Dr. Elisabeth Geiser
5020 Salzburg
Scientist with emphasis on:
Entomology (especially beetles), Biogeography, Biodiversity Databases and
Biological Systematics
Specialist of the beetle family Chrysomelidae (Leaf-beetles) with emphasis on
Donaciinae (Reed-beetles)
Contact:
elisabeth.geiser@gmx.atPhone: ++43(0)662 870 905
Mobile: ++43(0)664 543 4747
Scientific Activities
Recent Activities
- Identification and revision of Donaciinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in many natural history museums in Europe
- Member of Chrysomelidae Research Group for the Update of the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera – Chrysomelidae: in charge of Donaciinae
- Collaboration with Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management at University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU Vienna); Topic: Fauna Aquatica Austriaca: Beetle Subfamily Donaciinae
- Collaboration with Austrian Academy of Science: Topic: Checklists of animal taxa in Austria; Concepts and realisation as Checklist No 1: Chrysomelidae
- Collaboration with Zoological-Botanical Society, Vienna. Topic: Animal Species Number in Austria
Activities in the past:
Until 2013: Supervision of bachelor and master thesis at the Universities of Salzburg and Vienna
1998: Collaboration with the Geological Department of the University of Bern (Switzerland) on the project: Insect Fragments in 4000 years old bog parts
1995-1999: Lectures on Zoogeography, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Extinction Causes and Conservation at the Zoological Institute at University of Salzburg
1992-1995: Leadership of projects of the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF) and of the Department of Science of the Government of the County of Salzburg; Topics: Postglacial resettlement; Beetles of Salzburg
1981-1989: Lectures at the Adult Education Center in Salzburg (Geology, Palaeontology and Astronautics)
1980-1995: freelance work at ZOBODAT, Linz (one of the most comprehensive biogeographical database of the world, situated until 1993 at the Institute of Computer Science at the Kepler-University of Linz, now at the Biologiezentrum Linz)
Various tasks concerning beetles and zoogeographical databases: i.e. data acquirement of about 180 000 beetle records, examination of the data quality, and data input; later managing, fund raising and supervision of data input by students; clarifying of geographical sites and of synonyms; concepts, requirements and specification of the user interface and retrieval
1980 - 1988: Identification and revision of a comprehensive part of the beetle collection of Salzburg (Haus der Natur) with emphasis on Chrysomelidae
Activity in scientific societies:
2020 – : Network of Biological Systematics in Austria (NOBIS-Austria): Treasurer
2005 – 2011: Editor of the Journal Entomologica Austriaca
2005 – 2011: Executive Manager of Austrian Entomological Society (OeEG)
1992 – 2011: Austrian Entomological Society (OeEG): member of the council
1995 – 2003: European Invertebrate Survey (EIS): member of the committee
Member of scientific societies:
- OeEG: Austrian Entomological Society
- MEG: Entomological Society of Munich
- DGaaE: German Society of general and applied Entomology
- GfBS: Society for Biological Systematics
- NOBIS Austria: Network of Biological Systematics in Austria
- WCV: Vienna Coleopterists Society
- OeGEF: Entomofaunistic Society of Austria
- Entomologists study group of Haus der Natur, Salzburg
- GSLK: Salzburg Society of Regional Studies (Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde)
Curriculum vitae
24.05.1952: born in Fürstenfeld, Austria
Education:
- 1962 – 1970: Grammar school (Realgymnasium) in Eisenstadt
- 1970 – 1976: Studying mathematics, biology, geology and chemistry at the University of Vienna
- 1976 Master degree (Magister rer. nat.) and teacher's licence for grammar schools
- 1976 – 1979: PhD thesis: Temperature adaption in the mitochondrial metabolism of Helix pomatia and Helix aspersa (Gastropoda)
- 1979 PhD in Zoology
Employments:
- 1979 - 1980: Teacher at the grammar school "Akademisches Gymnasium" in Salzburg
- 1980 - 2001: Employed at the Natural History exhibition "Haus der Natur" in Salzburg
Tasks:
- Exhibition concepts in biology, astronomy, spacecraft, geology, palaeontology and ethnography
- guiding tours for pupils, students and other groups; various courses for kids
- curator of the mineralogical - geological collection until 1998, then curator of the living insects
- consulting service for pests
- computer administration and program adaptations
- 2001 - 2017: Employed at Digital Elektronik (a worldwide operating mechatronic company) in Salzburg-Grödig, in the Department of Research and Development
Tasks:
- Software-Engineering (Program languages: mainly C#.net, Aspx.net, Delphi.net, Delphi-Win32, SQL, PL/SQL)
- Database-Applications with Oracle, Microsoft SQL-Server, Interbase/Firebird
- Testing
- Management of EU-Standards
Private:
- 1962: Starting with piano lessons
- 1968 - 1970: Studying piano at Haydn-Konservatorium Eisenstadt
- 1968 - 1970: Organist at Franciscan church in Eisenstadt
- 1969 - 1970: Member of Haydn-Choir
- 1982: Marriage with Dipl. biol. Remigius Geiser
- 1983: Birth of daughter Irmgard, now primary school teacher with emphasis on music education
- 1988: Birth of son Remigius, now IT-Engineer
Miscellaneous
Activities during study and in the first years after university until full time employment:
- Animal caretaker at Institute for Ethology at ÖAW (Austrian Academy of Science) in Wilheminenberg (Vienna)
- Internship at Institute for Ecosystem Research at ÖAW in Donnerskirchen (near Neusiedler Lake); Topics: Applied Entomology (Pest control of the Colorado beetle) und Parasitology (Cercarial dermatitis)
- Internship at Institute for Ethology at ÖAW in Grünau im Almtal (Upper Austria) with Konrad Lorenz: Ethological Studies on Owles
- Internship at the Nuclear Research Center Seibersdorf (Lower Austria), Department of Chemistry: Quality control, photographic processing in the darkroom, statistical analysis
- Summer job in tourism in Hevonlahti near Savonlinna (Finland): Maid and kitchen aid
- Tutor at the Zoological Department at University of Vienna
- Statistical analyses of didactic methodology at Universities of Vienna and Göttingen (Lower Saxony)
- Survey of plant sociology of 60 peat bogs and surrounding areas in Schongau (Bavaria)
- Tour guide with emphasis on biology and geology for travel groups (Salzburg Alps, South Carpathian mountains and Danubian Delta)
Hobbies:
Travelling to biogeographical – geological – historical interesting locations:
California: San Andreas fault, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park und others;
Florida; Jamaica
Iceland
Orkney Islands; Outer Hebrides; Northern Ireland; Cornwall; Greenwich prime meridian and many other sites of UK
Eastern Europe (many locations)
Siberia: Lake Baikal region
Classical music in the broadest sense: from Johann Sebastian Bach to John Williams and Hubert von Goisern and (almost) everything in between
Playing piano and visiting concerts and operas