Daniel Colaco Osorio

Prof Daniel Colaco Osorio is a Professor of Neuroscience (Ecology and Evolution) at the University of Sussex, affiliated with the School of Life Sciences. He serves as Deputy Head of the School and Director of Taught Programmes. Osorio holds a BA and MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (specializing in Zoology) and a PhD in Neurobiology from the Australian National University (ANU), focusing on insect visual physiology. His postdoctoral work spanned Cambridge and ANU before joining Sussex in 1992.

His research explores animal vision, particularly color perception and object recognition in species like butterflies, primates, birds, and cephalopods. He also holds a patent for color measurement in images, derived from his theoretical work on animal vision, with potential medical applications. Osorio sits on the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s research committee and contributes to ethical guidelines for cephalopod welfare under EU legislation. He chairs the Ethics Committee for Merlin Entertainments’ aquaria/zoo operations and co-authored guidelines for cephalopod research ethics.

Research interests span visual ecology, evolutionary signaling, and the neural mechanisms underlying camouflage and color discrimination. Notable grants include studies on cephalopod visual behavior, avian spectral processing, and the evolution of trichromacy in primates. He organizes courses like 'Receptors and Senses' and 'Seminars in Neuroscience.'

Osorio’s recent work bridges biology and technology, applying vision science to medical imaging and legal frameworks. His lab collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to understanding sensory systems across species.