Dr. Arsen Gasparyan is currently an Assistant Professor, Biodiversity Expert, American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment. He has earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Faculty of Biology at Yerevan State University. Since 2009, he has been actively engaged in nature conservation projects, beginning with his role as President of the youth environmental NGO Young Biologists Association, which brought together over 200 biologists and environmental activists across Armenia.
After completing his PhD on lichen diversity and conservation of Armenia at the Botanical Garden and Museum of the Freie Universität Berlin, he returned to Armenia and joined WWF Armenia, initially as Project Coordinator for the Leopard Conservation Project and later as a Conservation Officer. Throughout his career, he participated in several leadership and professional capacity-building programs, including the Klaus Toepfer Fellowship Programme for Future Leaders in Nature Conservation (German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation), the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (University of California, Berkeley, USA), etc.
From 2021 to 2024, he served as the Director of the A. Takhtajyan Institute of Botany of the NAS RA, overseeing the management of Armenia’s three botanical gardens. Since 2020, he has also led the Lichen Research and Conservation Group at the Institute of Botany. Currently, as a faculty member at AUA, where he teaches Environmental Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, guiding the next generation of environmental and sustainability scientists. Additionally, he works on biodiversity research and conservation policy projects at the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. Over his research career, he published more than 15 research articles, monographs, and book chapters in international peer-reviewed journals. He has also contributed as an expert in the development of protected area management plans, Armenia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and other key policy documents.
Download cv
In recognition of my contributions to lichen research and conservation, the newly described lichen species Ramalina arsenii was named after me. This honor highlights the importance of advancing lichen and fungal research and conservation in Armenia and beyond.
In 2024, I was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by USG Alumni Armenia and the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, recognizing my achievements in STEM and my contributions as a leading figure in biodiversity research and conservation.
I currently hold a position of Assistant Professor and Biodiversity Expert at the American University of Armenia Acopian Center for the Environment.
I am Head of the Lichen Research and Conservation Group, Institute of Botany after A. Takhtajyan of NAS RA.
I served as Director of the Institute of Botany after A. Takhtajyan of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA).
I served as National project coordinator of the project "Leopard conservation in the Southern Caucasus" and Conservation Officer at WWF-Armenia.
I served as President of the ‘Young Biologists Association’ NGO in Armenia.
I served as a Senior Laboratory Assistant at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University.
I obtained my Bachelor Degree (BSc), Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University.
I obtained my Master Degree at the Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University.
I earned my Doctor of Natural Sciences degree (Dr. rer. nat.; magna cum laude) from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Title of thesis: "Epiphytic Lichen Diversity and Conservation in Armenia"
DAAD-AADL Alumni