Many of my research questions are derived from observations made during fieldwork. My research mostly aims at understanding taxonomic and genetic diversity, evolutionary patterns ( and the processes that produce them), and diversification through time and space , using amphibians and reptiles as models. My research interests are currently orienting towards ecological genomics – merging systems-level ecological studies with the study of phenotypic diversity and next generation population genomics. My current research programme primarily aims at determining and understanding the extent to which the genetic structure, phenotypic traits ( using e.g., histology, micro computed X-ray tomography, geometric morphometrics), ecology (mainly population dynamics, thermal and spatial, but also prey-predatory and dietary ecology), and ultimately evolutionary trajectories of terrestrial vertebrates are affected by environmentally hostile, nutrient-poor and naturally fragmented ecosystems (the ‘tepuis’, paleosurfaces in northern South America). I am also conducting collections-based research revising the systematics of several Guiana Shield amphibian and reptile taxa as a large part of my research is still dedicated to the systematics and taxonomy of amphibians and reptiles of the Guiana Shield.