Manja Voß

Dr. Manja Voß is a paleontologist specializing in the evolution and diversity of marine mammals, particularly Sirenia (sea cows), Cetacea (whales), and Pinnipedia (seals). She holds a PhD from the Department of Biology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and has been affiliated with the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research) since 2005 in various capacities. Currently, she serves as Scientific Coordinator for Strategic Volunteer Management while maintaining an associated scientist position at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change in Hamburg.

Education:

• 2013: PhD in Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Dissertation: "Revision of the Halitherium-species complex...")
• 2005: Diploma in Geology/Paleontology, Freie Universität Berlin

Research Focus: Her work centers on systematic paleontology and evolutionary biology of marine mammals, with particular expertise in Eocene-Oligocene sirenians. She has conducted extensive revision of the Halitherium species complex, described new genera, and investigated biogeographic patterns across Central Europe, North America, and South America.

Scientific Recognition: Dr. Voß has received numerous accolades including the 2021 Inge and Werner Grüter-Foundation award for science communication, the 2010 German Future Award for young paleontologists, and multiple DAAD travel grants and SYNTHESYS research grants.

Professional Service: She actively contributes to the paleontological community through advisory roles in the Paläontologische Gesellschaft and Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik, and serves as a peer reviewer for leading journals including Nature Ecology & Evolution and Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.