Rafał Gosik

Rafał Gosik is a university professor at the Department of Zoology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. He has been an academic teacher since 1997 and holds both a PhD (2005) and habilitation (2014) from the same institution. His work spans research, teaching in zoology and parasitology, editorial contributions, and academic leadership, including chairing the Faculty Electoral Commission since 2018.

Research Interests: Dr. Gosik's research centers on the morphology, taxonomy, and ecology of beetles, particularly weevils (Curculionidae). He specializes in the description of larval and pupal stages, using chaetotaxy, histology, and life history data to inform systematics. His work extends to biological control of invasive plants using weevils, and he is actively involved in nature conservation, especially concerning amphibians, reptiles, and birds. He has conducted fieldwork in Poland and abroad, including scientific stays in Germany and Serbia under NAWA scholarship.

Publication Trends: His recent publications (2018–2025) consistently focus on detailed morphological descriptions of immature beetle stages, primarily in families Curculionidae and Brentidae. These works appear in leading taxonomic journals such as Zootaxa, ZooKeys, Insects, and Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. The research integrates classical morphology with molecular data and ecological observations, contributing significantly to the understanding of weevil systematics and development.

Scientific Awards:
• Homo Didacticus diploma for best-rated academic teachers

Advising and Grants: Dr. Gosik has supervised the Scientific Circle of Biology Students at UMCS (2014–2023) and coordinated a student exchange program with Petrovskogo State University, Bryansk (2009–2011). He serves on the editorial board of Insects and reviews for top journals including Zootaxa, ZooKeys, and NCN. He has received competitive scholarships such as from the Nowicki Foundation and Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, and a NAWA scholarship for research in Serbia (2023).

Labs and Teams: He collaborates extensively with an international network of entomologists, including researchers from the Curculio-Institute, Serbia (Toševski, Skuhrovec), Germany (Sprick), Italy (Caldara), and others. These collaborations are evident in co-authored publications and joint research on weevil systematics and immature stages.