Luca Fumagalli

Luca Fumagalli is an Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne since 2023, leading the Conservation Genetics Section within the Department of Ecology and Evolution under the Faculty of Biology and Medicine. With a career spanning over two decades at the University of Lausanne, he has held roles such as Maître d'enseignement et de recherche (2005–2022), Privat-docent (2002–2022), and Maître-assistant (2000–2022).

Research Interests: His work focuses on conservation genetics, molecular ecology, and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, addressing critical issues like hybridization between species, genetic diversity loss, and non-invasive wildlife monitoring. Notable contributions include studies on wolf-dog hybrids, avian malaria vectors, and genetic profiling of large carnivores via snow tracks.

Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize eDNA applications for amphibian habitat use, primate dietary variation, and herbivore niche overlap. His group explores hybridization dynamics, MHC diversity in birds, and robotics in biodiversity monitoring.

Education and Collaborations: He earned his PhD in Zoology and Ecology from the University of Lausanne (1984–1995) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Queensland (1996–1997). Collaborations include projects with the Institute of Human Forensic (since 2003) and institutions in Australia, China, and Ghana.

Students and Grants: Supervised PhD candidates like Judith Schneider and Eduard Mas-Carrió, and Master’s students such as Loïc Brun and Carlo Ossola. His research is funded by ERC and SNSF Starting Grants, with a focus on conservation policy and genetic forensics.

Labs and Teams: Leads the Laboratory for Conservation Biology (LCB), integrating multidisciplinary approaches for threatened species management. The group collaborates with governmental agencies, NGOs, and forensic institutions to apply genetic tools in species reintroduction, hybrid detection, and ecosystem surveillance.