Hannah Watson

Hannah Watson is a Researcher in the Department of Biology at Lund University, Sweden, where she has been employed since 2017. She is affiliated with multiple research groups, including the Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, the Evolutionary Ecology and Infection Biology Animal Navigation Lab, and the Lund Migration Group. Her work integrates field and laboratory approaches to study avian responses to environmental stressors.

• PhD, University of Glasgow, UK (2014)
• MSc, University of Bangor, UK (2008)
• BSc, University of East Anglia, UK (2004)

Hannah's research focuses on how birds adapt to human-modified environments, particularly through physiological, behavioral, and molecular mechanisms. Her primary interests include stress physiology, immune response, urbanization effects, supplementary feeding, and life-history strategies. She employs omics technologies, hormone assays, and telomere analysis to understand phenotypic plasticity and fitness consequences in wild bird populations.

Her recent publications reveal trends in avian energetics, infection tolerance, and metabolomic shifts due to urbanization. Studies often center on species like the great tit and tawny owl, examining thermoregulation, immune costs, and ecotoxicological impacts. Her work increasingly incorporates tracking, smart trapping, and molecular profiling to uncover mechanisms of environmental adaptation.

• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship (2015–2017)

Hannah leads multiple research projects funded by the Crafoord Foundation, Swedish Research Council, and The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, including studies on pathogen tolerance and winter energetics. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Animal Ecology and contributes to public science communication through media interviews and articles in outlets like The Conversation. She also manages the Stensoffa Ecological Field Station, supporting long-term ecological research.

Hannah collaborates with researchers across Lund University and internationally, including Caroline Isaksson, Johan Nilsson, and Susanne Åkesson, on topics ranging from urban ecology to MHC diversity in songbirds.