Margareta Lakušić
Post-Doc Researcher
I hold a degree in Molecular Biology and Physiology and a Master’s in Neurobiology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia. However, my fascination with reptiles and the desire to work in a visible world led me to join a research team studying the ecophysiology of stress and antipredator behaviour in Natrix tessellata and the population ecology of Vipera ammodytes. This experience sparked an interest in learning more about snake venoms, especially the ecological and evolutionary drivers of their variation.
For my doctoral thesis, I study the diversification of Vipera ammodytes venom
across multiple scales. At the population level, my research focuses on sex-
and age-related differences, while between geographically close populations, I
study the impact of different prey availability on venom composition. Finally,
a large-scale study of venom diversity across the Balkan Peninsula aims to
provide a comprehensive understanding of venom composition in this species.
As a member of the BIODESERTS group, I am studying the herpetofauna of arid
regions, mainly focusing on venomous snakes from the Arabian Peninsula.
