Prof. Habil. Rimantas Stonis

Biography

Education and occupation Scientific Biography In 1984, Jonas Rimantas Stonis successfully completed his doctoral studies at the Institute of Zoology of the Russian (formerly USSR) Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) and received his first scientific (Candidate) degree in Biology in 1985, which was nostrified as Doctor of Biology by the Research Council of Lithuania in 1993. In 1992, he completed his second doctoral studies at the Institute of Zoology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg and defended the dissertation “The Evolution and System of the Nepticulidae with a Review of Mining Mode of Life in Lepidoptera” (supervisor Prof. Dr. V. I. Kuztnetzov). In 1992, he received a degree of Doctor of Biology, which was nostrified as Doctor Habilitatus by the Research Council of Lithuania in 1993. The United Kingdom national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications (UK NARIC), performing on behalf of the UK Government, confirmed the degree of Doctor of Biology as the second (higher) doctoral degree comparable to the British Post Doctoral standard. In 1996, he received a title and diploma of Professor (Full Professor). Since 1985, Jonas Rimantas Stonis has been working for the Faculty of Science and Technology of Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (LEU); since 1995, as Full Professor at the Zoology Department (currently Biology Department) and head of the Biotaxonomy Research Programme; in 1989–1994, as Head of the Laboratory of Minological Research; in 1994–2013, as Head of the Laboratory (Centre) of Biosystematics Research; and in 1994–2012, as a member of the Senate of LEU, and a member (and chairman) of the Science Committee. Since 2015, Jonas Rimantas Stonis has been holding the position of the Executive Director of the Baltic-American Biotaxonomy Institute (B.A.B.I.). In 2015, he was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the B.A.B.I.

Research Interest

Global faunas, taxonomy & evolution (phylogeny), and the global biodiversity (including the smallest Lepidoptera, particularly nepticuloids and tischerioids).