Maximilian Schröcker
BSc Student
Department of Environment & Biodiversity – University of Salzburg
Hellbrunner Straße 34 , A-5020
Tel.: +43 (0) 662 / 8044-5621
E-Mail:
Interested in the diversity of life, I like to travel the world and explore its endless facetts. So far I have mainly worked with arthropods through different projects in my career, trying to answer questions related to community ecology. Due to my former profession as a programmer I also enjoy the work as data analyst. Recently, my interest in evolutionary processes has increased and I would like to deepen my knowledge in phylogeny construction and niche modelling.
Current Research
In my master thesis, supervised by Jana Petermann and Jonas Eberle, I try to analyse effects of geological mass movements in the alps on arthropod communitites. This is part of a bigger project called Movemont which is funded by the ÖAW (The Austrian Academy of Sciences).
Publications
Habel, J. C., Eberle, J., Rainer, M., Schröcker, M., & Ulrich, W. (2025). Ecosystem functions in East African forest and Agro‐Environments depend on Site‐Specific microhabitat conditions. Biotropica, 57(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.70042
Frankova, M., Schröcker, M., & Petermann, J. (2024). Slightly sliding communities: how plants and insects respond to landslides, Acta ZooBot Austria 2024 Vol. 160 Pages 219-220.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
MSc in Ecology and Evolution | University of Salzburg
03/2024 – ongoing
Master thesis: Effects of geological mass movements in the alps on arthropod communities.
BSc in Biological Sciences | University of Salzburg
10/2019 – 01/2024
Bacherlor thesis: Ecosystem functions in a habitat mosaic in south-eastern Kenya.
General Certificate of Education| HTL (Higher Technical College) in Braunau am Inn
09/2009 – 06/2014
Electronics branch, specialising in bionics, General Certificate of Education completed with distinction
Research experience
Project employee in the Movemont project in the course of the master thesis | Movemont Project funded by the ÖAW (The Austrian Academy of Sciences)
05/2023 – 12/2023
Sampling of arthropods on landslides in the Austrian alps. Later, sorting and identifying them in the lab. Cooperating with different partners (Univeristy of Graz, University Salzburg, Basecamp in England).
Identifying Beetles to Morphotypes in Kenya | Biocult Project funded by the DAAD (German academic exchange service)
02/2023 – 03/2023
Creating a morphotype list of beetles found in the last fieldwork. Representatives of one type were picturized, measured, decribed and pinned. Abundances were then counted for each type. In cooperation with the Pwani University in Kenya and the University of Salzburg.
Research Lab | University of Salzburg
05/2022 – 08/2022
Measuring the diveristy of arthropods (by pitfall traps and insect nets), birds (by recordings and sightings) and plants (by collection or field sightings) in two Nationalparks in Austria as a baseline for an ecoacoustic project.
Fieldwork in Kenya | Biocult Project funded by the DAAD (German academic exchange service)
02/2022 – 03/2022
Measuring proxies for several ecosystem functions in and around a natural forest remnant in Kenya. In cooperation with the Pwani University in Kenya and the University of Salzburg.
Further Training
Participant in the Insect Camp | Organized by ÖEG (Austrian Entomological Society) in Vienna
06/2025 – 06/2025
Joining experts over the course of four days to assess insect diversity at the location of “Hohe Wand” in Austria. Gaining new experience in different catching methods.
Work experience
Museum educator | Haus der Natur (Museum of the Natural Sciences) in Salzburg
06/2022 – ongoing
Conducting guided tours and workshops on various topics related to science and technology
Automation technician | Sigmatek GmbH & Co KG in Lamprechtshausen
02/2015 – 05/2019
- Development of customer-specific control programmes for industrial machines and systems
- Independent realisation of international customer projects
- Commissioning at the customer’s site
- Supporting and assisting international customers with technical questions
- Carrying out software user training at customers
Basic military service | The Austrian Armed Forces
07/2014 – 01/2015
Completion of the basic military service with the Austrian Armed Forces in the pioneer division.
