My scientific journey began during my undergraduate studies at Jagiellonian University, where I focused on Evolutionary Biology. I further pursued my academic aspirations by completing two Master's degrees in Ecology and Evolution through a competitive Erasmus Mundus Master's Programme in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Groningen and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

At heart, I am a traditional behavioural ecologist with a deep interest in understanding how animals interact within their biotic and abiotic environments. To explore these interactions, I am fascinated by the application of cutting-edge technologies like GPS collars, bio-loggers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). These tools allow me to study animal behaviour in unprecedented ways, unveiling the mysteries of spatiotemporal dynamics in animal behaviour.

Currently, I am pursuing a PhD degree through the WildDrone program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing wildlife conservation practices. This research program focuses on using autonomous drone technology as a unifying platform to monitor wildlife populations, track their movements, and address human-wildlife conflicts.

By combining interdisciplinary approaches and leveraging the latest developments in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, my research endeavours to generate impactful insights. I am driven by the desire to influence the way we perceive wildlife by unravelling the intricacies of animal behaviours that shape our natural world.

Tracking predators and prey using drones 

My PhD project revolves around the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones) and GPS tracking data from collared animals to study the interplay between predator and prey dynamics in African charismatic wildlife. The species under scrutiny include plains zebra, impala, lion, hyena, and wild dogs. By monitoring the movements and social interactions of these animals, we aim to gain insights into their movement ecology and group behaviour. This research is a part of the WildDrone consortium, which is a large doctoral network funded by the EU Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions that focus on developing autonomous drones for nature conservation missions.

The project is under the supervision of Prof. Frank van Langevelde and Dr. Henjo de Knegt.