Nematode Diversity
He describes himself as patient, curious, and persistent. Oleksandr Holovachov wanted to study animal diversity already at the age of six.
— The most interesting aspect of my profession is discovering new things and visiting incredible places.
After studying at universities in Ukraine, the Netherlands, and the USA, Oleksandr Holovachov received a scholarship to work at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. His research area here focuses on the diversity and evolution of nematodes and their interactions with other organisms.
The Goal
So what does he aim to achieve with his research, individually or collaboratively?
— Ultimately, I want people to understand and appreciate the diversity of nematodes, and for other researchers to be able to identify them and use them in their own research within a broader evolutionary context, says Oleksandr Holovachov. Speaking of research colleagues, he fondly remembers his work with Mohammed Ahmed as a postdoctoral researcher in his projects.
I want people to understand nematodes.
Never a Dull Moment
Oleksandr Holovachov cannot recall a single greatest surprise in his work, whether negative or positive. But…
— My work is full of small surprises!
When he's not working, he enjoys collecting and cooking wild edibles such as herbs, berries, and mushrooms – and learning new things about a variety of unrelated topics.
Education
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine (MSc). Wageningen University, Netherlands (Ph.D.). University of California - Riverside, USA (Post-Doc).
Previous Work
Swedish Museum of Natural History as a project-based employment.
Contact details

Oleksandr Holovachov
Senior Curator
Zoology
Oleksandr.Holovachov@nrm.se