¡Hola! 👋

Soy Juan Francisco Esteves

Research Biologist | PhD Candidate

About Me

Doctoral Researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences and member of the Ornithology Department at the Natural History Museum of Lima. My research focuses on population genetics, ornithology, ecology, and conservation biology. I have conducted fieldwork in Peru, Australia, and Norway. Fluent in 9 languages including Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, German, and Czech.

Population Genetics DNA Barcoding Ornithology Fieldwork PCR & Electrophoresis aDNA Analysis Bird Ecology Camera Trapping Scientific Writing R & Python

Publications

01

DNA Barcoding Peruvian Amazon

Decoding the Peruvian Amazon with in situ DNA barcoding of vertebrate and plant taxa. Published in Scientific Data (Nature).

DNA BarcodingFieldworkBioinformatics
02

Lima Leaf-toed Gecko Genomics

Population genomics reveals how 5,000 years of human occupancy led Phyllodactylus sentosus to the brink of extinction. Published in Scientific Reports.

Population GenomicsConservationaDNA
03

Peruvian Amazonia Bird Genetics

Lack of local genetic representation in one of the regions with the highest bird species richness. Published in PLOS ONE.

GeneticsOrnithologyBiodiversity
04

Accipitridae Sunning Behavior

Sunning behavior of five Accipitridae species in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Published in Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

OrnithologyBehavioral EcologyFieldwork
05

Avifauna of Secondary Forests

A broad overview of the avifauna of secondary forests in Peruvian Amazonia.

OrnithologyEcologyConservation

Experience

PhD Researcher

Czech Academy of Sciences

2024 - Present
  • Doctoral research on rapid evolution in communities at Biology Centre
  • Member of Professor Jan Hrček's laboratory
  • Research focus: Eco-evolutionary dynamics and organismal diversity

Visiting Researcher

James Cook University

2024 - 2025
  • Fieldwork in Paluma Range and Kirrama National Parks, Australia
  • Four-month research expedition studying tropical biodiversity

Researcher - Ornithology Department

Natural History Museum of Lima

2016 - 2025
  • Member of research group BIOECONE
  • Fieldwork in Peruvian Amazon (Tambopata, Madre de Dios)
  • Collaboration with Rainforest Expeditions and San Diego Zoo Global

Research Intern

NTNU University Museum

2022 - 2023
  • Research group Holomuseomics at Department of Natural Science
  • Working with archaeological samples and aDNA laboratory
  • Funded with NORPART scholarship

Education

PhD in Entomology

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích

2024 - 2028
  • Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre
  • Research: Rapid evolution in communities
  • Supervisor: Prof. Jan Hrček

Master in Zoology

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

2021 - 2023
  • With specialization in Ecology and Conservation
  • Thesis: Bird community of Peruvian Amazon secondary forests
  • Thesis grade: 18/20 - Highest honors

Bachelor in Biology (Zoology)

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

2016 - 2020
  • Thesis: Genetic diversity of Phyllodactylus sentosus
  • Thesis grade: 19/20 - Highest honors
  • International exchanges: Germany (DAAD), Mexico, USA