About
Lily Twining is an Assistant Professor at ETH Zürich and Group Leader at Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Her research focuses on energy and nutrient transfer across scales, from individual organisms to ecosystems, emphasizing nutritional ecophysiology, limnology, and ornithology. She investigates food web dynamics, fatty acid availability, and the ecological consequences of human impacts. Twining holds a PhD and has been recognized with awards including the Cole Award (2017) and Whittaker Award (2016).
- Affiliations: ETH Zürich (Department of Environmental Systems Science), Eawag
- Education: PhD in Ecology; undergraduate work on Bosmina remains and bulk stable isotopes
Her research bridges limnology and ornithology, studying how fatty acids from aquatic insects influence terrestrial consumers. Recent work highlights emergent insects as critical subsidies for birds and explores climate-driven phenological mismatches. Twining advocates for inclusive research environments, drawing from her experiences with international living and parenting during the pandemic.
Awards:
- Cole Award for best student paper (2017)
- Whittaker Award for best student presentation (2016)
- Donnelly Award for best senior thesis (2011)
Teaching & Mentorship: Twining emphasizes pedagogy and mentorship, with password-protected teaching materials. She advises on nutrient cycling, fatty acid ecology, and maintains a lab group including Connor Morang and Giorgia Ercole.
