Leonida Fusani

Leonida Fusani is a Professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni) with a double appointment at the Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna. He leads research on physiological mechanisms underlying complex avian behaviors, particularly migration and courtship displays, combining laboratory and fieldwork.

His lab investigates immediate and ultimate causes of elaborate courtship behaviors, migration physiology, and decision-making at stopover sites. Key projects include

• "Comparative aesthetics: A novel approach to investigate multi-modal attractiveness in humans and animals"
• "Decoding the value of courtship signals by integrated audio-visual analysis"
• "The hormone ghrelin: Is it a key player in regulating performance, fuel metabolism and decision-making in migratory birds?"
• "Water balance as a driver of behavioral strategies of migratory birds during desert crossing"

Research strengths include a global network of collaborators and interdisciplinary approaches integrating behavioral ecology, neuroendocrinology, and evolutionary biology. Despite no specific awards or student lists being mentioned in the provided text, his work spans Eurasian-African migratory birds and Neotropical manakins, with emphasis on hormonal regulation, oxidative stress, and phenotypic flexibility.

Academic journey details:

• MSc in Biology, University of Florence (1992)
• Master of Philosophy, University of Cambridge (1995)
• PhD in Neuroscience, University of Cambridge and Max Planck Institute (2000)
• Faculty roles: University of Siena (2003), University of Ferrara (2007), Vetmeduni/University of Vienna (2014–present)