus siluricus und Oulodus excavatus (Conodonta): M-Elemente (Co-Supervised with: Emilia Jarochowska)
  • 2016:
    • Benjamin Gügel (2016): 3D-Rekonstruktion von Machaeridier-Skleriten aus dem Devon
  • 2015:
    • Julia Stilkerich (2015): 3D-Analyse eines nicht-planspiralen Ammonoideen aus dem Hunsrückschiefer
    • Christoph Übelacker (2015): The first Teicherticeras from the Eifel (paper on his bachelor work can be found here)
    • Shamsiya Mammadova (2015): Erstes Vorkommen fossilere Perlen: Nachweise für Parasiten mit komplexen Lebenszyklen oder fossile Verfälschungen “in Aktion”
Tutoring:
  • 2012-2013:
    • Thomas Clements (MSc Student, University of Bristol); subsequently PhD at the University of Leicester
    • Lewis Bassett-Butt (MSc Student, University of Bristol); subsequently PhD at the University of Uppsala
    • Terri Cleary (MSc Student, University of Bristol); subsequently PhD at the University of London

Editor:
  • 2020: Topics in Geobiology Volume on Evolution (with John Huntley)
  • 2014-: member of the Editorial Board of PeerJ
  • 2014: Special Volume of Advances in Parasitology on Fossil Parasites (together with Tim Littlewood)
  • 2014: Topics in Geobiology Volume on Ammonoid Paleobiology (together with Christian Klug, Dieter Korn, Isabella Kruta and Royal H. Mapes)
  • 2012: Palaeontological Museum of the University of Zürich Exhibition Guide (English Version; together with Winand Brinkmann)

Organisatorial Skills:
  • 2004-2006: Geology and Soil Science Student Representative at the University of Gent
  • 2008-2010: organisation of Field Work expeditions to Morroco and Uzbekistan (with Christian Klug and Uzbek colleagues)
  • 2008-2010: organisation of 3 Paleontological Field Trips for biology students (with Christian Klug)
  • 2012: organisation Palaeontology Discussion Group Meetings (with Bettina Schirrmeister and Imran Rahman)
  • 2012: tutoring of Paleobiology MSc students at the University of Bristol
  • 2013: managing of paleontology library book acquisitions
  • 2013: volunteer and chair of session on Devonian, Carboniferous etc. at the Palaeontological Society Annual Meeting in Zürich
  • 2014: chair of Palaeozoic session at the Cephalopods - Past and Present Meeting in Zürich

Languages Skills: 
  • Dutch (mother language)
  • English (reading, talking, writing)
  • German (reading, talking)
  • French (reading, talking)

Software Skills:
  • Adobe Illustrator/Indesign/Photoshop
  • Microsoft Excel/Powerpoint/Word
  • PAST
  • R
  • Matlab
  • JMP
Preparation Skills:
  • air pens/chisels
  • elutriation techniques
  • sandblaster
  • oxygen/carbon isotope samples

