معرفی
Cleo Bertelsmeier is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, a position she has held since November 1, 2023. She leads the Bertelsmeier Group, focusing on invasion ecology, particularly the spread and establishment of invasive insects in the context of globalization and climate change.
Education:
- 2006: German Abitur & French Baccalaureate, Frankfurt, Germany
- 2006–2009: Bachelor of Biology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- 2009–2010: Master’s in Ecology, Biodiversity and Evolution, University of Paris XI, France
- 2010–2013: Doctorate in Ecology, Systematics and Evolution, University of Paris XI, France
- 2014: Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of the Environment, University of Adelaide, Australia
- 2015–2018: Postdoctorate, Department of Ecology and Evolution, UNIL
Her research centers on two major themes: (1) the global spread of invasive species driven by trade and human mobility, and (2) the establishment of these species under novel climatic conditions. She frequently uses ants as model organisms due to their ecological diversity and invasive success. Her work combines macro-ecological modeling, data analysis, and experimental approaches to understand invasion dynamics across spatial and temporal scales. She investigates how historical socio-economic processes, trade networks, and climate filtering influence invasion patterns, and whether invasive species undergo niche shifts or use behavioral buffering to survive in new environments.
Her recent publications reveal trends in global insect invasions, the role of plant introductions in facilitating insect invasions, climatic filtering in establishment, and the homogenization of ant communities worldwide. She has also explored citizen science for monitoring ant biodiversity and the risks associated with the pet trade.
Scientific Awards:
- Young Researcher in Basic Sciences Award, FBM (2018)
- FBM Communication Award (2020)
- Sandoz Family Foundation's Academic Success Program (2020)
- ERC Starting Grant (2022) for the SPREAD project on globalized trade and insect invasions
She advises several PhD and Master’s students, including Aymeric Bonnamour, Olivia Bates, and Gyda Fenn-Moltu. Her group has secured significant research funding, notably the ERC grant, and collaborates widely. She has also authored the popular science book The Secret Wars of the Ants - Sex, Murders and Territorial Invasions (2019).
The Bertelsmeier Group is an active research team comprising postdocs, graduate students, and scientific collaborators. They investigate invasion ecology using interdisciplinary methods and contribute to public understanding through media engagement and outreach.
