Catharina Clewing

Catharina Clewing is a researcher at the Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. Since 2016, she has been a postdoctoral researcher focusing on evolutionary and biogeographical dynamics of freshwater molluscs, particularly in the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions. Her work combines molecular phylogenetics, population dynamics analysis, and biogeographic modeling to understand biodiversity patterns.

Education:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s (Diploma in Biology) from Justus Liebig University (2007-2011)
• Ph.D. in Animal Ecology and Systematics (2011-2016), with a thesis on evolutionary drivers of Tibetan Plateau biodiversity

Research Interests: Her studies center on freshwater molluscs, including their evolution, population dynamics, and biogeography. Key topics include glacial refugia effects, cryptic species discovery, and host-parasite interactions. She employs cutting-edge techniques like microsatellite analyses and next-generation sequencing.

Publications & Awards: With over 20 peer-reviewed articles, Clewing has contributed to understanding mollusc distributions in lakes like Tanganyika, Malawi, and Baikal. Her work has earned notable awards, including the J. Frances Allen Institute’s Outstanding Publication Award (2013).

Teaching & Mentorship: Supervises undergraduate and graduate courses at Justus Liebig University, fostering student research in aquatic biodiversity and molecular ecology.

Labs & Collaborations: Part of the Systematics & Biodiversity Lab, collaborating with groups led by Prof. Thomas Wilke and apl. Prof. Christian Albrecht. Engaged in projects like the EU-funded PRIDE initiative on Pontocaspian biodiversity.