Prof. Dr. Elias Ehrlich
Research interest
I am an aquatic ecologist, ecological modeler, and expert in participatory environmental management processes. Since December 2024, I have been leading the Quantitative Conservation Biology research group at the University of Potsdam as a junior professor (tt). My central research mission is to understand and address conservation challenges by considering both the ecological and social dimensions of sustainability. My work focuses on aquatic ecosystems—particularly inland waters—and the dynamics of individuals, populations, and entire food webs (ranging from plankton to fish), as well as their connections to humans as resource users and drivers of environmental change. To mechanistically understand and develop solutions for key conservation issues such as biodiversity loss, overexploitation, invasive fish species, or harmful algal blooms, I combine field studies, experiments, and quantitative models. In participatory management processes and transdisciplinary research approaches, I collaborate with stakeholders from various sectors to support decision-making in conservation and ecosystem management.
Prof. Dr. Elias Ehrlich
Prof. Dr. Elias Ehrlich
Wissenschaftlicher Werdegang
Since Dec. 2024 - Junior Professorship (Tenure Track) for Quantitative Conservation Biology, University of Potsdam
2023–2024 - PostDoc, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam
2021-2023- PostDoc, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin
Leader of a participatory management process for the conservation and sustainable use of pike stocks (BODDENHECHT project)
2020-2021- PostDoc, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam
2019-2020 - Guest scientist/PostDoc, Centre for Ocean Life at DTU, Lyngby, Denmark and University of Potsdam
2015-2019 - PhD in Ecology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam
2012-2015 - M.Sc. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam
Awards
2021 - “Schwoerbel-Benndorf Prize for Young Researchers 2021 (1st place)“ by the German Limnological Society (DGL)
2015 - “Jacob-Jacobi-Preis” for the best final Master’s degree of the Faculty of Science of the University of Potsdam
2012-2015 - Scholarship by Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes