The IRTG fellowship provided me with the opportunity to work with the entomological collection from the Atacama Desert, housed at the University of Cologne, throughout the year 2022. These samples and facilities were essential for the completion of my PhD thesis project, which focuses on diversification and evolutionary patterns in coleopterans from the southern Atacama Desert. The results obtained during my time in Cologne were presented at the Chilena Entomological Society Annual Meeting 2023 in Chile, and I am currently preparing a publication on Gyriosomus diversity, which will be the first publication stemming from my thesis.
My stay in Cologne was a stimulating experience that afforded me the opportunity to work within the AG-Predel research team, renowned for its significant contributions, and to share with fellow PhD students from the other CRC1211 clusters.
Author: Simón Anguita