Prof. Dr. Alexander Blanke

“Microscopy and micro-tomography practicals” (WBIO-C11, 2 weeks, full day, 5 credits), B.Sc. Biology

“Bildgebende Methoden in der Biologie” (WBIO-C12, 4 weeks, full day, 10 credits), B.Sc. Biology

Sommer Semester

BIO-07 „Ökologie mit Bestimmungsübungen“ (4 weeks, full day, 10 credits), B.Sc. Biology

OEP-B17 “Evolution, Diversity, and Biology of Arthropods” (4 weeks, full day, 10 credits), OEP Master programme

scientific

since 2020           Full professor (W2 tenure track) for evolutionary morphology at the University of Bonn

2018 – 2020       ERC Starting Grant group leader at the Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne; Project: “The mechanical evolution from biting-chewing to piercing-sucking in insects.” funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

2017 - 2018        DFG Return Fellowship at the University of Cologne;       Continuation of the project: "Biomechanics of biting in dragonflies, mayflies and silverfish – gaining insights into the structural basis of insect head evolution."

2015 – 2017       Postdoc in the workgroup of Prof. Fagan, Hull, UK; DFG fellow in the project: "Biomechanics of biting in dragonflies, mayflies and silverfish – gaining insights into the structural basis of insect head evolution."

2014 - 2015        Post-doc position (3-year contract) in the group of Prof. Willmann, University of Göttingen, declined due to successful DFG fellowship to work on insect head biomechanics in the UK.

2014 - 2015        Postdoc in the workgroup Prof. Machida, Ueda, Japan; Fellow of the JSPS within the project: "Mouthpart evolution in basal insects - a comparative embryological approach"

2013 - 2014        Postdoc in the workgroup Prof. Misof, ZFMK, Bonn, Germany; Topics: Head morphology of primary wingless insects / methodological approaches to reveal phenotypic convergence in biological systems.

2008 - 2013 PhD student at the ZFMK, Bonn, Germany; Thesis: The Palaeoptera problem and the evolution of head structures of Dicondylia (Insecta)

2007 - 2008 Scientific assistant at the ZFMK; Topic: Revision of the genus Perithemis Hagen (Odonata: Anisoptera)

2006 - 2007 Diploma at the ZFMK; University of Bonn, Thesis: The dragonfly assemblage of Santa Teresa – patterns of behaviour and habitat use in a tropical environment

2006 - 2008        Study of economics at the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn, Germany

2004 - 2006 Student assistant at the Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Bonn (Germany). Bionics Department. Main topics: Characterisation of biological surfaces using SEM, AFM and other visualisation methods

2001 - 2007 Study of biology at the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn, Germany

2001 - 2001        Internship at the Department for Chirurgical Research, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany.

industry

2006 - 2014        Sales assistant (2006-2008; Focus on East Asia and the Americas), Technical assistant (2009-2012; Quality management acc. DIN/ISO9001, CAD implementation and management), and purchasing manager (per procura, 2012-2014) in a medium-sized company focused on manufacturing of hydraulic connectors.

• Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (GfBS)
• Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft (DZG)
• Gesellschaft deutscher Odonatologen (GdO)

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biomechanik (DGfB)