Curriculum vitae
Photo © Ornella Weideli
Pictures from my study sites in Seychelles and French Polynesia.
"Growing up in landlocked and mountain-dominated Switzerland did not preclude me from dreaming about the Ocean. On contrary, from early on I was fascinated by the underwater world. This passion has allowed me to start a highly versatile journey..." - Ornella C. Weideli
My CV:
Academic Qualifications
2015 - 2020: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Biologie des populations, génétique et éco-éthologie
École Pratique de Hautes Études (EPHE), France
Thesis title: Mechanisms of coexistence: A multi-disciplinary investigation of sympatric juvenile reef sharks.
2010 - 2012: Master of Science in Animal Biology, University of Basel, Switzerland
Thesis title: Has resort related large-scale mangrove habitat destruction resulted in a change in the prey community and therefore in a dietary shift of nursery bound juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris.
2006 - 2009: Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology, University of Bern, Switzerland
Thesis title: Immunocytochemical Investigation of the Renin Angiotensin System in Kidney Tissue of normotensive, treated and untreated double transgenic Rats (dTGR).
Research/Working Experiences
06/2020 - present Research study coordinator, Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Liechtenstein | Part-time employment
06/2020 - present Fundraising coordinator, erfolgswelle AG, Switzerland | Part-time employment
12/2014 - 06/2020 Principal investigator, SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre, D’Arros Island, Seychelles. Supervision: Dr Serge Planes, Dr Yannis Papastamatiou
11/2016 – 04/2017 Research associate, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE), Moorea, French Polynesia. Supervision: Dr Jodie Rummer, Dr Serge Planes
12/2013 – 05/2014 Research assistant, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE), Moorea, French Polynesia. Supervision: Dr Serge Planes
11/2013 Research assistant, SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre, D’Arros Island, Seychelles. Supervision: Dr James Lea
01/2012 – 02/2012 Research assistant, Lemon Shark Aggregation Study, BBFS, Florida, USA.
Supervision: Dr Samuel Gruber, Dr Steven Kessel
01/2011 – 08/2011 Master Student, Bimini Biological Field Station, Bimini, Bahamas
Supervision: Dr Samuel Gruber, Dr Kristine Stump
10/2009 – 12/2009 Internship/Volunteer, Bimini Biological Field Station, Bimini, Bahamas
Supervision: Dr Samuel Gruber, Dr Kristine Stump
03/2012 – 12/2012 Research assistant, Medical Laboratories, Dr Risch, Bern, Switzerland
Supervision: Dr Ute Weidemann, Dr med Lorenz Risch
06/2010 – 12/2010 Secretary, Pathology Länggasse, Bern, Switzerland
Supervision: Dr Hans Jörg Altermatt
08/2009 – 10/2009 High school biology teacher, Gymnasium Kirchenfeld, Bern, Switzerland
Supervision: Dr Heinz Stöckli, Franz-Xaver Troxler
01/2010 – 04/2010 High school biology teacher, Gymnasium Kirchenfeld, Bern, Switzerland
Supervision: Dr Heinz Stöckli, Franz-Xaver Troxler
Grants and Awards
05/2019 Travel Award from Flying Sharks to attend the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) meeting, Snowbird, Utah, USA: 220 €
03/2018 Travel Award from CRIOBE to attend the 7th Rencontres de l’Ichtyologie en France (RIF),
Paris, France: 530 €
07/2017 Travel Award from Women in Marine Science to attend the 10th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC), Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia: 550 €
06/2017 Travel Award Flying Sharks to attend the 10th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC),
Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia: 550 €
06/2017 Travel Award from École Doctoral of the École Pratique des Hautes Études to attend the 10th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC), Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia: 550 €.
06/2017 Travel Award from CRIOBE to attend the 10th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC),
Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia: 1000 €
08/2016 Save Our Seas Foundation Keystone Continuous Grant for PhD project at the SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre: $7,750
06/2016 AES Student Travel Award to attend the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) meeting,
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA: $500
05/2016 Mares and Fourth Element Dive Equipment sponsorship for several features in the media
04/2016 Travel Award from CNRS/CRIOBE to attend the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium, Hawai’i, USA: 804 €
03/2015 Travel Award from the École Doctoral of the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE),
32nd meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society, New Orleans, USA: 300 €
02/2015 Travel Award from the Ecole Doctoral of the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE),
13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawai’i, USA: 800 €
12/2014 Save Our Seas Foundation Keystone Continuous Grant for PhD project at the SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre: $13,880
05/2014 Basler Stiftung für biologische Forschung Grant for PhD project at the SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre: $4,000
03/2014 Save Our Seas Foundation Travel Award, Sharks International meeting in Durban, South Africa: $1,000
03/2014 Save Our Seas Foundation Keystone Grant for PhD project at the SOSF - D’Arros Research Centre: $35,000
07/2013 AES Student Travel Award to attend the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) meeting, Albuquerque, NM, USA: $800
10/2012 Taiwan Youth Trekker Award as a financial support to explore the Taiwanese fisheries and shark landings: $2,500
08/2012 Reisefonds für den akademischen Nachwuchs der Universität Basel, Switzerland. Travel grant to attend the American Elasmobranch meeting, Vancouver, Canada: $2,000
02/2011 Swiss Shark Foundation Research Grant for my Master project at the Bimini Biological Field Station: $4,000
For a more detailed CV, please send me an email.
Photo © Rainer von Brandis | SOSF