Mario Driesen

Initially fascinated by nature from an early age, I developed a strong interest in arthropods and biodiversity. This passion led me to study Biology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where I began in 2013. While my interest in arthropods remained central, my Master’s training included specialized courses in herpetology, which sparked a lasting interest in reptiles and amphibians. For my Master’s thesis, I conducted fieldwork in Côte d’Ivoire, studying temporary freshwater communities on inselbergs and comparing their biodiversity and food-web structure to surrounding habitats in a tropical biodiversity hotspot.

After completing my studies, I pursued my parallel passion for science communication and education, obtaining a teaching certificate and working for one year in secondary education. I then joined KU Leuven as a teaching assistant, where I spent five years teaching a broad range of bachelor- and master-level courses in zoology, ecology, genetics, and sustainable development, and where I was also responsible for the Zoological Museum. 

I am now returning fully to research as a PhD student and teaching assistant in Brendan Reid’s team, focusing on the genomics and population genetics of the Bornean earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis). Using genomic tools and environmental DNA, this project aims to better understand the species’ distribution, environmental associations, and conservation status.