Since 16 June 2026, she has been supporting the “Molecular Ecology in Agricultural Landscapes” research group and the MonViA team.
As part of her work, Alanah is focusing in particular on the analysis of eDNA samples collected from the nesting aids installed as part of the MonViA project for wild bee monitoring. She will also be involved in evaluating methods for an integrated monitoring approach. One of the main focuses of her work will be the bioinformatic analysis of eDNA samples and the subsequent scientific evaluation of the data obtained.
Alanah brings extensive experience from her previous academic career to these tasks. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Biosciences at Trier University, where she specialised in ecology and biodiversity during her Master’s studies. She gained her first experience working with eDNA during her Master’s thesis, in which she analysed insect DNA from plant samples.
She subsequently deepened her expertise in this field during her PhD as part of the DFG-funded Research Training Group SystemLink at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau. Her research focused on the food webs of riparian spiders and the interconnectedness of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Her scientific interests include metabarcoding, eDNA analyses, the study of ecosystems, and interactions between different habitats. With pollinators, Alanah is now entering a new field of research. She is particularly looking forward to exploring this topic and applying her expertise in molecular ecology to pollinator research.
We warmly welcome Alanah to the MonViA team and wish her a great start, as well as lots of success and enjoyment in her new role!