Demetra Rakosy

Dr. Demetra Rakosy is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Spatial Interaction Ecology (SIE) group at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig. She is affiliated with the Department of Community Ecology and focuses on plant-pollinator interactions, particularly along anthropogenic and natural gradients in Central and Eastern Europe. Her work integrates ecological networks, functional diversity, and conservation biology.

• PhD, University of Vienna (2012–2017)
• Master’s, University of Vienna and Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

Her research spans pollination ecology, floral trait evolution, and species interaction networks, with a focus on deceptive orchids such as Ophrys, Neotinea, and Traunsteinera. She investigates how visual and olfactory cues shape pollinator behavior and reproductive success. Her recent publications emphasize network analysis, pollen identification via deep learning, and the conservation of pollination systems in human-modified landscapes.

Dr. Rakosy has co-mentored several early-career researchers and contributed to teaching and summer schools in pollination ecology. Her work is presented at major ecological conferences, and she actively participates in science outreach, including exhibitions at the Leipzig Botanical Garden. Her collaborative research spans Germany, Romania, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

• Pollination Networks and Biodiversity Conservation
• Floral Signal Evolution in Deceptive Orchids
• Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Plant-Pollinator Interactions

She has received support from DAAD, WTZ Czech Republic, and the Natural Science Society for Carinthia. Her recent work integrates advanced imaging and machine learning for ecological monitoring.

• Co-mentorship of PhD, Master’s, and intern students since 2018
• Guest lecturer at Babeș-Bolyai University (2017–2018)
• Tutor at University of Vienna (2010–2012)

Dr. Rakosy is involved in the GLIMPSE PhD cohort and contributes to interdisciplinary projects linking biodiversity, land use, and environmental policy. Her research aims to inform conservation strategies in under-studied regions of Eastern Europe, particularly regarding overgrazing impacts on grassland ecosystems.