Elisa Frasnelli

Elisa Frasnelli is an Associate Professor at the University of Trento, Italy, affiliated with the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC). Her research focuses on animal cognition, cerebral asymmetry, and neuroethology across species including honeybees, bumblebees, octopuses, and domestic animals. She holds editorial roles at journals like Animal Behaviour and Learning & Behavior, and serves as Secretary of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB).

Education:

• PhD in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Trento (2010)
• MSc in Physics and Biomedical Technologies, University of Trento (2007)
• BSc in Applied Physics, University of Trento (2004)

Research Interests:

• Lateralization in invertebrates and vertebrates
• Spatial navigation and visual-motor control in insects
• Neuromodulation of pain perception in bumblebees
• Impact of environmental stress on pollinator health

Awards:

• JSPS Fellowship (2017)
• ASAB Above & Beyond Award (2016)
• PRIN 2022 Grant (€230k) for LADISEX Project

Grants & Collaborations:

• PI of MicroBeeH Project (CARITRO, 2024)
• Coordinator of IBC Project on pollinators and climate change

Teaching: Leads courses on Invertebrate Neurosciences and Mathematical Foundations for Cognitive Science at the University of Trento.