I'm interested in biogeography, evolutionary biology and conservation, and have worked with a variety of terrestrial and aquatic taxa. My academic theses have focused on analysing evolutionary and biogeographic patterns at different spatial and time scales using GIS, ecological niche-based models and genetics, mostly of terrestrial and semi-aquatic desert herpetofauna from West Africa. I also did some work with fish and freshwater mussels. Presently I divide my time between global Freshwater Mussel phylogeography and understanding the freshwater component of North African semi-arid regions. I have accumulated hundreds of fieldwork days in expeditions to remote locations, mostly Africa, and strive for balance among exploration, conservation, learning and hypothesis-based scientific thinking.