Katharina von Oheimb

Dr. Katharina von Oheimb is a Researcher (Postdoc) at the Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science in Berlin, Germany, where she has worked since 2019. Her research focuses on the Evolution, diversity and distribution of mollusks, with particular emphasis on land snails in Vietnam's limestone karst regions and urban biodiversity studies in Berlin cemeteries. She previously held postdoctoral positions at The Natural History Museum in London (2015-2019) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (2013-2015).

• 2013: Doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat.) from Justus Liebig University Giessen
• 2008: Diploma in Biology (with distinction) from Justus Liebig University Giessen

Dr. von Oheimb's research spans Malacology, Evolutionary Biology, and Conservation Science, with a focus on understanding biodiversity patterns, particularly in land snail communities. Her work combines field studies in diverse environments from Vietnamese limestone karsts to Berlin cemeteries with molecular approaches to uncover cryptic diversity and evolutionary relationships. She investigates how ecological factors shape community assembly and how species adapt to extreme environments like hot springs.

Her extensive publication record shows consistent research on molluscan biodiversity, with recent work emphasizing urban ecology applications and the documentation of cryptic species diversity. The publication trends demonstrate a progression from invasive species research toward more comprehensive biodiversity studies in both tropical and urban environments, with increasing focus on conservation applications.

• Research Fellowship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (OH 280/1-1) 2015-2017
• Travel Award of the Malacological Society of London 2016
• Travel grant, Molluscan Forum, London 2011
• PhD Scholarship of the German Federal Environmental Foundation 2009-2011
• Award for the best poster presentation (as co-author), SIAL IV, Berlin 2006

Dr. von Oheimb actively supervises seminars and practical courses in zoology, ecology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology, and co-supervises diploma and master's theses. She has received significant research funding, including a prestigious DFG research fellowship, enabling her to conduct extensive fieldwork in Southeast Asia and develop innovative approaches to studying molluscan biodiversity. As a co-founder of the Schemenkabinett project, she demonstrates strong commitment to science communication and public engagement.

She leads research within the Museum's 'Dynamics of Nature' science program, focusing on the Mollusca collection. Her current projects include 'Biodiversity on cemeteries' (Leben zwischen Gräbern/Life between Graves), which investigates urban ecosystems, and continued research on mollusks in natural history collections. She is an active member of several professional societies including The Malacological Society of London and the German Malacological Society.