Iva Njunjić – Hunting insects below the ground
Iva Njunjić, a cave biologist from Serbia, has been studying the evolution of cave beetles since her bachelor’s degree. She is also the co-founder and co-director of Taxon Expeditions, an innovative company offering scientific research trips for the general public, even in the heart of the jungles of Borneo.

Iva in her natural habitat: Samchinkia cave, Imereti, Georgia 2022. Image: © Sotiris Kountouras
Iva and her beloved cave beetles
Iva has a deep fascination with cave beetles, particularly Anthroherpon species, due to their extraordinary body shape and their remarkable ability to thrive in the harsh cave environment. Much about them remains a mystery, including their lifecycle, lifespan, and exact diet. To deepen our understanding, Iva collects live specimens from the caves, so her work includes a lot of traveling and fieldwork. However, that’s only the tip of the iceberg…
The genus Anthroherpon contains many species that look almost identical to untrained eyes. In the laboratory, Iva analyzes the collected specimens under the microscope and carefully identifies them. Then, she extracts the DNA, amplifies certain regions of DNA across different samples and sequences them. This process reveals mutations in the DNA between species, allowing her to construct an evolutionary tree. This ultimately unlocks the secrets of their evolution and how they relate to other subterranean beetles.

Iva Njunjić collecting samples with a pair of tweezers and holding a tube to deposit the insect into. The photo was taken at Maaras Cave, Prosotsani, Greece. Image: © Sotiris Kountouras
An unusual travel agency

Nature enthusiasts exploring nature with scientists from Taxon Expeditions. Image: © Sotiris Kountouras
Taxon Expeditions is a unique scientific travel agency that takes participants to remote and biodiverse locations around the globe. Founded by biologists Menno Schilthuizen and Iva Njunjić, the agency combines their two passions: travel and biology. Over the years, they have assembled an extraordinary team of experts from diverse fields, including ecology, cave biology, arachnology, botany, genetics, and more. Together, this interdisciplinary team guides citizen scientists through caves, canyons, lush jungles, and secluded landscapes, making every expedition an enriching experience. Their mission is to discover new species for science and contribute to the knowledge and conservation of insects and other tiny invertebrates that are often neglected when it comes to conservation.
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A key feature that sets Taxon Expeditions apart is the involvement of real scientists as guides. These professionals not only lead the adventures but also deliver lectures, teach hands-on experiments, and share field-tested methods. This level of expertise offers citizen scientists a rare opportunity to learn and make meaningful contributions to research.
Pushing the boundaries of citizen science
Science isn’t driven solely by professionals in labs or the field. Volunteers, observers, and contributors from all walks of life play a crucial role. Citizen scientists participate by volunteering in experiments, logging observations into databases, and more. However, despite their valuable contributions, they often gain little insight into the research they support.

A geneticist is training a participant in molecular biology techniques. Image: © Pierre Escoubas/Taxon Expeditions
Taxon Expeditions changes this dynamic by providing participants with hands-on training from experts. From collecting samples to sequencing DNA, participants gain a wide range of skills and even contribute to the discovery of new species. Believe it or not, you could even name a new species! A famous example is the Leonardo DiCaprio beetle, named by the Taxon Expeditions team in 2018.
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Since its establishment, Taxon Expeditions has organized 16 expeditions across countries including Montenegro, Netherlands, Italy, Brunei, and Malaysia, leading to the discovery of 22 new species! But the excitement doesn’t stop at naming insects—participants have also co-authored more than 10 scientific papers with the team (see a selection here).
In addition to their expeditions, Taxon Expeditions offers tailored scientific adventures for children, organizes nature-based corporate events, and provides biodiversity courses in their state-of-the-art laboratory in Leiden.
More information on upcoming scientific trips by Taxon Expeditions.