In the framework of my PhD project ["Morphology, Phylogeny and Evolution of the Dicranophoridae (Rotifera: Monogononta)"], funded by the Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, I am investigating the phylogeny of the Dicranophoridae, a species-rich subgroup of rotifers (rotifers). To elucidate their phylogeny, I have created a data matrix of morphological characters that forms the basis for the reconstruction of the most parsimonious relationships using PAUP and Maximum Parsimony (MP) methods.

In addition, I am interested in various techniques of structural elucidation from the point of view of evolutionary morphology and examine selected organ systems of rotifers (body musculature, protonephridia, jaw apparatus) with the aid of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition to these specialised studies, I try to give a broader audience an impression of the variety and structural diversity of the meiofauna through regular articles in Mikrokosmos and other generally understandable journals and to give interested laymen suggestions for their own investigations.