Address
Universität Basel,
Zoologisches Institut
Evolutionsbiologie
Vesalgasse 1
CH-4051 Basel
Switzerland
Office
E0.03
Phone
+41 (0)61 267 03 02
Fax
+41 (0)61 267 03 01
Email
michaelmatschiner-at-mac.com
On the way to Joe Felsenstein's
talk in Lausanne, 07/09/08
Graduate student in the group of Walter Salzburger. Works on the evolution of Antarctic icefishes.
Antarctic fishes of the suborder Notothenioidei provide a rare example of an adaptive radiation
of fish in a marine environment. Antarctic waters are characterized by subzero temperatures,
the presence of sea ice, strong currents and habitat limitation. Yet Notothenioid fishes
successfully adapted to, and radiated in this extreme environment.
Little is known about the causes of this radiation. The evolution of antifreeze glycoproteins has been
suggested as a potential key innovation that enabled notothenioids to diversify and occupy niches other
teleost fishes couldn't adapt to. However other factors such as cyclical glaciation during ice ages may
also have played a role in the notothenioid diversification. As part of my PhD studies, I investigate
questions such as
In addition, I am involved in the development of bioinformatic software solutions for genetic analyses.
I found some nice bouldering spots around Basel, in the Jura and indoors, and I'm making good use of it. I love the occassional hike in the Alps and participate in all sorts of sport from football to volleyball, badminton or ultimate frisbee.
And afterwards, I'm passionate about cooking dishes that go well with red wine.
| Born in 1979 in Neumarkt, Germany | |
| 2008-ongoing | PhD thesis at the Zoological Institute, University of Basel |
| 2002-2008 | M.sc at the Department of Biology, University of Konstanz (Master thesis at the University of Basel) |
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