Birger doll

Prof. Dr. Birger doll serves as Head of the Institute of Behavioral Physiology at the Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) Dummerstorf and holds a joint Professorship for Behavioral Science at the University of Rostock. He simultaneously leads both the Competence Field Behavior and Husbandry and the Working Group Behavior and Animal Welfare at FBN, demonstrating his central role in advancing animal welfare science across institutional boundaries. His research bridges theoretical behavioral biology with practical agricultural applications.

His academic journey includes:

• Habilitation as Dr. rer. nat. habil. at Justus Liebig University Giessen (2008)
• Doctorate in Behavioral Biology at Humboldt University of Berlin (1993)
• Degree in Biology (Dipl.-Biol.) at Humboldt University of Berlin (1989)

Prof. doll's research program centers on behavioral biology and animal welfare in farm animals, with particular emphasis on social behavior, stress physiology, learning behavior, cognition, emotion, and bioacoustics. His work integrates sophisticated methodological approaches with practical husbandry applications, demonstrating how understanding animal cognition directly informs improved welfare practices. He has pioneered research on vocal communication in pigs, emotional processing in farm animals, and the development of behavioral indicators for welfare assessment. His theoretical contributions to applied ethology provide frameworks for translating laboratory findings into field applications.

His recent publication trajectory reveals a strategic evolution toward technology-enhanced behavioral monitoring, with increasing use of automated tracking systems and sophisticated cognitive testing paradigms across multiple species (primarily pigs, but also poultry, cattle, and goats). A notable trend is the growing focus on emotional processing and affective states in farm animals, moving beyond traditional welfare indicators to understand the subjective experiences of livestock. His work consistently connects fundamental behavioral mechanisms with practical welfare outcomes.

At the University of Rostock's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Prof. doll teaches Fundamentals of Behavioral Biology (BSc), Fundamentals of Livestock Ethology and Welfare (MSc), and Expert Systems Animal Welfare (MSc), training the next generation of animal scientists. While specific grant details aren't provided in the source material, his extensive publication record spanning three decades indicates sustained research funding for projects investigating cognitive-emotional coping mechanisms, stress physiology, and welfare assessment methodologies in farm animals.

Prof. doll leads research teams that have developed innovative methodologies for assessing animal welfare through integrated behavioral and physiological measures. His laboratory work has practical applications in designing farming systems that account for the cognitive and emotional capacities of animals, directly influencing animal husbandry practices across Europe. The working group he heads maintains strong connections with agricultural industry stakeholders to ensure research findings translate into improved on-farm practices.