Curriculum vitae
Professional experience
10/2007 - present | Graduate assistant at the Institute of Experimental Ecology
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10/2007 - present | Freelancer at the zoo in Ulm
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11/2015 - present | Graduate assistant at the "Institute of Neurobiology"
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05/2014 - 12/2014 | Graduate assistant at the "Institute of Systematic Botany"
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04/2014 – 08/2014 | Lecturer at the University of Ulm
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Academic Education
10/2002 - 02/2014 | University of Ulm - PhD Title: „The role of male mating signals in female choice and its importance in speciation of the red mason bee Osmia bicornis (Megachilidae)“ Grade: 1.0* | |
10/2002 - 02/2014 | University of Ulm - Biology
Grade diploma thesis: 1.0, Overall grade masters degree: 1.3 Primary subject: Ecology; Secondary subjects: Genetics, Cell biology and Computer science | |
03/2014 - 08/2014 | Participation in advanced training classes in didactics at the University Duisburg-Essen (NRW-certificate 2 und 3) | |
09/2012 - 09/2012 | Participation in advanced training classes in didactics at the University Duisburg-Essen (NRW-certificate 1) | |
* based on a 1-4 scale in increments of 0.3; 1.0 being the highest |
International research trips
11/2013 - 12/2013 | Research on communication in bisons at the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Reserve in Oklahoma, USA |
10/2009 - 11/2009 | Research assistant at the Queen’s University Belfast |
10/2007 - 12/2007 |
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02/2005 - 06/2005 | Research assistant at the School of Medicine Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy in Fremantle, Australien |
Scientific methods
Behavior | Vibrational and acoustic recording and analysis Trapping of small mammals and taxonomic identification in the field, tissue sampling (in the field and in the lab, plot identification and sampling using GPS, electronic data collection Bumblebee and bee rearing and various different behavioral essays |
Molecular Genetics | DNA-extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis with radioactively labeled
dNTPs, RNA-isolation, reverse transcription of RNA, real-time PCR,
ABI-Sequencer, NextGen Sequencing Knowledge in common programs for genetic data analysis (GeneMarker, Genepop, Arlequin, MSA, Fstat, Mikrochecker |
Cell Biology | Work with cell cultures and immunohistological work |
Chemical Analyses | Chemical analyses of various samples using for example gas volumetric H2-analysis, acid/base titration or chloride and phosphate measurements Gas-chromatography, gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and electro antennography |
Statistics | Well versed in statistical programs such as SPSS, SigmaPlo, SigmaStat, Past, R |
Laboratory experience
10/2007-02/2014 | Diploma and PhD student at the chemical ecology work group |
06/2003 - 07/2009 | Temporary employment at the chemical laboratory of the Chemetall Langelsheim in quality control (practical experience 8 months) |
Publications
Conrad T, Ayasse M (2015 in press) The Role of Vibrations in Population Divergence in the Red Mason Bee, Osmia bicornis: Current Biology. Current Biology 25(21):2819–2822. |
Conrad T (2014) The role of male mating signals in female choice and its importance in speciation of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.) (Megachilidae) |
Conrad T, Paxton RJ, Barth FG, Francke W, Ayasse M (2010) Female choice in the red mason bee, Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae). J Exp Biol 213: 4065-4073 |
Conrad T (2008) Female choice in the red mason bee, Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae) Universität Ulm, Ulm |
Conrad T, Maier C, Ayasse M (submitted) The effect of temperature on the vibrational signals and odor profiles of males of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.) |
Conrad T, Vidkjær, Nanna Hjort, Ayasse M (submitted) The origin of the odor bouquet found on males’ antennae of Osmia bicornis |
Conrad T, Paxton RJ, Ayasse M (submitted) The role of mating behavior in the divergence of Osmia bicornis populations in Europe |
Conrad T, Ayasse M (in prep) Vibrational signal divergence in European populations of Osmia bicornis |
Conrad T, Ayasse M (in prep) The role of female odor in the mating of Osmia bicornis |
Conrad T, Steiger S, Hill P (in prep) Communication in bison |
Scholarships & Awards
07/2014 - 08/2014 | ISBE Travel grant for the ISBE-conference in New York, USA |
07/2013 - 07/2013 | Scholarship from the Society for Experimental Biology for the ISV-conference in Glasgow, UK |
03/2013 - 03/2013 | Polytec Young Researcher Award for the talk „He’s giving me good vibrations – The role of vibrations in mason bees“ |
10/2012 - 10/2012 | Poster prize „best Poster“ at the Hymenopteren-Tagung in Stuttgart, Germany. Title: „He’s giving me good vibrations“ |
08/2012 - 08/2012 | ISBE Travel grant for the ISBE-conference in Lund, Sweden |
06/2009 - 05/2012 | Scholarship for a PhD from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) |
10/2007 - 12/2007 | DAAD-Scholarship for work on a thesis (Queen’s University, Belfast) |
04/2005 - 07/2005 | DAAD-Scholarship for travel as part of a work experience (School of Medicine Fremantle, Australia) |
Invited speaker
2015 | Talk at the Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen. Taina Conrad Sexual selection in the red mason bee: vibrating, smelling bees and the impact of temperature |
2011 | Talk at the Martin-Luther-University, Halle. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse Isolation mechanisms in mason bees. |
2011 | Talk at the Hymenopteren-Tagung. Bern, Switzerland. Taina Conrad Paarungsbiologie und Partnerwahl bei Mauerbienen. |
