Meelis Pärtel - Curriculum Vitae#

Education and key qualifications

• 1997 PhD, Faculty of Biology and Geography, University of Tartu, Estonia
  
• 1994 Master’s degree, Department of Plant Ecology, Uppsala University, Sweden
  

My main interest is pattern and process in biodiversity, and I am stimulated to look beyond the borders of existing paradigms. I link biodiversity to large- and small-scale processes, especially the species pool concept globally. I study the evolutionary and landscape history of ecological communities, and elaborate theory, methods and approaches. During recent years I have developed the dark diversity concept. Besides taxonomic diversity, I work with genetic, functional, phylogenetic and below-ground diversity.

I have published 223 scientific papers, cited >15000 times, leading to h-index 60 (ISI Web of Science). In most of my research publications I am the first or the last author.

Current position

• Professor of Botany, Head of the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu

I teach plant taxonomy and phylogeny at the bachelor level. In addition, I teach master-level courses based on problem learning principles (practical work connected with spatial analysis of ecological data, data analysis in community ecology).

I have had the privilege to lead a wonderful Macroecology work group at my university (https://macroecology.ut.ee/en).

I have led two expeditions for PhD students in earth sciences and ecology to the Reunion Island (2018 and 2022, ca 25 persons, three weeks).

Many of the PhD students and postdocs I have supervised have since secured academic positions in Estonia, Norway, Spain, Australia, France, China, Czechia or Canada.

Academic activities

• I am currently an Associate Editor of the Journal of Vegetation Science. Before that I served the society as a Chief Editor of the Journal of Vegetation Science and Applied Vegetation Science for almost 25 years. Previously, I was also an Associate Editor of Oecologia.
  
• I have been an expert and panel member in the European Research Council (consolidator grants)
  
• I was among the main organizers of a major ecological conference in my home town in 2013. I have actively organized special sessions for the annual symposia of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) about the species pool concept, historical aspects of biodiversity, dark diversity etc.
  
• I have had the privilege to give keynote talks in several international conferences. The topics have included dark diversity and time delays in biodiversity patterns. I have regularly given talks at national conferences on nature conservation, urban ecology etc.
  
• I have been PhD opponent or examination committee member in Estonia, Sweden, Belgium, Australia, South-Africa.
  
• I am a member of the council of the International Association for Vegetation Science
  
• I am the president of the Estonian Botanical Society
  
• I regularly contribute popular-scientific articles in the general media