TEACHING

My teaching spans different fields including zoology, behavioural ecology, community ecology and statistics:

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• 2025-onwards, I teach the master course Behavioural Ecology in a changing world at the ULB (5 credits, https://www.ulb.be/en/programme/2026-biol-f4001)

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• 2019-2024, I co-lectured the course Arthropoda in the 2nd bachelor of Biology (https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C003181/2021, 3 credits), Ghent University. In my partim, I gave an overview of the taxonomy, ecology and evolution of the terrestrial groups of arthropods. 

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• 2018-2022, I gave every year two invited lectures on ecological networks as part of the course ‘Terrestrial Ecology” (https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C003223/2021, 3 credits), 3rd bachelor Ghent University. In these classes (3 hours), I outline the use and importance of ecological network research in modern ecology. 

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• 2021-2023, I gave two invited lectures (3 hours, 3 terms) to the master students of UCL/UNamur (https://directory.unamur.be/teaching/courses/SBOEM112, 5 credits) and give an assignment. I explain the use of statistical models applied to biological research questions. 

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• I was involved in the guidance and organization of different practicals (Zoology Kuleuven, Arthropoda Ghent University) and field courses.

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SUPERVISION

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​​I supervise the PhD of:

• Trésor Kisimba (VLIRUOS, started 2023): the functioning and assembly of termite communities along a recovery gradient of Miombo woodlands. co-supervision with Dries Bonte (Ugent), Basile Mujinya Bazirake (Université de Lubumbashi)

• Max Devis (FNRS aspirant, started 2025): Impacts of urbanisation and an invasive ant species on interaction networks of native ants and their arthropod symbionts. co-supervision with Thomas Merckx (VUB) and Wouter Dekoninck (RBINS)

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Master students who completed master thesis under my supervision:

• 2025: Aurélie Van Engeland

• 2024: Dries Debeule

• 2024: Kobe Van Belleghem

• 2024: Tim Proot

• 2023: Tessa Vandewalle

• 2023: Koen Martens

• 2022: Wouter Depaepe

• 2021: Jens Zarka

• 2019: Ruben Claus

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Internship students:

• 2026: Estelle De Ridder (UCLouvain)

• 2025: Blandine Rigaut (UMons) 

• 2020: Ronan Brouazin (Université de Rennes)

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EDITORIAL TASKS

associate editor Ecological Entomology

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PHD COMMITTEE 

I was invited as a member of the jury for the following PhD defenses:

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• Amber Baele, Ghent University, 3/10/24

• Helena Mendes Ferreira: Proximate and ultimate factors regulating reproduction and division of labour in insect societies, KU Leuven, 7/11/23

• Chu Wang: Strumigenys ants: tiny gems in the study of exocrine gland diversity, KU Leuven, 19/6/23​

• Peihua Zhang: Plant-plant interactions mediated by soil nematodes, Ghent University, 12/06/20

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I was external referee for the following PhD:

• Paride Balzani: Analysis of introduced and autochthonous populations of the red wood ant Formica paralugubris: ecological interactions and conservation issues. University of Parma, 22/01/22

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OUTREACH

I thoroughly enjoy giving seminars, advising on nature management, and participating in scientific activities aimed at reaching a wide public audience. Feel free to reach out to me. Here are some examples of previous outreach initiatives:

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• Supplying municipalities with information for the eradication of invasive ants and identifying insects, including invasive ants, provided by the public

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• Engaging with nature conservationists through regular meetings with foresters and nature managers to provide guidance on the optimal protection of red wood ants

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• ​Science festivals: Zeekerweten Burgerwetenschap, invited speaker: Nerdland festival '23, workshops for seconday school students, internships for high school students

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• Interviews: central guest radio show Weetikveel on ants (radio 1), radio interview on invasive ants (radio 2), Beestenboel Knack, het Nieuwsblad, initiating citizen science projects for distribution red wood ants (Biodiversa+ project)

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• Invited seminars for peers: ULB Bruxelles, UNamur, Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Córdoba

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