Invited Talks (18):
  • Ein Stück Erdgeschichte im Darm?  Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Bayreuth, Hörsaal H11, Universität Bayreuth, 28.06.2016, Germany.
  • Ursprung von Tintenfischtinte: vom Evolutionsrennen im Meer bis zur Wolke auf dem Papier. Hessisches Landesmuseum, 30.01.2019, Darmstadt, Germany.
  • Preservation of Macroecological and Macroevolutionary Signals within Cephalopod Body Size Distributions across Time, Invited Keynote in Session T123. Cephalopods through time, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 06.11.2018, Indiana Convention Centre, Indianapolis, USA.
  • The worm´s turn: constraining the deep origin and evolution of parasitism with fossil evidence. Keynote of Session S20 on Intimate interactions, 5th International Palaeontological Congress, 10.09.2018, Paris, France.
  • Ein Stück Erdgeschichte im Darm?  Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg (Sektion Geologie), Katharinensaal, 28.06.2016, Nürnberg, Germany.
  • Body-size reductions during mass extinction: local environmental fluctuations or global evolutionary perturbations? Geoscience Seminar, Earth Surface Science Institute (ESSI), University of Leeds, 27.04.2018, United Kingdom. 
  • Mit Meeresgiganten durch die Erdgeschichte schwimmen: vom tropischen Flachwasser in polare Tiefen. Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg, Katharinensaal, 18.04.2016, Nürnberg, Germany.
  • The Importance of Fossils in Understanding the Evolution of Parasites and Their Vectors. University of Missouri, The Williamson Family Colloquium, 06.11.2015, Columbia, USA.
  • Ammonoid Paleobiology: from Anatomy to Ecology. Museo di Archeologia e Scienze Naturali "G. Zannato", 01.04.2015, Montecchio Maggiore, Italy.
  • The use of computated tomography in geobiology (together with Cristina Krause). Geozentrum Nordbayern, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Advances in Paleontology Seminar, 23.10.2013, Erlangen, Germany.
  • Molecular clocks and tectonic blocks. Natural History Museum, Life Science Seminar, 8.2.2013, London, United Kingdom.
  • The earliest appearance of pearls in the palaeontological record: clues for complex parasite life cycles or fossil biases? Natural History Museum, Life Science Seminar, 6.2.2013, London, United Kingdom.
  • Macroevolutionary patterns and parasitism in the early evolution of ammonoids. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, PDG, 1.6.2012, Bristol, United Kingdom.
  • Coevolution von Parasiten und ihren Wirten – mit Beispielen von Ammoniten bis zu Dinosauriern. Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Museumsvorträge, 11.01.2012, Zürich, Switzerland.
  • Parasitism and macroevolutionary patterns during the early ammonoid radiation. Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, Geowissenschaftliches Kolloquium, 1.12.2011, Bonn, Germany.
  • Frühe Geschichte der Ammonoideen (Devon – Perm): Form, Ontogenie, Variabilität und Verbreitung. Département des Géosciences, Université de Fribourg, Schweizerische Paläontologische Gesellschaft Minikurs 2009: Ursprung und Evolution der Ammonoideeen (co-hosted with Christian Klug and Alain Morard), 7.11.2009, Fribourg, Switzerland.
  • Ammonoideen im Hunsrückschiefer, einer klassischen Konservat-Lagerstätte des Frühen Devon. Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Museumsvorträge, 09.09.2009, Zürich, Switzerland.
  • Heteromorphe Ammoniten – Ursprung, Morphologie, Ökologie und Evolution. Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Museumsvorträge, 13.11.2008, Zürich, Switzerland.
Media attention:
I have reviewed for:
  •  Grant Agencies (2013 –): 
    • > 10 grant applications for German Science Foundation (DFG), Foundation for Polish Science (FPS), National Science Foundation (NSF; USA), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), and Humboldt Foundation (Germany)
  • Scientific Journals (2010 –):                
    • > 80 manuscripts in major journals in Biology (Ecology Letters, Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal of Biogeography, Proceedings of the Royal Society B), Geology (Journal of the Geological Society, Newsletters on Stratigraphy), Paleontology (Paleobiology, Palaeontology) and Natural Sciences in general (Plos One, Interface Focus, Scientific Reports)

Current Membership of scientific associations:
​Awards and Grants:
  • 2019 – Elected member of the Paleosynthesis Advisory Board (http://www.paleosynthesis.de/)
  • 2017 – Emerging Talents Initiative (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)
  • 2012  –  Swiss National Science Foundation Grant for Prospective Researchers: to work on the coevolutionary history of parasitic flatworms and their hosts
  • 2010 –  Swiss Paleontological Society Grant: to participate in the 8th International Symposium, Cephalopods - Present and Past in Dijon, France
  • 2010 –  VAUZ Grant: to participate in the Annual Palaeontological Society Meeting in Gent
  • 2008 –  SYNTHESYS Grant: to study evolution of ontogeny and variability in early ammonoids at the Naturkunde Museum, Berlin
  • 2008 – Swiss Palaeontological Society Grant: to participate in the Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy and IGCP 499 Devonian Land Sea Interaction Conference and Field trip in Kitab, Uzbekistan