Parm von OheimbView profile
Researcher
Dr. Parm von Oheimb is a Researcher in the Mollusc Collection at the Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany, where he has worked since 2019. His research focuses on malacology, biodiversity patterns, evolutionary biology, and biogeography, with particular emphasis on land snails and freshwater mollusks across diverse ecosystems including the Tibetan Plateau, Vietnam, and urban environments. Previously, he held postdoctoral positions at The Natural History Museum in London (2015-2019) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (2013-2015). Dr. von Oheimb earned his Dr. rer. nat. in 2013 from Justus Liebig University Giessen with a dissertation titled "Phylogeography at the 'Roof of the World' – Diversity and distribution of freshwater mollusks at the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas." He completed his Diploma in Biology with distinction in 2008 from the same institution. His educational background provided the foundation for his extensive research on mollusk systematics, biogeography, and evolutionary patterns across diverse geographical regions. Dr. von Oheimb's research interests span multiple areas of malacology and biodiversity science. His work on Tibetan Plateau freshwater gastropods has contributed significantly to understanding high-altitude adaptation and historical biogeography. His research in Vietnam has focused on limestone karst ecosystems and the biodiversity of land snails, revealing cryptic species diversity and community assembly patterns. More recently, he has investigated urban biodiversity, particularly examining cemeteries as habitats for terrestrial gastropods in Berlin. His methodological approaches integrate field surveys, molecular phylogenetics, morphological analysis, and biogeographical modeling to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and ecology. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent research output across multiple continents and habitats, with a clear trajectory from high-altitude freshwater systems to tropical limestone karsts and urban environments. The research shows a consistent focus on molluscan biodiversity patterns while adapting methodologies to address specific ecological and evolutionary questions in each system. His work often involves large international collaborations, reflecting the global nature of biodiversity research. Dr. von Oheimb has received several scientific awards including a Research Fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2015-2017), a Travel Award from the Malacological Society of London (2016), and the J. Frances Allen Institute of Malacology Outstanding Publication Award (2013). He has also received multiple awards for poster presentations at international conferences. As a dedicated researcher, Dr. von Oheimb has served as a Subject Editor for Zoosystematics and Evolution since 2025 and is an active member of several scientific societies including The Malacological Society of London, Unitas Malacologica, and the German Malacological Society. His work contributes to multiple research programs at the Museum für Naturkunde, particularly the "Dynamics of Nature" initiative and the "Life between Graves" project examining cemetery biodiversity. Dr. von Oheimb also contributes to science communication through the "Schemenkabinett" project and has developed various popular science formats. His research leverages the extensive mollusk collections at the Museum für Naturkunde, connecting traditional taxonomy with modern molecular approaches to address contemporary questions in biodiversity science.
