I am interested in ecology, evolution and systematics of bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae), particularly in their interactions with host trees, symbiotic fungi, and predators. My research work has focused on three topics:
- Ecology of tropical bark and ambrosia beetles. In the course of my collaboration with Binatang Research Center I established and managed projects investigating the host specificity, community structure and beta-diversity of tropical bark and ambrosia beetles. The projects rely heavily on collaboration with the local parataxonomists, and are yielding significant datasets.
- Evolution and systematics of the haplo-diploid inbred Xyleborina ambrosia beetles. In the Holistic Insect SystematicsLaboratory at MSU I am working on the generic revision of the subtribe and on revision of several genera.
- Relationships between the populations of temperate bark beetles (especially the palearctic Spruce bark beetle Ips typographus), their predators and host trees, with special focus on the semiochemical basis of these interactions.
1997-2004: B.Sc. in Biology, M.Sc. in Entomology at
the Faculty of Biological Sciences,
2004-present: Graduate student at the Faculty of
Biological Sciences,
2004-2006: Graduate student at the Dept. of Entomology,
2006-present: Graduate student at the Dept. of
Entomology,
2002:
2004-present:
2004-present: Faculty of Biological Sciences,
2004-2006: Graduate Research Assistant,
2006:
2006-present: Graduate Research Assistant,
Coleopterists Society, 2007-present.
Michigan Entomological Society, 2007-present.
Royal Society SE Asian Rain Forest Research Programme, 2005 – present.
Entomological Society of America, 2004-present.
Czech (native), English, Neo-Melanesian Pidgin English, basics of Perl.