Maaike Versteegh

Dr. Maaike Versteegh is a Researcher at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, affiliated with the research groups of Irene Tieleman, Jan Komdeur, and Hannah Dugdale. Her work focuses on physiological ecology, life history evolution, and eco-immunology, particularly examining how birds adapt to environmental challenges through behavior, physiology, and immune function.

• PhD in Physiology and Life History Adaptation (Groningen, 2012)
• MSc in Biology (Ecology specialization, 2006)
• BSc in Biology (2003)

Her research spans eco-immunology, avian physiology, and behavioral ecology, with recent publications addressing kin discrimination in blue tits, temperature effects on microbiota in pigeons, and social dynamics in burying beetles. She also contributes to datasets on pace-of-life syndromes and climatic adaptation.

Current projects include coordinating fieldwork and providing statistical support for MSc/PhD students. She teaches in the BSc course Ecological Interactions and MSc course Molecular Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Collaborations extend to Kenya, Patagonia, and Europe, with a focus on UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life sciences and ecological preservation.