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:
Positions held:
Attended International Courses and Workshops:
Three significant publications (a full list can be found here)
Teaching experience (a full list can be found here)
Mentoring:
Postdoctoral researchers:
Supervision:
PhD Students (4):
MSc Students (9):
Editor:
Organised conference sessions and workshops
Institutional responsibilities:
Languages Skills:
Software Skills: Preparation Skills:
Invited Talks (24):
I have reviewed for:
Current Membership of scientific associations:
Awards and Grants:
- Name: Kenneth (René) De Baets
- Date of birth: January 19th, 1984 (Gent, Belgium)
- Nationality: Belgian
- ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1651-321X
- Publons: https://publons.com/researcher/25479
- Websites:
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:
- 01/2023 - ongoing: Associate Professor () - Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw
- 03/2022 - 12/2023: Assistant Professor (Adiunkt) - Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw
- 6/2019 – 02/2022 : 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 and Workshops:
- 2022-2024: BITE: Biotic Interactions in Deep Time funded by Paleosynthesis
- 2022-2024: IRAL: Integrated Record of Ancient Life funded by Paleosynthesis
- 2021: URGE: Unlearning Racism in Geoscience Program - FAU Paleo participated as POD
- 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)
- 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.
- 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
- 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)
- 2019 – 2022 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)
Mentoring:
Postdoctoral researchers:
- Dr. Karina Vanadzina
- Dr. Aleksandra Skawina
- Dr. Ninon Allaire
- Dr. John Huntley
Supervision:
PhD Students (4):
- Jonatan Audycki: Evolutionary patterns and colonization of new environments: understanding the evolution and functional morphology of freshwater chelicerates (main supervisor, started in October 2023)
- Janusz Mermer: Diversity of inclusions in Permian-Triassic coprolites (main supervisor, started in October 2022)
- Paulina Nätscher: Size reductions during hyperthermal events: early warnings of environmental deterioration or signs of extinction? (main supervisor and PI, finishing in April 2024)
- 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 (9):
- 2023:
- Kamil Poteralski: The impact of the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis on belemnites from the Asturian Basin
- Paweł Olszewski: Using molecular cophylogenetic methods to estimate extinction risk in ascaridoid nematoda
- 2022:
- Najat Al-Fudhaili: Belemnite growth dynamics and trace elemental composition across the Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary event (Co-Supervisor: Dr. Axel Munnecke)
- 2021:
- Laura Mulvey: 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)
- 2021:
- Nadine Fersch (2021): Verbreitung von zoonotischen Erregern in fossilen Wirbeltieren des Quartärs (Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Klingler)
Liv Steger (2021): Veränderungen in der Morphologie von Tintenfischen als Reaktion auf Nahrungsverfügbarkeit und Ozeanversauerung (Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Klingler)
Rebecca Gold (2021): Veränderung der Körpergröße und Proportionen von Belemniten während der Pliensbach-Toarc Krise (Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Klingler)
- Nadine Fersch (2021): Verbreitung von zoonotischen Erregern in fossilen Wirbeltieren des Quartärs (Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Klingler)
- 2020:
- Elisabeth Weiland (2020) - Bioerosion of recent Nautilus (Co-Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Martin Klingler and Dr. Barbara Seuß)
- Kerstin Frühbeißer (2020): 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”
- 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 49 and 50 on Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism (with John Huntley)
- 2019-: subject editor of the Editorial Board of PeerJ
- 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)
Organised conference sessions and workshops
- 2022: Symposium (convener and scientific board) on Molluscs as parasites and victims of parasitism, World Congress of Malacology 2022, Munich, Germany
- 2020: Symposium (convener): Earth System Paleobiology: closing the geological and biological gap, EGU (Sharing Geoscience Online), Vienna
- 2019: Workshop on Open Data Analysis and Publication (organizer), PalGes, Munich
- 2019: Symposium on Physiology in Deep Time (convener), PalGes, Munich
- 2019: 3rd Workshop on the Toarcian Anoxic Event (organizer), IGCP 655, Erlangen
- 2018: Symposium on Ecological Role of Extinct Organisms (convener), PalGes, Bonn
- 2016: Symposium on Biotic Interactions (convener), PalGes, Dresden
- 2015: Symposium on Parasitism (convener), GSA 2015, Baltimore, USA
- 2014: Paleozoic Session (invited chair), Cephalopods – Past and Present Meeting, Zürich
- 2013 Paleozoic Session (invited chair), Palaeontological Association Meeting, Zürich
Institutional responsibilities:
- 2013 – 2022: Member of the GeoZentrum Board; mid-level faculty representative, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2021 – 2022: Ad-Interim Collection Manager, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2020 – 2021: Admission Commission for Master “Geowissenschaften”
2015 – 2021: Scientific contact for computed tomography µCT, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2014 – 2019: Co-Organizer of the Literature Seminar and Library Representative, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2012 – 2013: Undergraduate student tutor and co-organizer of the Internal Seminar, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
2004 – 2006: Student representative in the Department Committee, Ghent University, Belgium
Languages Skills:
- Dutch (mother language)
- English (reading, talking, writing)
- German (reading, talking)
- French (reading, talking)
- Polish (basics)
Software Skills: Preparation Skills:
- air pens/chisels
- elutriation techniques
- sandblaster
- oxygen/carbon isotope samples
Invited Talks (24):
- Why should we care about extinct parasites? Constraining the evolution and extinction of parasites with fossil evidence and novel co-
phylogenetic methods. Séminaire Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, 11.04.2024, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France. - Constraining the deep origin and evolution of parasitic flatworms with fossil evidence and novel co-phylogenetic methods. Invite Keynote for XV International Symposium on Flatworm Biology, 25.07.23, Universidade de São Paulo, Em São Sebastião, Centro de Biologia Marinha, Brasil..
