معرفی
Constance Scharff is a Professor of Behavioral Biology at the Freie Universität Berlin, affiliated with the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy. Her research focuses on the neurobiology of birdsong, vocal learning, and the genetic basis of communication, particularly the role of the FOXP2 gene. Scharff earned her Ph.D. from Rockefeller University and has held positions at institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. She is a leading expert in avian vocalization and its links to human language evolution. Awards include membership in the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and the Leopoldina. Current projects include a DFG-funded research group on the neural foundations of vocal communication (2025) and the development of robotic models like RoboFinch for studying songbird behavior. She teaches courses in animal behavior and oversees a dynamic research group with global collaborations.
- Education: Ph.D. in Neurobiology (Rockefeller University), Postdoc at the Collège de France and Rockefeller University.
- Research Themes: Birdsong neuroethology, FOXP2 gene function, vocal learning mechanisms, avian genome studies (e.g., zebra finch sequencing).
- Awards: Leopoldina membership (2019), BBAW membership (2012), German Zoological Society presidency (2007/08).
Her work bridges evolutionary biology, neurogenetics, and robotics to explore how vocal communication evolves and is encoded in the brain.
