Axel Meyer
Encyclopedia
Axel Meyer is an evolutionary biologist and a Professor of Zoology
and Evolutionary Biology at the Universität Konstanz
, Germany.
Meyer is best known for his work on the evolution
and adaptive radiation
of African cichlid
fishes, fish-specific genome duplications, molecular phylogenetics of vertebrates, and the role of ecological and sexual selection
in speciation
.
(high school) Katharineum in Lübeck
. He was an undergraduate at the Universität Marburg (1979–1982), and completed his undergraduate thesis at the Universität Kiel
and the University of Miami, Florida (1982). He received both his master's and PhD from the Department of Zoology at the University of California Berkeley in 1984 and 1988 respectively. He spent one year as a visiting student in Harvard University
's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (1986–1987).
Meyer was an Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Evolution at University of California Berkeley with Allan C. Wilson, before joining the faculty in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook as an Assistant Professor. In 1993 he received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor. Meyer joined the Universität Konstanz
Department of Biology as a full Professor in 1997.
and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
. In addition, he contributed a weekly column, Quantensprung, on matters related to science and evolution to the Handelsblatt
from 2005-2010. The first 100 articles of Quantensprung were published in 2008 in the book Evolution ist überall.
, the European Molecular Biology Organization
, and the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften.
He has received numerous awards including the Carus Medal from the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2009), the EMBO Award for Communication in Life Science (2008), the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship
(1996), and the Young Investigator Prize from the American Society of Naturalists
(1990). His scientific work is widely cited by his peers and has been covered by national and international press and media.
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and Evolutionary Biology at the Universität Konstanz
University of Konstanz
The University of Konstanz is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1966, and the main campus on the Gießberg was opened in 1972. As one of nine German Excellence Universities today University of Konstanz is counted among Germany's most prestigious...
, Germany.
Meyer is best known for his work on the evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and adaptive radiation
Adaptive radiation
In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Starting with a recent single ancestor, this process results in the speciation and phenotypic adaptation of an array of species exhibiting different...
of African cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
fishes, fish-specific genome duplications, molecular phylogenetics of vertebrates, and the role of ecological and sexual selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, is a significant element of his theory of natural selection...
in speciation
Speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. The biologist Orator F. Cook seems to have been the first to coin the term 'speciation' for the splitting of lineages or 'cladogenesis,' as opposed to 'anagenesis' or 'phyletic evolution' occurring within lineages...
.
Education and previous employment
Meyer attended the gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(high school) Katharineum in Lübeck
Katharineum
The Katharineum zu Lübeck is a humanistic gymnasium founded 1531 in the Hanseatic city Lübeck, Germany. In 2006 the 475th anniversary of this Latin school was celebrated with several events...
. He was an undergraduate at the Universität Marburg (1979–1982), and completed his undergraduate thesis at the Universität Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
and the University of Miami, Florida (1982). He received both his master's and PhD from the Department of Zoology at the University of California Berkeley in 1984 and 1988 respectively. He spent one year as a visiting student in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (1986–1987).
Meyer was an Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Evolution at University of California Berkeley with Allan C. Wilson, before joining the faculty in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook as an Assistant Professor. In 1993 he received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor. Meyer joined the Universität Konstanz
University of Konstanz
The University of Konstanz is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1966, and the main campus on the Gießberg was opened in 1972. As one of nine German Excellence Universities today University of Konstanz is counted among Germany's most prestigious...
Department of Biology as a full Professor in 1997.
Communication of science
Meyer is active in the communication of science to the public. He has written more than 45 articles for major German newspapers including Die ZeitDie Zeit
Die Zeit is a German nationwide weekly newspaper that is highly respected for its quality journalism.With a circulation of 488,036 and an estimated readership of slightly above 2 million, it is the most widely read German weekly newspaper...
and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
. In addition, he contributed a weekly column, Quantensprung, on matters related to science and evolution to the Handelsblatt
Handelsblatt
The Handelsblatt is a leading German language business newspaper, published in Düsseldorf by the Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt. It has a circulation of 145.437 daily copies. Its editor-in-chief is Gabor Steingart...
from 2005-2010. The first 100 articles of Quantensprung were published in 2008 in the book Evolution ist überall.
Awards and recognition
Meyer is an elected member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the European Academy of Sciences and ArtsEuropean Academy of Sciences and Arts
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts was created in 1990 in Salzburg, Austria by heart surgeon Felix Unger of Salzburg; the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, Franz König; and the political scientist and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz....
, the European Molecular Biology Organization
European Molecular Biology Organization
EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The EMBO mission is to enable the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment....
, and the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften.
He has received numerous awards including the Carus Medal from the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2009), the EMBO Award for Communication in Life Science (2008), the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
(1996), and the Young Investigator Prize from the American Society of Naturalists
American Society of Naturalists
The American Society of Naturalists was founded in 1883 and is one of the oldest professional societies dedicated to the biological sciences in North America...
(1990). His scientific work is widely cited by his peers and has been covered by national and international press and media.