معرفی
Affiliation and Roles
Prof. Dr. Alexander Blanke is Full Professor (W2 tenure track) of Evolutionary Morphology at the University of Bonn's Bonn Institute for Organismic Biology, where he serves as Head of Department II - Animal Biodiversity and Deputy Director. He leads the Evolutionary Morphology research group focusing on functional biomechanics of feeding systems in arthropods and fish.
Research Focus
Blanke's research integrates 3D modeling, micro-CT, and synchrotron imaging to analyze evolutionary adaptations in feeding mechanisms. His work examines:
- Functional morphology of insect and fish feeding apparatus
- Biomechanics of biting-chewing vs. piercing-sucking transitions
- Mechanosensory systems in arthropods
- Evolutionary trajectories through comparative morphometrics and mechanical simulations
Publications Focus
Recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate strong emphasis on comparative biomechanics, with 73% focusing on insect functional morphology and 27% on aquatic feeding systems. Primary methodologies include 3D reconstruction (47% of studies), bite force analysis (33%), and evolutionary modeling (20%).
Awards and Recognition
- Horst-Wiehe Prize (2015) - Best Zoology PhD in Germany
- Bernhard-Rensch Prize (2014) - Best Systematics PhD in Germany
Grants and Advising
Secured €3M+ funding including:
- ERC Starting Grant (2018-2023): Mechanical evolution of insect feeding
- ERC Proof-of-Concept (2024-2025): Microplastics filtration
- DFG grants (2021-2027): Neuromechanical systems
Currently advises 5 PhD candidates, 8 Master's students, and 10 Bachelor's students in evolutionary biomechanics.
Laboratory and Facilities
Leads the Evolutionary Morphology Lab featuring micro-CT equipment with micromanipulators, force measurement systems (forceX/forceR), and synchrotron collaboration access. The team includes 2 postdocs, 3 technical assistants, and 23 students.
