Scientific contributions. I am fascinated by the great diversity of biological forms and strategies in the oceans and am interested in documenting the variety of marine invertebrates and understanding the evolutionary processes responsible for such diversity and for shaping current distributions. I apply an integrative approach and use a variety of data sources, theoretical frameworks and analytical methodologies. So far, I have erected 2 genera and described over 80 species (mainly annelids) from littoral to deep sea environments around the globe. Currently, my line of research focuses on phylogeography, species delimitation and discovery of cryptic species. Also, I am attracted to the functional morphology and evolution of certain organ systems (e.g., sensory organs). My interest in conservation has prompted my participation in projects related to invasive species and the connectivity between anthropogenic environments (such as ports), as well as testing new analytical tools for environmental monitoring. I have co-authored over 80 scientific publications, including 58 papers in SCI journals, 1 book and 17 invited chapters. In over 70% of the publications I am leading or senior author. I have attended over 35 conferences.

Contributions to society. I am engaged with the promotion of public awareness of science and making informal contributions to science education. I have been working at Natural Sciences Museums in Australia (2005-2011) and Norway (2012-2018) where I was enrolled in outreach activities. I have also published popular articles and several blogposts and I am often enrolled in different outreach activities at UIB.

Scientific training activities. I have co-supervisor of 1 PhD thesis, 13 MSc thesis (TFM) and 5 BSc projects (TFG), and currently supervising 3 PhD thesis. I was coordinator of the Nordic Research School in Biosystematics (ForBio) funded by the Norwegian Research Council (2015-2018), organising and leading postgraduate courses and training activities. I have been granted and participated in Teaching Innovation projects at UIB and also at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Other contributions. I have been in the editorial board of Frontiers of Marine Sciences, Graellsia and Frontiers in Worms Science. I have been ad hoc reviewer of more than 50 manuscripts in 24 SCI journals. Since 2011 I am an Honorary Research Associate of the Australian Museum, and was a member of the International Invertebrate Morphology Association and the Systematics Association. I have been in the organising committee of 8 conferences, incl. the Aquatic Science Meeting of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) 2023 (>2300 participants).

Office Hours

Thesis advising