Researcher biography

Sebastian is a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland starting in 2022 with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences under supervision from Professor Martine Maron and Dr Matthew Luskin of the School of Biological Sciences. His research focusses on investigating the ecological and trophic cascade effects of southern Africa’s declining large carnivores due to anthropogenic disturbances on species richness and the mesocarnivore release hypothesis. The main focal species are spotted hyaenas and black-backed jackals, with further investigations into zoonotic disease control, e.g. rabies.

Sebastian previously worked as a research coordinator for the N/a’an ku sê Foundation, an NGO in his home country of Namibia. He set up and ran a remote research site in the Namib Desert for seven years, working to develop human-wildlife conflict mitigation techniques by studying the diets and behaviours of local large carnivores. His primary focus was on the desert adapted spotted hyaenas, and worked extensively with the local farming communities. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources management from Grand Valley State University in the United States before moving back to Namibia in 2012.