Zsófia Varga-Szilay

PhD candidate, assistant research fellow

Biography:

  • 2025 – present: assistant research fellow, HUN-REN–PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
  • 2025: consultant for the ‘Pollinator Conservation in Tropical Production Landscapes’ project, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • 2020 – 2024: PhD student in the Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
  • 2018 – 2020: graduated as a Hydrobiologist (MSc) at the University of Pécs, Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
  • 2016 – 2018: assistant in the Laboratory of the Central-Transdanubian Water Management Directorate, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
  • 2012 – 2016: graduated as a Biologist (BSc) at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Sciences, Pécs, Hungary

Current projects and interests:

I am a biologist with a strong interest in pollination and urban ecology, and most of the research projects I have taken part in have focused on insects and their behaviour. Since 2025, I have broadened the scope of my work by contributing to a long-term study monitoring great tit (Parus major) populations in Veszprém, Hungary, within which I have established my own subproject. This research explores how veterinary insecticides (originally developed to protect pets and livestock from ticks and fleas) affect the reproductive success and survival of great tits. In particular, we are examining whether insecticide residues found in nests are linked to lower egg and chick survival, and how such contamination influences the abundance of nest-dwelling parasites.

Contact:

Email: zsofia@vargaszilay.hu
Webpage: https://vargaszilay.hu/
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9712-7654
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zsofia-Varga-Szilay

Awards & scholarships:

  • 09/2025: University Research Scholarship Programme (EKÖP)
  • 09/2024: ITC Conference Grant (InsectAI COST action, CA22129)
  • 09/2023: ÚNKP-23-3 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology
  • 08/2023: Conference Participation Fund (CPF) Grant of the Royal Entomological Society
  • 09/2020: ÚNKP-20-3 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology
  • 11/2019: Grant for Women in Science
  • 09/2019: ÚNKP-19-2 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology
  • 04/2019: Grant for Women in Science

List of Publications:

Varga-Szilay, Z., Barsevskis, A., Benedek, K., Bevk, D., Jojczyk, A., Kristin, A., Ruzickova, J., Jelaska, L. S., Veromann, E., Vilumets, S., Fetyko, K., Szovenyi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2025). Improving biodiversity in Central and Eastern European gardens needs regionally scaled strategies. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 113(129074). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129074

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szovenyi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2025). Anthropogenic noise can decrease tomato reproductive success by hindering bumblebee-mediated pollination. Basic and Applied Ecology, 87, 11-19. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.05.008

Varga-Szilay, Z., Fetyko, K. G., Szovenyi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Bridging biodiversity and gardening: Unravelling the interplay of socio-demographic factors, garden practices, and garden characteristics. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 97(128367). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128367

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szovenyi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Flower visitation through the lens: Exploring the foraging behaviour of Bombus terrestris with a computer vision-based application. Insects, 15(9), 729. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090729

Boieiro, M., Varga-Szilay, Z., Costa, R., Crespo, L., Leite, A., Oliveira, R., Pozsgai, G., Rego, C., Calado, H., Teixeira, M., Lopes, D., Soares, A., & Borges, P. (2024). New findings of terrestrial arthropods from the Azorean Islands. Biodiversity Data Journal, 12, e136391. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e136391

Varga-Szilay, Z., & Pozsgai, G. (2022). Plant growers’ environmental consciousness may not be enough to mitigate pollinator declines: a questionnaire-based case study in Hungary. Pest Management Science, 79(4), 1284–1294. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7277

Boieiro, M., Leite, A., Rego, C., Varga-Szilay, Z., & Borges, P. A. V. (2023). Two alien insect species are new records at the family-level to the Azores archipelago (Portugal). BioInvasions Records, 12(2), 535–543. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2023.12.2.16

Varga-Szilay, Z., & Tóth, Z. (2022). Is acetamiprid really not that harmful to bumblebees (Apidae: Bombus spp.)? Apidologie, 53(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-022-00909-6

List of Conference Participations

Varga-Szilay, Z., Csíkvári, O., Horváth, K., Pipoly, I., & Seress, G. (2025). Állatgyógyászati rovarirtó szerek jelenléte városi és erdei széncinegefészkekben. 3. Urbanizációs Ökológia Konferencia, Pécs, Hungary.

Varga-Szilay, Z., Barševskis, A., Benedek, K., Jojczyk, A., Krištín, A., Růžičková, J., Šerić Jelaska, L., Veromann, E., Vilumets, S., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Kertészkedés Közép- és Kelet-Európában a globális biodiverzitás csökkenés korában. I. Rovartani Konferencia, Budapest, Hungary. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27266.90563

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Detecting differences in foraging behaviour of Bombus terrestris on three plant species using computer vision-based methods. Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS Europe), Balatonvilágos, Hungary. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15515.89129

Varga-Szilay, Z., Arvīds, B., Benedek, K., Bevk, D., Jojczyk, A., Krištín, A., Růžičková, J., Jelaska, L. S., Veromann, E., Vilumets, S., Fetykó, K. G., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Improving biodiversity in Central and Eastern European (CEE) domestic gardens needs regionally scaled strategies. ENTO24, online. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26742.20805

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Buzzing under pressure: Investigating the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on the intraspecific behaviour of Bombus terrestris with computer vision-based application. 10th Congress of Apidology (EurBee), Tallinn, Estonia.

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Detecting differences in foraging behaviour of Bombus terrestris on three plant species using computer vision-based methods. AI in Entomology (Royal Entomological Society). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18301.37607

Varga-Szilay, Z., Benedek, K., Fetykó, K. G., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Home gardening duality: Pollinator-friendly practices amidst widespread pesticide use. 24. Kolozsvári Biológus Napok. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25092.13446

Varga-Szilay, Z., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Buzz amidst noise: Investigating the anthropogenic noise on bumblebee-mediated pollination. 24. Kolozsvári Biológus Napok. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.35997.32486

Varga-Szilay, Z., Fetykó, K. G., Szövényi, G., & Pozsgai, G. (2024). Gardening for pollinators? Unveiling garden owners’ awareness and their pollinator-friendly practices. Royal Entomological Society (RES) Student Forum 2024, online. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21981.63204

Varga-Szilay, Z., & Pozsgai, G. (2023). Flower visitation through the lens: exploring bumblebees’ behaviour with computer vision-based application. XII European Congress of Entomology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12857.75362

Varga-Szilay, Z., & Pozsgai, G. (2022). Data digging from photographs of Paraguayan moths (Lepidoptera) using deep-learning-based object detection. 58th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC 2022), Columbia, Cartagena. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24141.51684/1

Varga-Szilay, Z. (2021). Safe heavens or poisonous traps: pesticide use in bee-friendly gardens. Royal Entomological Society (ENTO’21), online.