Dr. Florian Zellweger
Function
scientific staff member
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Site
Birmensdorf Bi HP D 58
Research
My research is centred on using high-resolution remote sensing data and large field databases to understand how forests and biodiversity are responding to global change drivers such as climate and land management change. Key research topics include (1) understanding how microclimates are shaping the response of biodiversity to global change, (2) how international reporting and monitoring of forest diversity is affected by area and environmental heterogeneity, and (3) using georeferenced species occurrence data to model biodiversity dynamics in space and over time. To increase the impact of this research I am collaborating with industry partners, with the aim to develop evidence-based and innovative solutions for biodiversity and natural capital monitoring. I work towards strengthening the link between ecology and the digitalisation of natural resources to manage ecosystems sustainably and safeguard the provisioning of ecosystem services to future generations.
Education & Employment
| 11/2019 – present | Scientific staff member, WSL, Forest Resources and Management, Birmensdorf |
| 02/2019 – present | Associate, Natural Capital Research Ltd., Oxford, UK |
| 2017 – 2019 | SNF Postdoc Mobility Fellow, University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences, Cambridge, UK, advisor: Prof. David Coomes |
| 2016 - 2017 | Ph.D., Ecology (Biodiversity and Remote Sensing), ETH Zurich |
| 2012 – 2013 | Scientific assistant, WSL, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Birmensdorf |
| 2006 – 2012 | B.S. and M.S., Geography (GIScience, Biogeography, Forest and Landscape Management), University of Zurich |
| 2002 – 2006 | Claims Manager, SwissRe, Division Property and Casualty, Zurich |
| 1999 – 2010 | Several projects in mountain forest management and in the Swiss National Park (civil service) |