PD Dr. Kristina Lehnert-Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

• 2024 habilitation & venia legendi in zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
• Since 2013 research associate at the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
• 2009-2013 postdoc at Helmholtz Centre Geesthacht at the Institute for Coastal Research; working group: pollutant-induced protein expression
• 2009 dissertation „Prevalence, impact and molecular characterisation of parasites in harbour porpises and harbour seals“ at CAU, Kiel
• 2001-2009 project scientist at Research- and Technology Centre, Christian-Albrechts- University of Kiel
• 2002 training and certification Research diver at CAU, Kiel
• 2001 diploma (zoology) at Christian Albrechts University, Kiel

Main research activities  

• Host parasite interactions in aquatic wildlife
• Immune effect biomarkers for anthropogenic impacts
• Diet ecology and eDNA
• Aerial and ship-based surveys to estimate abundance of marine mammals

International work

• 11/2016-3/2017 visiting academic at Institute for Zoology, Otago University, New Zealand
• 12/2011–1/2012 ANT XXVIII/2 Expedition RV Polarstern (Capetown - Neumayer Station III - Capetown funded by BLE FK 2811HS002
• 01/2010 Nuuk, Greenland, post mortem investigations on harbour porpoises in cooperation with Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Greenland
• 12/2008 – 1/2009 ANT-XXV/2 Expedition RV Polarstern (Capetown - Neumayer Station II - Capetown) funded by BMVEL  & BMU
• 7/2005 Cruiseleader in aerial survey of SCANS II (Small Cetaceans in the European Atlantic and North Seas) project

Award

• 2023 “Seal louse and heartworm: A time-tested team and its impact on harbour seals“ Insa Herzog, Anika Preuss, Peter Wohlsein, Ursula Siebert, Stanislav N. Gorb, Kristina Lehnert. Best poster: European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarian (EAZWV), 2023, Valencia, Spain.
• 2016 “First record of the nasal mite Halarachne halichoeri in a grey seal from the German Wadden Sea”. Best Poster: Anja Reckendorf, Ursula Siebert, Peter Wohlsein, Kristina Lehnert. Abstracts of the 30th European Cetacean Society conference in Madeira 2016, Portugal.
• 2010 “From Seals to cells: Protein biomarkers to reveal effects of persistent pollutants on primary hepatocytes of Phoca vitulina”. Best Poster:  Vera Korff, Annika Behr, Antonia Wargel, Kristina Lehnert, Ursula Siebert, Veronika Hellwig. ICES ASC Handbook of the Annual Science Conference Nantes 2010, France.
• 2008 Merit Award: Best New Scientist. 2008 ICES Annual Science Conference, September 2008, Halifax, Canada.
• 11/2002 - 03/2003 DAAD grant in Valencia, Spain

Teaching

• “Aquatic Mammals – Investigating vulnerable wildlife“ (July/August 2024), Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
• in Master of Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Branch 1: Evolution, Biodiversity and Behaviour WS, TiHo Hannover
• in WP 2741 Wildbiologie, Wildkrankheiten und Zoonosen SS, TiHo Hannover
• 2019-2022 in summerschools „Marine Säugetiere“ Wahlpflichtkurs; September, ITAW, TiHo
• 2016 Parasitic Diseases Workshop; Parasitological investigations on cetaceans along the German coast and adjacent waters In: Wildlife Medicine, 13-15 June 2016, Zagreb, Croatia
• 2016 Schüleruni, Ocean Day: Tod in der Nordsee – Warum stranden Pottwale an unseren Küsten? 8.06.2016, CAU, Kiel
• 2016 Ausgewählte Kapitel der Toxikologie und Umweltmedizin, Ringvorlesung. »Pottwale in der Nordsee – Ökologie, Gesundheit und mögliche Strandungsursachen« June 2016, CAU Kiel
• PhD committee member: University of Valencia, Spain 2015, 2023

Scientific panels

• European Cetacean Society (ECS)
• Society for Marine Mammology (SMM)
• HELCOM EG MaMa & EG Foodwebs expert group
• IUCN SSC Parasite specialist group

Publications

Complete list available here