Naturhistorisches Museum Wien

MSc

Nikolaus Helmer

Nikolaus Helmers ORCID record:

Contact:

nikolaus.helmer@nhm-wien.ac.at

eDNA-Projekt Cercariae

The aim of the project based on the pilot study conducted in 2019 was to optimise primers for the detection of Trichobilharzia species and to test the detection of cercariae dermatitis pathogens in water samples (eDNA). In addition, further DNA barcodes of new species were generated.

Ausbildung

10/2015 – 04/2022 Zoology (Master of Science), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Specialisation: Molecular Systematics / Evolutionary Biology
Master’s Thesis: “More leaves on the phylogenetic tree of Scaphopoda (Mollusca)” (PCR, Primer Design, aDNA Methods, Sequencing, Molecular Phylogeny, Data Management, Scientific article writing)

10/2010 – 07/2015 Biology (Bachelor of Science), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Specialisation: Zoology / Morphology
Bachelor's thesis: “Differences in food intake between males and females of Euproctus platycephalus.” (High-speed Recording, Motion Capture and Analysis, µCT Data Visualisation)

Beruflicher Werdegang

05/2019 – present - Naturschutzbund Wien, Vienna, Austria, freelancer at project “Mapping of common swift (Apus apus) nesting sites in the city of Vienna” (Data management, Mapping of nesting sites, Public guided tours, Training of citizen scientists)

07/2021 – 12/2021 - Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, scientific assistant “Project Cercaria 2021” (Field Work, PCR, Primer Design, Cloning, aDNA and eDNA Methods, Sequencing, Microscopy, Molecular Phylogeny, Data Management, Scientific article writing)

02/2021 – 03/2021 - Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, scientific assistant at “ABOL – Austrian Barcode of Life” (PCR, Primer Design, aDNA and eDNA Methods, Sequencing, Microscopy, Molecular Phylogeny, Data Management, Scientific report writing)

03/2020 – 12/2020 -Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, scientific assistant at “Project Cercaria 2020” (Field Work, PCR, Primer Design, aDNA and eDNA Methods, Sequencing, Microscopy, Molecular Phylogeny, Data Management, Scientific report writing)
03/2016 – 02/2020 -University of Vienna – Department of Evolutionary Biology, Vienna, Austria, tutor (Bauplan course; Broad range of Anatomy, Histology, and Dissections of Invertebrates and Vertebrates)

Grants

01/2020 – State Scholarship of Lower Austria
10/2018 – Performance Scholarship awarded by the University of Vienna

Memberships

DZG (German Zoological Society)
MoFA (Society Mollusc Research Austria)
NOBIS Austria (Network of Biological Systematics)

Original articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals

HELMER, N., BLATTERER, H., HÖRWEG, C., REIER, S., SATTMANN, H., SCHINDELAR, J., SZUCSICH, N.U. & HARING, E. (2021): First Record of Trichobilharzia physellae (Talbot, 1936) in Europe, a Possible Causative Agent of Cercarial Dermatitis. – Pathogens, 10: 1473. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10111473.

Congress contributions: Talks

Helmer, N., Baranyi, C., & Steiner, G. (2021). More leaves on the phylogenetic tree of Scaphopoda (Mollusca). In 2Nd Mofa Conference. Presented at the 2nd MoFA Conference, Natural History Museum Vienna: Molluskenforschung Austria.

Helmer, N., Blatterer, H., Hörweg, C., Reier, S., Sattmann, H., Schindelar, J., et al. (2021). First record of Trichobilharzia physellae (Talbot, 1936) in Europe, a possible causative agent of cercarial dermatitis. In Abol Meeting 2021 - Abstracts. Presented at the 8th ABOL meeting 2021, online: Austrian Barcode of Life.

Helmer, N., Blatterer, H., Hörweg, C., Reier, S., Sattmann, H., Schindelar, J., et al. (2021). DNA barcoding of avian schistosomes (Trematoda: Digenea) on the example of Trichobilharzia physellae (Talbot, 1936). In Management Of Animal And Plant Genetic Resources (p. 53). Presented at the International Conference on Management of animal and plant genetic resources, Tirana, Albania: Academy of Science of Albania.

Helmer N., Billinger F., Blatterer H., Bulantová J., Duda M., Gorofsky C., Grasser H.P., Haring E., Heinisch W., Hörweg C., Horak P., Kruckenhauser L., Pokrupová Z., Reier S., Sattmann H., Szucsich N.U., Wanka A. (2020). Records of trematodes in aquatic environments – an integrative approach. Presented at the 7th ABOL meeting 2020, online: Austrian Barcode of Life.

Helmer, N., Baranyi, C. & Steiner, G. (2019). More leaves on the phylogenetic tree of Scaphopoda (Mollusca). 13th Annual Meeting of NOBIS Austria, Salzburg, Austria

Helmer, N., Baranyi, C. & Steiner, G. (2019). More leaves on the phylogenetic tree of Scaphopoda (Bronn, 1862): Work in progress. 1^st Meeting of the society MoFA, Salzburg, Austria

Congress contributions: Posters

Helmer, N., Baranyi, C., Steiner, G. (2019). More leaves on the phylogenetic tree of Scaphopoda (Bronn, 1862), Abstracts, 112th Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society, Jena. Poster presentation, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36211.68649. Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society, Jena, Germany

Popular science

HELMER, N. & HÖRWEG, C. (2022): Durch Zufall entdeckt: amerikanischer Saugwurm im österreichischen See. – Naturhistorisches - Magazin des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, Sommer 2022: 18-19.

Researchgate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikolaus-Helmer