Volker Stefanski

Prof. Dr. Volker Stefanski is a University Professor (W3) at the University of Hohenheim's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, leading the Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock. He holds a Dr. rer. nat. from Bielefeld University (1991) and has held roles including Postdoc at UCLA (1993-1995), Research Associate and Privatdozent at the University of Bayreuth (1995-2005), and Head of Immunology at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (2006-2009). His research focuses on stress biology, immunology, and animal physiology, particularly in livestock like pigs and laboratory models. Key areas include hormonal stress responses, immune system dynamics, and the interplay between social stress and health outcomes in animals. His work spans from molecular mechanisms (e.g., catecholamine effects on Salmonella) to applied studies on housing conditions and immunological practices in agriculture.

Selected projects explore diurnal rhythms in pig immunity, microbiome shifts due to diets, and maternal stress impacts on offspring. His research emphasizes translational applications for improving animal welfare and disease resistance in farming systems. He contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating physiology, immunology, and behavioral studies.