Claudia Wascher

Claudia Wascher is Professor of Behavioural Biology and Deputy Head of School for Research, Innovation and Income Generation at Anglia Ruskin University's School of Life Sciences. She joined the institution in September 2015 and is an active member of the Behavioural Ecology Research Group. Her work spans both fundamental research in animal behavior and practical applications in conservation and welfare.

Dr. Wascher completed her PhD in Zoology at the University of Vienna, focusing on social modulation of heart rate in greylag geese at the Konrad-Lorenz research station in Austria. She holds an MSc in Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Graz, Austria. Her international research experience includes postdoctoral positions at CNRS Strasbourg, NTNU Trondheim, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Seewiesen, and the University of Valladolid.

Her research centers on the evolution of social behavior in animals, particularly examining the physiological and cognitive mechanisms that underpin group living. She specializes in studying corvids (crows, ravens) and greylag geese, with particular interest in social cognition, vocal communication, and the physiological costs and benefits of social interactions. Her innovative work combines field observations with physiological measurements to understand how animals navigate complex social environments. She has made significant contributions to understanding how social factors affect physiological stress responses and parasite burden, with findings relevant to both evolutionary biology and conservation.

Her publication record shows a consistent focus on social cognition in corvids, vocal communication patterns, and the physiological correlates of social behavior. Recent work has expanded into anthropogenic impacts on wildlife, equity and diversity research in academia, and methodological approaches in bioacoustics. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges behavioral ecology, physiology, and conservation science.

• L'Oréal Austria Women in Science Fellowship for Young Female Scientists
• Editorial board member for multiple journals including Animal Cognition (2023-present), Animal Behaviour (2018-2020), and others

Dr. Wascher has successfully supervised multiple PhD students working on topics ranging from vocal communication in corvids to social bonds in horses and the 'leaky pipeline' in STEM fields. She has secured substantial research funding from diverse sources including Wild Animals Initiative, Anglia Ruskin University, ASAB, and international funding bodies. Her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is evident through her leadership of the Athena SWAN self-assessment team (2019-2024), which successfully secured a Silver award for the Faculty of Science and Engineering in February 2024.

She maintains active research collaborations internationally and contributes to scientific outreach through media appearances, The Conversation articles, and conference presentations. Her work on animal cognition has received significant media attention, including features in BBC, Scientific American, and The Guardian.