Address
Universität Basel,
Zoologisches Institut
Evolutionsbiologie
Vesalgasse 1
CH-4051 Basel
Switzerland

Office
O1.23

Phone
+41 (0)61 267 03 27

Fax
+41 (0)61 267 03 62

Email
ralph.dobler-at-stud.unibas.ch
ralphdobler-at-gmx.ch

Ralph Dobler

Former PhD student in the group of Dr. Mathias Kölliker. Works on the evolution of parent-offspring conflict, using the European earwig (Forficula auricularia) as model species.

Research interest

In general, I am interested in evolution as the whole. But unfortunately a man's life is quite a bit too short to figure out all about evolution... So, I decided to find some pieces of the jigsaw in the field of evolution and reproduction. This includes topics like sexual selection, sexual conflict, reproduction strategies or parent-offspring conflict.

Current research

In my PhD-project I investigate how environment and genes can influence and determine maternal care and offspring begging, how different optimal strategies for parents and offspring lead to conflicts between them, and how they are solved. For that purpose, I use breeding experiments and behavioural observations as well as theoretical approaches. The study organism I work on is the European earwig (Forficula auricularia). This species, with its sub-social behaviour, is the ideal organism to work on to find some more jigsaw parts.

My running projects are the behavioural stability of repeated short-time interactions (theoretical work) and the ability of earwig larvae to dicriminate between kin and nonkin in the context of siblicide and cannibalism (experimental work).

Previous research

In my master thesis (pdf-file: 690k) I investigated the potential costs of longer sperm in the yellow dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraia).

Outside the academic world

I try hard to bring good humour to the world, to make it a worth while place to live on ;-)

"Potius amicum quam dictum perdere" (Marcus Fabius Quintilianus)

"There are no useless facts - some facts are just less used" (Ralph Dobler)

Sport is also important in my life. Either active (kayaking, curling, volleyball) or passive (watch on TV, with friends and beer...or beer and friends!)

"Philosophers have often looked for the defining feature of humans — language, rationality, culture and so on. I’d stick with this: Man is the only animal that likes Tabasco sauce." (Paul Bloom)

Curriculum vitae

1997 - 1999	Study of Biochemistry at the ETH, Zurich
2000 - 2005	Study of Biology (Zoology) at the University of Zurich
2005	Diploma (Master) in Zoology at the University of Zurich
2006 - 2009	PhD student at the University of Basel
2009	PhD in Zoology at the University of Basel
2011 -	Postdoc at the University of Tübingen