Dr Adam Slipinski

Dr Adam Slipinski: understanding beetle biology

Dr Adam Slipinski’s research focusses on the biology, evolution and classification of beetles to determine the placement of Australia beetles in a world perspective.

• 22 December 2005 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background 
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Adam Slipinski leads the research into CSIRO's Systematics: Identity and Relationships project.

His research focusses on biology, phylogeny and classification of beetles and he is actively taking part in several international research teams investigating various beetle groups.

Dr Slipinski is responsible for developing and coordinating data sets in the Beetle Tree of Life research project.

Using morphology and molecular approaches to beetle evolution, the Beetle Tree of Life project is the first attempt to reconstruct the backbone of the beetle evolutionary tree, and was recently awarded a National Research Foundation grant.

Dr Slipinski is also working on various aspects of Australian beetle taxonomy, making the diversity of the fauna available for further research.

This has included a revision of genera of the Australian ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), developing interactive identification keys and a beetle web site.

Background

Dr Slipinski worked at the Institute of Systematics Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow, Poland, on the phylogeny and classification of the Cerylonid beetles.

After finishing his Doctorate, Dr Slipinski worked for 20 years at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, holding various research and curatorial positions, including the Curator of Coleoptera, Director of Research, and for the last five years, Director in Chief.

During 1999-2000, Dr Slipinski was also appointed as the Professor of Biology at the University of Zielona Gora, Poland, developing teaching and research program in entomology and environmental biology.

He then spent one year as a visiting professor of Entomology at Montana State University, USA, before joining CSIRO Entomology as a Research Scientist.

Academic qualifications

Dr Slipinski has been awarded a:

• Master of Science in Forest Entomology at the Warsaw Agricultural University
• Doctor of Philosophy from the Institute of Systematic Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Doctor of Science from the University of Wroclaw, Poland.

Achievements

For developing and coordinating data sets in the Beetle Tree of Life research project Dr Slipinski was awarded a National Research Foundation grant.

Find out more about the Australian National Insect Collection.