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Prof. Dr. Patrick Fink

Curriculum vitae

since 12.2024

Group Leader General Ecology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne

11.2018 - 11.2024

Group leader Experimental Aquatic Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

10.2017 – 10.2018

Group leader, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne

04.2015 – 09.2017

Substitute for a Chair in Zoology and provisional head of the Institute for Cell Biology, University of Duesseldorf

01.2015

Habilitation (venia legendi) in Zoology, Univ. of Cologne

10.2006 – 03.2015

Scientific Assistant (junior group leader), Zoological Institute, Workgroup Aquatic Chemical Ecology, University of Cologne

07.2005 – 09.2006

07.2005 – 09.2006

11.2001 – 06.2005

PhD, University of Konstanz; dissertation entitled “Food quality and food choice in freshwater gastropods: Field and laboratory investigations on a key component of littoral food webs “, rated summa cum laude (excellent), Oct 21st, 2005

01.2001 – 10.2001

Diploma thesis entitled “Colony-induction in Scenedesmus by Daphnia”; rated excellent

10.1998 – 12.2000

Advanced Studies in Biology (Diploma), University of Konstanz

10.1996 – 09.1998

Basic studies in Biology (Vordiplom), Univ. of Tuebingen

Research interests

Research on various aspects of the ecology of aquatic organisms in response to environmental change and heterogeneity. In particular, we are interested in adaptations of these organisms on the levels of behaviour, physiology, phenotypic plasticity and evolution. We address our research question with a broad spectrum of methods ranging from molecular biology, analytical chemistry, stable isotope analysis, physiology and behaviour. We aim to relate the organisms and their adaptive response to properties of the whole ecosystem such as biodiversity, food web structure, trophic transfer or matter and energy to gain a better understanding of ecosystems' structure and functions.

Member of scientific societies

• Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
• International Society for Limnology (SIL)
• German Zoological Society (DZG)
• German Limnological Society (DGL)