I am a biologist currently on my PhD journey with the MarEvol Group at Kiel University. My interest in studying biological complex systems is driven by questions like – how cells come together to form tissues and organs in animals. In particular, I aim to unravel the molecular changes that are generating organ-specific gene regulatory networks which give rise to evolutionary novelties. I am addressing this by employing molecular and histological techniques to look into the intricacies of (developing) reproductive systems, with a focus on pregnancy and the development of nurturing tissues.