Alexey Solodovnikov

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Research: I am a systematic entomologist focussing on rove beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), the largest family of living organisms. Together with collaborators some of which are my current or former students, we develop a badly needed phylogeny-based classification of Staphylinidae. For that we use morphology and genomics, recent species and fossils. We capture and explore evolutionary patterns, from local intraspecific variation to big lineage formation globally. Additionally, I develop systematics of certain taxonomic groups of rove beetles, mainly those confined to temperate regions of the world. My career begun with the study of the Russian fauna that now again captures my attention, with old and new questions to address using modern methods and global experience. To maintain these connected but diverse research directions, I lead the mainly Copenhagen-based Solodovnikov Lab, its budding branch in Siberia - Systematic Entomlogy Research Group at the University of Tyumen, and a grant-based team project at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science in St. Petersburg. 

Collection curation: At the Natural History Museum of Denmark I oversee the Beetle (Coleoptera) Collection (>4 million specimens, worldwide coverage), the DNA Tissues Cryo-collection and daily operations of the Entomology Section. 

Teaching: As an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen I am responsible for 'Terrestrial Zoology', an obligatory field course for all first year Biology students. Also, I lecture at the 'Entomology' and 'Arctic Biology' selective bachelor courses together with other colleagues, as well as supervise Bachelor and Master students.

 

 

 

Primary fields of research

systematic entomology, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, palaeontology, phylogenetics, evolution.