Team

Peter is the Vinetum professor of the Institute of Bee Health. His research and teaching covers all aspects of bee health with focus on behavioural, evolutionary and molecular ecology of honey bees and their pathogens.

Professional Career

  • Since 2013: Vinetum Endowed Professor of Bee Health, Director Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Research on bee health with a focus on managed honey bees and their pathogens; Teaching veterinarians and biologists; Extension to stakeholders; Management
  • Since 2013: President of the COLOSS association (www.coloss.org) (prevention of honey bee COlony LOSSes) that is currently comprised of >1500 members from >100 countries; Management
  • Since 2013: Extraordinary Professor, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Research on ectoparasitic mites Varroa destructor and small hive beetles (Aethina tumida, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae); Teaching biologists
  • 2015-2019: Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Research on ectoparasitic mites Tropilaelaps spp. and Varroa spp.; Teaching biologists
  • 2015-2018: Chair of the research consortium “European honey bees surviving Varroa destructor by means of natural selection” that is comprised of eight research institutes from Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands; Management
  • 2014-2018: Vice Chair of COST Action FA1307 SUPER-B (SUstainable Pollination in Europe: joint research on Bees and other pollinators); Management
  • 2012-2017: Vice President of the Apimondia Scientific Commission Biology
  • 2008-2013: Chair and Grant holder of COST Action FA0803 COLOSS (prevention of honey bee Colony LOSSes); Management
  • 2009-2012: Senior Research Scientist, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland; Research on honey bee pathology (80%) and extension work (20%)
  • 2009-2012: Head of Bee Pathology Section, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland; Management of the group, coordination with stakeholders in bee health (beekeepers, veterinarians, industry, etc.)
  • 2007-2012: Venia docendi in Zoology (Privatdozent), particularly in Evolutionary and Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • 2006-2009: Research Scientist, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland, Research on honey bee pathology with focus on applied aspects (70%) and extension work (30%)
  • 2005-2006: Chair of the DUKAT network (Diagnosie und Kontrolle von Aethina Tumida) with seven research institutes from Australia, Germany, South Africa and USA, Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; Management and Research on diagnostics and control of small hive beetles
  • 2004-2005: Professor per procurationem (Vertretungsprofessur) for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity of Animals, Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; teaching biologists
  • 2004-2007: Venia docendi in Zoology (Privatdozent), Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
  • 2001-2005: Independent Junior Research Group leader (Emmy Noether Fellowship) of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; topic: Social parasitism by laying workers of the Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis) and ecology/control of small hive beetles
  • 1999-2001: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Republic of South Africa, Principal Collaborators: Prof. Dr. HR Hepburn & Prof. Dr. SE Radloff; topics: Behavioral Ecology of Cape honey bees and small hive beetles
  • 1998: Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany in a DFG funded research project, Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. RFA Moritz; research topic: The mating system of honey bees, Apis mellifera, and drifting
  • 1995-1998: Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Ecology & Biology, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany, in a DFG funded research project, Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. RFA Moritz; research topic: The mating system of honey bees and drifting
  • 1994: Teaching Student Assistant, Department of Biology, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Education

  • 2007: Umhabilitation in Zoology, especially in Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology,  Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • 2001-2004: Habilitation in Zoology, Department of Zoology, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany, Habilitation thesis entitled: Title: “Inter- and intraspecific parasitism in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.): the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) and the Cape honey bee (A. m. capensis Esch.)”
  • 1995-1998: PhD in Molecular Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin and MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany, PhD thesis entitled:  “The impact of polyandry and drifting on the genotypic composition of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies”;  Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. RFA Moritz; grade: "magna cum laude"
  • 1989-1994: Diploma in Molecular Ecology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, Diploma thesis entitled: "Genetic analysis of the drifting of drones in Apis mellifera using multi locus DNA-fingerprinting"; Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. RFA Moritz and Prof. Dr. B. Schricker; grade: "sehr gut" (A)
  • 1987-1989: Bachelors (Vordiplom) in Anorganic Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany

Awards & Fellowships

  • Since 2014: Academia Europaea Member (European scientific academy)
  • 2017: Taxonomic patronym Nosema neumanni n. sp. (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) For exceptional contribution to an international collaboration in bee science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejop.2017.07.002
  • 2016: Visiting Professor, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China
  • 2015: Visiting Professor, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • 2015: The Golden Deer Award, best talk given at the Science Slam, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
  • 2013: Inaugural IBRA Award (International Bee Research Association) for his contribution to an international collaboration in bee science through setting up the COLOSS network
  • 2011: Eva Crane Memorial Award 2010 for outstanding publication in the Journal of Apicultural Research
  • 2010: Teacher of the Year, Student Association of the Biology Department, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • 2010: Visiting Professor, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
  • 2005: International Visiting Fellowship, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
  • 2005-2009: Visiting Professor, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, PR China
  • 2003: Christian Wolff Award, MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany, Awarded for his internationally recognized research on the biology of honey bees and other social insects
  • Since 2003: Visiting Professor, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
  • 2001-2005: Emmy Noether fellow of the of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
  • 1999-2001: Research fellow Rhodes University

Publications