Winnie Boner

Dr Winnie Boner is a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow's Physiology Ageing & Welfare department. Her work focuses on telomere dynamics in wildlife, particularly examining how environmental stressors, maternal effects, and genetic factors influence aging and survival in species such as zebra finches, Atlantic salmon, and stonechats. She has contributed to over 40 peer-reviewed publications, with recent studies exploring intergenerational telomere effects and habitat restoration impacts on wildlife health.

Research interests include the interplay between telomere biology, oxidative stress, and ecological conditions. Her studies often involve longitudinal analyses of wild populations to understand mechanisms linking environmental challenges to cellular aging. Key findings include the persistent effects of maternal age on offspring telomere length across generations (2025) and the role of habitat restoration in mitigating environmental stress (2022).

Her grants include an Australian Research Council grant (2019) supporting studies on telomere dynamics in wild zebra finches. Collaborations span institutions globally, with frequent co-authorship on topics like heat wave impacts on avian telomeres (2023) and inbreeding effects in passerines (2022). Dr Boner’s work bridges ecology, genetics, and evolutionary biology to address fundamental questions about organismal resilience and longevity.