- Phanerozoic parasitism and host diversity: dilution versus amplification. Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Museumsvorträge, 02.11.2022, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Phanerozoic parasitism and metazoan diversity: dilution versus amplification. EarthTalks Lecture series, 29.04.2022, Geocenter Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Parasites: from underdogs to new paradigms in evolution. Dzień Darwina ("Darwin day") lectures, 09.04.2022, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
- Phanerozoic parasitism and marine metazoan diversity – Dilution versus amplification. Invited plenary talk at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft, 28.09.2021, Vienna , Austria (held online).
- Ein Stück Erdgeschichte im Darm? Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Bayreuth, Hörsaal H11, Universität Bayreuth, 02.03.2020, 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.
- Urzeitliche Parasiten berichten vom Überleben und Sterben von Arten. VBIO, 06.10.2021.
- Researchers investigate changes in size of Jurassic belemnites. Archaeology News Network, 11.08.2021.
- Where are all the squid fossils? - PBS Eons (Blake De Pastino), 03.06.2021.
- Urzeiträuber mit umsichtigem Essverhalten - Spektrum der Wissenschaften (Lars Fischer), 11.05.2021.
- Unique Fossil Shows Shark Killed A Squid While It Ate An Ancient Lobster - Forbes (Priya Shukla), 8.05.2021.
- Fossil Shows Carnivorous Conga Line As Shark Eats A Cephalopod Eating A Crustacean - IFL Science (Rachael Funnell), 05.05.2021
- Our article is featured on Lagerstätte Roundup: March 2021 - Fossil Bonanza (Andy Connolly), 30.04.2021.
- Vampire squid ancestor died in 'eternal embrace' with its dinner - Live Science (Laura Geggel), 26.03.2021.
- Book references our work on fossil flatworms. - The Invertebrate Tree of Life (Gonzalo Giribet/Gregory Edgecombe).
- Book references our work on belemnite disparity and diversity. - Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. 2nd Edition (Michael Benton/David Harper).
- Teeth from eel-like conodonts offer new proof of parallel evolution. UPI (Brooks Hays), 23.11.2020.
- Identical evolution of isolated organisms. Science Daily, 23.11.2020.
- Climate Change Once Made Ancient Creatures Shrink, and As Global Temperatures Rise, It Might Happen Again - Newsweek, 09.03.2020.
- Investigating the Lilliput effect with computer tomography - IDW, 02.08.2018.
- Mit Computertomografie dem Lilliput-Effekt auf der Spur - FAU Aktuell. 30.07.2018.
- Wann und warum sind die Dinosaurier ausgestorben? Nanu!?!, 02.12.2017.
- Wie sicher wissen wir, wie sich das Leben auf der Erde in Zukunft entwickeln wird? Friedrich, 8.11.2017.
- Searching for the Old Ones: Lovecraftian giant cephalopods and the fossil record - The Guardian (Mark Carnall), 31.10.2017
- Book discussing my research on early ammonoid evolution - Squid Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Cephalopods (Danna Staaf), 03.10.2017
- Von Kalamaris und Octopussen - Nürnberger Nachrichten (Lothar Hoja), 23.01.2017.
- Spurlos verschwunden: Warum es keine Fossilien von Kalmaren gibt - FAU Aktuell (Katrin Piecha), 17.01.2017.
