Doctoral Researcher
angelika.kiebler@oulu.fi
My research primarily focuses on the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans – the only flying squirrel species currently found in Europe.
I use genomic tools to study the population structure and genetic health of wild populations in Finland and Estonia, and captive populations in zoos and private holdings. My goal is to develop genetic monitoring tools for the flying squirrel, find new solutions to manage this elusive species in urban and forested habitats, and improve the human-wildlife relationship in Finland.
Keywords
Current Projects
Grants & Funding
2025 – 2026, funding by Biodiverse Anthropocenes (PROFI6, ANTS)
1.5 years for conducting PhD studies
2022, travel grant, Nordplus
Travel grant to Svalbard for attending the course AB-332 Arctic Marine Molecular Ecology at UNIS.
About me
I originally come from Germany, but have been enjoying the subarctic climate of Oulu, Finland, since summer of 2021! ❄️
Here, I began working with the Biodiversity Genomics research group in 2023 during my master’s thesis and now continue building on the project as a doctoral student, studying the Siberian flying squirrel.
My main research interest lies in Applied Conservation Genomics. In other words, how we can use genetic knowledge to actively support – or even improve – current conservation practices.
Outreach
During my Master’s I have developed and started the
> Flying Squirrel Citizen Science project
Magazine Article: Wehrenberg, G. & Kiebler, A. (2025). Aufruf: Artenschutzforschung für Flughörnchen braucht Hilfe. Eliomys 1/2025, 14-15. (German)Publications
2025
Peer-reviewed Publication: Ferreira da Silva, M. J., Colmonero‐Costeira, I., Djaló, S. L., Camará, T., Sá, R. M., Minhós, T., Kiebler, A., Grethlein, M., Pikkarainen, N. & Prost, S. (2025). Using miniaturized laboratory equipment and DNA barcoding to improve conservation genetics training and identify illegally traded species. Conservation Biology, e70165. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70165Peer-reviewed Publication: Wehrenberg, G., Kiebler, A., Greve, C., Beltrán-Sanz, N., Ben Hamadou, A., Meißner, R., Winter, S., & Prost, S. (2025). A Prelude to Conservation Genomics: First Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of a Flying Squirrel (Pteromyini: Pteromys volans). Ecology and Evolution, e71905. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71905Peer-reviewed Publication: Winter, S., Meißner, R., Grethlein, M., Wehrenberg, G., Kiebler, A., Silva, A. X., Escobar, N. R., Quesada Calderón, S. M., Suescún, A. V., Guzman Belmar, L., & Prost, S. (2025). Near-chromosome-level genome assembly and transcriptome of the Ural owl, Strix uralensis PALLAS, 1771. bioRxiv, 2025-03. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.26.6454612024
Peer-reviewed Publication: Olli, S., Lam, N. T., Hiljanen, S., Kettunen, T., Haikonen, L., Hyvönen, H. M., Kiebler, A., Köngäs, I., Minkkinen, S., Pöykiö, V., Sannikka, V., Vesa, R., Wehrenberg, G., Prost, S., & Prous, M. (2024). Large mitochondrial genomes in tenthredinid sawflies (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part A, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/24701394.2024.2427206 2021
Peer-reviewed Publication: Pfenninger, M., Reuss, F., Kiebler, A., Schönnenbeck, P., Caliendo, C., Gerber, S.,Cocchiararo, B., Reuter, S., Blüthgen, N., Mody, K., Mishra, B., Bálint, M., Thines, M., & Feldmeyer, B. (2021). Genomic basis for drought resistance in European beech forests threatened by climate change. eLife 10:e65532. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.65532Theses
Master's Thesis: Kiebler, A. (2025). Population genetics of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) in Finland using whole mitochondrial genomes. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202504142578Bachelor's Thesis: Kiebler, A. (2020). Molekularbiologische Untersuchung vom Gesamtprotein und Gesamtlipid in Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) unter Trockenstress. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24854.46409Posters & Talks
2025
Presentation: Kiebler, A. (2025). In Search of the Flying Squirrel: A Tale of the Finnish Forest, Patience, and Poop. Session: Ecosystem Restoration Storytelling Slam: Transdisciplinarity in Performance. YHYS Fall Colloquium 2025, Oulu, Finland. 24th of October 2025.Presentation: Kiebler, A. (2025). Population genetics of the Siberian flying squirrel in Finland is shaped by glacial retreat and land uplift during the Holocene. 12th Baltic Theriological Conference, Jaundome, Latvia. 27th March 2025. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26598.95048Webinar: Kiebler, A. (2025). Flying squirrel in Finland: Populations Genetics and Citizen Science. Webinar for Metsähallitus: Siberian Flying Squirrel Genetics. 24th January 2025.
Population genetics: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14854.89926
Citizen Science: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21985.216022023
Poster: Kiebler, A. (2023). The Siberian Flying Squirrel, Project Plan: Citizen Science and Genetic Monitoring. 27th Kaamos Symposium 2023, Oulu, Finland. 1st December 2023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32025.33125Personal interests:
