Team
The formal team of SESCARNIVORE is made by the PI, five senior researchers, three postdocs and two PhD students. Some team members (postdocs, PhD students) will be hired through vacant job descriptions during the project
Dr. Tibor Hartel
Principal InvestigatorAssociate Professor at Babeș-Bolyai University and the PI of SESCARNIVORE. He specialized in social-ecological systems with a focus on wood-pastures, large carnivores, and urban landscapes. He has published extensively in top-tier journals and was awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and the Peregrinus Prize by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy. Tibor is an elected member of Academia Europaea and has over 2800 citations in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Cristian Maloș
Senior ResearcherSenior researcher in SESCARNIVORE. He is specialized in GIS, spatial statistics, and environmental conservation. His work bridges geospatial analysis with conservation planning, grounded in a strong understanding of European environmental legislation. In SESCARNIVORE, Cristian provides expert GIS support, contributing to spatial assessments and system mapping.
Dr. Eliana Sevianu
Senior ResearcherZoologist with a PhD in mammal ecology, specializing in mammal population dynamics, habitat use, and conservation biology. Her research encompasses species such as hazel and fat dormice, utilizing nest box monitoring, GIS modelling, and ecological assessments to inform conservation strategies. Eliana has contributed to studies on road mortality, habitat preferences, and interspecific competition among various mammal species. In SESCARNIVORE, she supports field research and ecological analysis, particularly focusing on mammal monitoring and habitat assessments.
Dr. Kinga-Olga Réti
Senior ResearcherEnvironmental scientist with expertise in geomorphology, soil science, and environmental impact assessment. Her recent work explores social-ecological systems, land degradation, and sustainability in urban development. She has contributed to interdisciplinary research projects addressing environmental planning and resilience. In SESCARNIVORE, she supports field assessments and administrative coordination, drawing on her strengths in environmental analysis and stakeholder engagement
Dr. Ionuț-Silviu Pascu
Postdoctoral ResearcherPostdoctoral researcher within SESCARNIVORE. He is an environmental scientist specializing in forest ecology, environmental modelling, and remote sensing. His research focuses on forest dynamics, ecosystem services, and the application of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and satellite data to monitor vegetation phenology and forest structure. In SESCARNIVORE, Ionuț contributes expertise in ecological modelling and spatial analysis, supporting the assessment of landscape-level patterns relevant to large carnivore habitats
Dr. Cristian Papp
Postdoctoral ResearcherPostdoctoral researcher within SESCARNIVORE, having expertise in biodiversity conservation and ecological corridors for large carnivores. He leads the Wildlife Department at WWF Romania. With two decades of conservation experience, he is active in key global and national networks including IUCN, IENE, and Romania's Large Carnivore Working Group. Cristian also teaches at Babeș-Bolyai University and brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, essential to SESCARNIVORE's participatory approach.
Dr. Norbert Petrovici
Senior ResearcherSociologist and statistician specializing in urban and regional studies, with a focus on the interplay between political economy, spatial development, and social transformation. His research encompasses topics such as urbanization, gentrification, and the socio-economic dynamics of post-socialist cities. Norbert has contributed to interdisciplinary projects analysing urban growth patterns and cultural engagement. In SESCARNIVORE, he provides insights into the socio-spatial dimensions of human-large carnivore coexistence, particularly in peri-urban contexts and will assist a postdoctoral researcher with conceptualizing and analysing questionnaire surveys.
Dr. Laurențiu Rozylowicz
Senior ResearcherProfessor of Environmental Research at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography, and serves as the Research Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies (CCMESI). With a robust academic background in geography, landscape management, and environmental sciences, he holds a PhD and a habilitation in conservation biogeography. Dr. Rozylowicz's academic and research activities are centered on systematic conservation planning, wildlife ecology, and environmental governance, with a particular focus on the ecology and conservation of reptiles and large carnivores. His work is recognized for integrating ecological data with social network analysis and policy frameworks, contributing to innovative strategies for managing protected areas and biodiversity across Romania and the EU.
Dr. Viorel Arhiuș
Senior ResearcherLecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, with academic expertise in geomorphology, climate change risk assessment, and natural hazard mitigation. His research is focused on the interaction between climatic variables and geomorphic processes, particularly in the context of landslides, floods, and soil erosion in Romanian mountain and piedmont regions. Dr. Arghiuș employs quantitative modeling techniques, such as ROMSEM and hydrological risk mapping, to assess environmental vulnerability and inform adaptive land management practices. His work contributes significantly to regional planning and disaster risk reduction in response to changing climatic conditions.
Want to Join the Team?
Be part of groundbreaking research that shapes the future of human-carnivore coexistence. Join our interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of ecology, sociology, and conservation planning.
Shape Conservation Science
SESCARNIVORE offers unique opportunities for researchers, students, and professionals passionate about wildlife conservation and sustainable coexistence. Whether you're interested in field research, social-ecological systems, or participatory planning, we welcome diverse perspectives and expertise.