About
Dr. Ines Fuertbauer is an Associate Professor at Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering within the Department of Biosciences. She serves as Head of the Behavioral Ecology and Endocrinology Research Laboratory and is a member of the Behavioral Ecology and Evolution Research Theme.
Her academic journey includes previous positions at Georg-August-University Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, where she built a foundation for her current research. Dr. Fuertbauer was awarded a DFG Research Fellowship that supported her transition to Swansea University.
Specializing in behavioral endocrinology, Dr. Fuertbauer's research spans animal behavior, animal personality, noninvasive hormone analysis, reproductive physiology, and stress physiology. Her work primarily focuses on wild primates, particularly baboons in South Africa, where she has developed innovative methods for measuring physiological stress through noninvasive techniques. Her research reveals complex relationships between social behavior (such as allogrooming) and physiological stress responses in wild populations.
She serves as Editor of Animal Behavior Ethics and Secretary of the ASAB (Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour) Ethics Committee, demonstrating her commitment to ethical standards in animal research. Dr. Fuertbauer also contributes to multiple internal and external ethics committees across institutions.
A leader in international academic collaboration, she co-founded and co-directs a PhD program between Swansea University and the University of Cape Town, creating valuable cross-continental research opportunities. At Swansea, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in animal behavior and endocrinology, including modules BIO234 (Conservation and Animal Welfare) and BIO355 (Animal Behavior - from individuals to groups).
Dr. Fuertbauer currently supervises multiple graduate students working on diverse projects related to primate behavior, stress physiology, and conservation. Her extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding how social behavior relates to physiological responses in wild animals, with practical applications for wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict management.
