Meet the team and our research interests
Come say Hello!
![Tom Artois](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Tom-Artois-370x370.jpg)
Tom Artois
Head of the team | Full professor
The study of biodiversity learns us more about ourselves than about the organisms we are studying.
![Maarten Vanhove](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/vanhove_020720_sem_07-e1686836113715-370x370.jpg)
Maarten Vanhove
Associate professor
Evolutionary parasitology is a prime playground to study biodiversity mechanisms. We also transfer biodiversity science to global South...
![Nikol Kmentová](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Nikol-Kmentova-370x370.jpg)
Nikol Kmentová
Postdoctoral researcher
Potential of parasites as tags for host population structure, demographic history and introduction pathways
![Marlies Monnens](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Marlies-Monnens-370x370.jpg)
Marlies Monnens
Postdoctoral assistant
Unravelling the secrets of meiofaunal evolution, one flatworm at a time.
![Yander Diez Garcia](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Yander-Diez-Garcia-370x370.jpg)
Yander Diez Garcia
Postdoctoral researcher
Description of the new taxa of marine Rhabdocoela from Cuba and other tropical areas, with emphasis in the phylogeny of Koinocystididae and...
![Martijn Bollen](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/BiTE-_-dierkunde_-onderzoekers_04-e1645718470984-370x370.jpg)
Martijn Bollen
PhD student
Many generations of ecologists have searched for patterns explaining the distribution of species, with modern statistics this search has become...
![Camila Bosch Diaz](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/BiTE-_-dierkunde_-onderzoekers_14-e1645718258620-370x370.jpg)
Camila Bosch Diaz
PhD student
Discovering the marvelous fauna of freshwater rhabdocoels from Cuba and its phylogenetic relationships.
![Armando Cruz Laufer](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Armando-Cruz-370x370.jpg)
Armando Cruz Laufer
PhD student
Parasites host specificity can vary considerably even at genus level. This study will investigate the evolutionary mechanisms causing these...
![Vincent Cuypers](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/01/10755-370x370.jpeg)
Vincent Cuypers
PhD student
The discipline of taxonomy is an interesting study object in itself. What are species? What do taxonomists think species are?
![Claudia de la Caridad Sanjuan Hernández](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/BiTE-_-dierkunde_-onderzoekers_11-e1645717993468-370x370.jpg)
Claudia de la Caridad Sanjuan Hernández
PhD student
For first time the proseriate fauna of Cuba will be studied.
![Jeffrey Jacobs](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/12/Foto-Jeffrey-370x370.jpg)
Jeffrey Jacobs
PhD student
Can green roofs compensate for the loss of biodiversity in an urbanizing world?
![Céline Kowalczyk](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Celine-Kowalczyk-370x370.jpg)
Céline Kowalczyk
PhD student
Investigating patterns in Nightjar genomes within and among populations to make inferences about their ecology and evolution.
![Michiel Lathouwers](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/12/Foto-Michiel-L-370x370.jpeg)
Michiel Lathouwers
PhD student
How is the migration ecology of European Nightjars and other migratory bird species affected by global climate- and landuse change?
![Leona Milec](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/BiTE-_-dierkunde_-onderzoekers_16-e1645717160136-370x370.jpg)
Leona Milec
PhD student
Population genomics and phylogeography of freshwater sardines in Central African lakes
![Kelly Thys](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/BiTE-_-dierkunde_-onderzoekers_18-e1645717048558-370x370.jpg)
![Thomas Van Dijck](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Thomas-Van-Dijck-370x370.jpg)
Thomas Van Dijck
PhD student
Isolated urban green structures: platforms for a mind-blowing biodiversity.
![Natalie Beenaerts](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Natalie-Beenaerts-370x370.jpg)
Natalie Beenaerts
Guest staff member
As the project leader of the Field Research Centre of UHasselt I try to see, start up and mentor research and educational projects related to the...
![Ruben Evens](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Ruben-Evens-370x370.jpg)
Ruben Evens
Guest staff member
I’m studying the whereabouts of birds throughout their annual cycle. Using modern tracking technologies, I investigate their spatial use and...
![Natascha Steffanie](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Natascha-Steffanie-370x370.jpg)
Natascha Steffanie
Specialised laboratory technician
I provide technical support for the biodiversity and toxicology group.
![Ria Vanderspikken](https://biodiversity.bitelab.be/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Ria-Vanderspikken-370x370.jpg)
Ria Vanderspikken
Specialised laboratory technician
I provide administrative support for the biodiversity and toxicology group.