2009 | Talk at the University of Vienna, Vienna. Austria.Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Friedrich G. Barth, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse Welche Kriterien nutzen Weibchen der roten Mauerbiene, Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae) bei der Partnerwahl und welche Bedeutung haben sie möglicherweise als Isolationsmechanismen? |
Conference contributions
2015 | Talk at the DZG-conference. Graz, Austria. Taina Conrad and Manfred Ayasse: The effect of temperature on the vibrational and chemical signals of males of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.) |
2015 | Talk at the DGaaE-conference. Frankfurt, Germany. Taina Conrad and Manfred Ayasse: The effect of temperature on the vibrational and chemical signals of males of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.) |
2014 | Talk at the ISBE-conference. New York, USA. Taina Conrad and Manfred Ayasse: He’s giving me good vibrations – The role of vibrations in population divergence of the red mason bee Osmia bicornis |
2013 | Talk at the IVS-conference. Glasgow, UK. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton and Manfred Ayasse: New insights into vibrational communication in mason bees. |
2013 | Talk at the DGaaE-conference. Göttingen, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton and Manfred Ayasse: He’s giving me good vibrations: Vibrational communication in mason bees. |
2013 | Talk at the Invertebrate-seminar of the German Federal Environmantal Foundation. Berlin, Germany. Taina Conrad: Populationsdivergenz aufgrund chemischer und vibratorischer Signale in Mauerbienen. |
2012 | Poster at Frontiers in Chemical Ecology. Max-Planck Institute in Jena, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton und Manfred Ayasse: Population divergence through female choice in mason bees. |
2012 | Poster at the Hymenopterologen-Tagung Stuttgart, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton und Manfred Ayasse: He’s giving me good vibrations. |
2012 | Talk at the DZG-conference in Konstanz, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton und Manfred Ayasse: He’s giving me good vibrations! The role of vibrational communication in mason bees. |
2012 | Poster at the ISBE-conference. Lund, Schweden. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton und Manfred Ayasse: He’s giving me good vibrations. |
2012 | Talk at the Chemical ecology meeting. Regensburg, Germany. Taina Conrad: Isolationsmechanismen bei Mauerbienen. |
2011 | Talk at the Invertebrate-seminar of the German Federal Environmantal Foundation. Ulm, Germany. Taina Conrad: Isolationsmechanismen bei Mauerbienen. |
2011 | Poster at the DGaaE-conference. Berlin, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Friedrich G. Barth und Manfred Ayasse: Vibrational communication in mason bees. |
2011 | Talk at the Invertebrate-seminar of the German Federal Environmantal Foundation. Göttingen, Germany. Taina Conrad: Isolationsmechanismen bei Mauerbienen. |
2010 | Talk at the Hymenopterologentagung. Stuttgart, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse: Isolationsmechanismen bei Mauerbienen. |
2009 | Talk at the Chemical ecology meeting. Freiburg, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Friedrich G. Barth, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse: Welche Kriterien nutzen Weibchen der roten Mauerbiene, Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae) bei der Partnerwahl? |
2009 | Talk at the DGaaE-conference. Göttingen, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Friedrich G. Barth, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse: Female choice in the red mason bee Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae). |
2008 | Poster at the Hymenopterologentagung. Stuttgart, Germany. Taina Conrad, Robert Paxton, Friedrich G. Barth, Wittko Francke und Manfred Ayasse: Welche Kriterien nutzen Weibchen der roten Mauerbiene, Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae) bei der Partnerwahl? |
Academic societies
- International Society of Behavioral Ecology (ISBE)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie (DGaaE)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zoologie (DZG)
Reviewer
- Apidologie
- European Journal of Entomology
- Journal of the Linnaean Society
Environmental education and outreach
07/2012 - present | Teaching the BUND children’s group in Ulm |
03/2009 - present | Work at the centre for general academic education (ZAWIW) : conceptualization and giving workshops and lectures on biological subjects as part of the 3-generations-university, the project “zoom into science” and the senior academics week |
10/2007 - present | Freelancing in environmental education (various workshops for schools, camps, kids groups etc.) |
04/2012 - 04/2012 04/2013 - 04/3013 04/2014 - 04/2014 | Organization of various workshops for the “university days“ by the group “Eco-social market economy“ with the titles: “Conservation and shaping the future“, “The media and its influence on our ecologicalthinking - How sustainable are we?“ |
06/2010 - 08/2012 | Work at the botanical garden Ulm : Workshops as part of the kids-holiday-program, talks for the general public and guided tours for adults |
Special skills
Software skills | Proficiency in text processing-, table calculation- and presentation software Experience in HTML, Typo3 and programming with Modula |
Languages | English : fluent Spanish : basic knowledge French : basic knowledge |
Miscellaneous
06/2006 - present | founding member of the BUND-Hochschulgruppe environmental group (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland – Friends of the Earth Germany); spokesperson as well as homepage, email, mail and cash box administration |
02/2012 - 02/2012 03/2011 - 03/2011 | Organization of the invertebrate-seminars of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) in Göttingen and Ulm |
03/2012 - 05/2012 06/2012 - 02/2011 | Planning, implementation and subsequent analysis of the survey data for the garbage collection service agency in Ulm, subsequent presentation at municipal council of Ulm |
04/2009 - 04/2011 | Member of the board of directives of the “Friends of the Earth“ of Ulm |