- Lost Worlds Revisited: Top Fossils of 2016 (Mark Carnall’s choice) - The Guardian, 28.12.2016.
- Book Review: Ammonoid Paleobiology 2.0 —fresh views, new concepts, advanced methods. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica (Frank Wiese), 2016.
- Book Review: Ammonoid Paleobiology: From paleogeography to macroevolution by Klug, Korn, De Baets, Kruta and Mapes (2015). Palass Newsletter 92 (Alistair McGowan), 2016.
- Book Review of Fossil Parasites by De Baets and Littlewood (2015): The natural history of parasites. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica (Michal Zaton), 2016.
- Book Review: Ammonoid Paleobiology: from anatomy to ecology by Klug, Korn, De Baets, Kruta and Mapes (2015). Palass Newsletter 91 (Alistair McGowan), 2016.
- Book Review: Early Emsian Ammonoidea and the Age of the Hunsrück Slate by De Baets, Klug, Korn, Poschmann and Bartels (2013). Priscum 23.1 (Joshua Slattery), 2016.
- Auch Dinos und Urzeit-Fische hätten schon eine Wurmkur vertragen. derstandard.at (red), 31.07.2015.
- Ein Stuck Erdgeschichte im Darm. FAU Aktuell (Regine Oyntzen), 22.07.2015.
- Darf´s auch mal ein bisschen größer sein ? Nurnberger Nachrichten (Lother Hoja), 25.11.2014.
- Wirbellose Meerestiere mit Übergröße. FAU Aktuell (Katrin Piecha), 05.11.2014.
- Spineless Giants Track Oceanic Revolutions. National Geographic Phenomena: Laelaps Blog (Brian Switek), 27.10.2014.
- Ammonoid evolution and ecology. Palaeocast Episode 17 (interview with Joe Keating), 01.06.2013
- New research highlights influence of intraspecific variability on biodiversity studies. University of Bristol News, 17.01.2013.
- Paleontology and Evolution in the News. Evolution: Education and Outreach (Sidney Horenstein), 27.06.2012.
- The Secret of Ammonoid Succcess. Wired (Brian Switek), 02.05.2012.
- Segensreiche Fortplanzungs-Strategie wurde zum rätselhaftem Fluch. derstandard.at (red), 28.04.2012.
- Das Rezept der Ammoniten. St. Galler Tagblatt (R. A.), 24.04.2012.
- Das Geheimniss der Überlebenskünstler. Tages-Anzeiger (Martin Läubli), 24.04.2012.
- Das Geheimniss der Überlebenskünstler. Der Bund (Martin Läubli), 24.04.2012.
- Neue Theorie zum Aussterben der Ammoniten. DRadioWissen, 23.04.2012.
- First fertile, then futile: ammonites or the boon and bane of many offspring/Einst fruchtbar, dann fruchtlos: Ammoniten oder Fluch und Segen vieler Nachkommen. UZH Mediadesk, 23.04.2012.
- Ammoniten rollten sich ein. 20 Minuten, 23.03.2012.
- Elegante Taucher in der Tiefe der Zeit. UZH News (Marita Fuchs), 14.03.2012.
- Parallel evolution controlled by adaptation and covariation in ammonoid cephalopods/Parallele Evolution bei Ammonoideen (Cephalopoden) sowohl durch Anpassung als auch durch Kovariation gesteuert. MNF - Top News, 28.06.2011.
- A beautiful defense. Part of online slideshow of Scientific American Article (Brian Switek), 17.05.2011.
- Ammoniten mit verräterischen Pusteln. Berliner Zeitung (Ute Kehse), 10.03.2011.
- Parasiten an Fossilien: Ammoniten mit Pusteln. Frankfurter Rundschau (Ute Kehse), 10.03.2011.
- Ammonoids Trapped Parasites in Pearls. Wired (Brian Switek), 02.03.2011.
- Devonian pearls in fossil ammonoids/Perlen in Ammoniten MNF - Top News, 28.02.2011.
- Fossil pits show how ammonites turned parasites into pearls. Discover (Ed Yong), 27.02.2011.
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 –):
- > 110 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:
- Paläontologische Gesellschaft (Germany)
- Palaeontological Association (United Kingdom)
- Paleontological Society (USA)
- Schweizerische Paläontologische Gesellschaft/Sociéte Paléontologique Suisse (Switzerland)
Awards and Grants:
- 2022 - Awardee of I.3.4 Action of the Excellence Initiative – Research University Programme
- 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