![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_24337a7231ba44dfad66ff00364c92a4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1920,h_662,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/8d5454_24337a7231ba44dfad66ff00364c92a4~mv2.jpg)
Editor-in-Chief for Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
(published by Springer, Heidelberg)
retired professor of Animal Ecology, University of Bonn
ABOUT ME
I was born in Groningen, the Netherlands. My Bachelor's (Biochemistry) and Master's (Behaviour Genetics, Population Genetics and Theoretical Biology) studies were attended at the University of Groningen. Then I went to the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, for my PhD-study (Behaviour Genetics) and some post-doc years. At the University of Bern, Switzerland, I became an Assistant and later Associate Professor of Behavioral Ecology. Finally, I moved to the University of Bonn, Germany, where I had been a University Professor in Evolutionary Ecology till my retirement in 2017.
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For a detailed description of my research read the Editorial by Timo Thünken, Ingolf Rick and Joachim Frommen in my Festschrift published September 2018 in Evolutionary Ecology Research.
![Bild1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_2ec8bd8f8c8f4fbbb2a7742c5f2c420b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_9,y_6,w_665,h_804/fill/w_420,h_508,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Bild1.jpg)
ABOUT ME
I was born in Groningen, the Netherlands. My Bachelor's (Biochemistry) and Master's (Behaviour Genetics, Population Genetics and Theoretical Biology) studies were attended at the University of Groningen. Then I went to the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, for my PhD-study (Behaviour Genetics) and some post-doc years. At the University of Bern, Switzerland, I became an Assistant and later Associate Professor of Behavioral Ecology. Finally, I moved to the University of Bonn, Germany, where I had been a University Professor in Evolutionary Ecology till my retirement in 2017. Since 2011, I am a Co-Editor-in-Chief of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (together with James FA Traniello).
​
For a detailed description of my research read the Editorial by Timo Thünken, Ingolf Rick and Joachim Frommen in my Festschrift published September 2018 in Evolutionary Ecology Research.
![courting male stickleback in full nuptial coloration](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_2ec8bd8f8c8f4fbbb2a7742c5f2c420b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_9,y_6,w_665,h_804/fill/w_420,h_508,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Bild1.jpg)
ACADEMIC CAREER
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests concern evolutionary processes in ecosystems: - on the one hand, I am interested in the selective forces that drive the evolution of life-history, behavioural, and morphological traits in animal populations, in particular host-parasite, predator-prey, and social interactions, and influences of abiotic factors. - on the other hand, I am interested in the underlying population genetic processes, such as the extent, change and maintenance of genetic variation and covariation of these traits.
positions
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2017 retired Professor (Ecology), University of Bonn
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1999 Professor (Animal Ecology), University of Bonn
- 1995 Associate Professor (Behavioural Ecology), University of Bern
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1988 Assistant Professor (Behavioural Ecology), University of Bern
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1985 Assistant Professor (Ethology), University of Leiden
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1978 Research Assistant (Ethology), University of Leiden
Specifically, the main topic of my research is the evolutionary ecology of natural and sexual selection in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus, Gasterosteidae) and the cichlid Pelvicachromis taeniatus (Cichlidae).
degrees
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1993 Habilitation, University of Bern
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1986 PhD, University of Leiden
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1978 MSc, University of Groningen
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1973 BSc, University of Groningen
![2007 Theo Bakker at his office (photo by Stephanie Winter)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_019a95f8dd0e41ce82e9ff212d703438~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_358,h_214,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/portret%202007%20small%20Stephanie%20Winter.jpg)
![2017 Theo Bakker farewell address at the University of Bonn (photo by Petra Bakker-Pijn)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_9c953c5b2cf147e1a7954e1e59be6ef0~mv2_d_1489_1986_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_269,h_359,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/8d5454_9c953c5b2cf147e1a7954e1e59be6ef0~mv2_d_1489_1986_s_2.jpg)
![2018 Theo Bakker in academic gown of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Bonn](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8d5454_396c7b51e47047d0bd6e97632ecc85c5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_269,h_359,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2018%20gown_edited.jpg)