Andrea Perna

Andrea Perna is an Assistant Professor at the IMT School for Advanced Studies in Lucca, Italy, with a background in theoretical biology and biophysics. Previously, he held a Senior Lecturer position at the University of Roehampton, UK, and conducted research across Europe and Australia. His work focuses on collective animal behavior, pattern formation in biological systems, and ecology, combining experimental, computational, and mathematical approaches.

Education: Degree in Biological Sciences from Scuola Normale Superiore and University of Pisa (Italy), followed by a PhD in Psychophysics (neurobiology) from Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa.

Research Interests: Collective behavior in fish schooling, termite nest architecture, biophysical principles of animal group cohesion, and the interplay between individual behavior and ecosystem properties. Notable projects include modeling trail networks in ants and exploring how environmental factors influence nest construction in termites.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Networks Unit at IMT School, collaborating with institutions like the Hawk Conservancy Trust and international researchers in ecology, mathematics, and physics. Active in mentoring PhD and post-doctoral researchers in complex systems and ecological modeling.

Grants/Funding: Secured funding for post-doctoral positions studying termite nest evo-devo and collaborative projects on raptor flight mechanics.