Rassim Khelifa

Rassim Khelifa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University, where he teaches Form and Function of Organisms (BIOL225), Introduction to Scientific Communication (BIOL498), and Reading Course: Ecology and Sustainability (BIOL601). His research addresses critical environmental challenges through ecological and conservation lenses, with emphasis on Mediterranean wetlands and North African ecosystems.

His academic background includes:

• PhD in Biology from the University of Zurich (2013-2017)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Zurich (2017-2018)
• SNSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of British Columbia (2018-2022)

Dr. Khelifa's research spans:

• Global Change Ecology: Investigating climate impacts on species distributions and ecosystem resilience
• Life History Evolution: Studying reproductive strategies and survival trade-offs in changing environments
• Conservation Biology: Focusing on endangered insects (especially dragonflies) and wetland birds
• Behavioural Ecology: Examining mating conflicts, anti-predator behaviors, and movement ecology
• Community Ecology: Analyzing species interactions under anthropogenic pressures
• Environmental Sustainability: Developing climate-resilient agricultural practices

Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant themes in insect conservation (particularly Odonata as biodiversity indicators), climate-threatened wetland ecosystems, and meta-research on open science practices. His work increasingly addresses equity in global ecology, including publishing disparities and inclusive fieldwork frameworks, while maintaining strong field-based research in Algeria and Canada.

Dr. Khelifa supervises Biology MSc and PhD students at Concordia University. His research has been supported by competitive awards including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Postdoctoral Fellowship. He actively promotes international collaboration, particularly with Global South institutions, and advocates for transparent research practices through editorial board reforms.

He leads The OPEN Lab, which integrates open science principles with conservation research through projects like EcoDragons (an environmental education game), citizen science initiatives, and field studies on endangered damselflies. The lab emphasizes inclusive methodologies and cross-cultural collaboration in biodiversity monitoring.