Maurine Dietz

Dr. Maurine Dietz is a Researcher at the University of Groningen's Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering). Her work focuses on animal ecology, ecophysiology, and microbiome interactions, particularly in birds. She holds editorial roles, including on Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, and collaborates with senior researchers such as Prof. Irene Tieleman and Prof. Joana Falcao Salles.

Research interests include gut microbiome development in birds, environmental influences on microbiota, and symbiotic relationships. Notable projects explore how early-life food restriction impacts microbiome development in rock pigeons and temperature-driven seasonal shifts in gut microbiota. She also investigates dietary effects on immunity in tropical songbirds and feather bacterial loads in migratory passerines.

Teaching responsibilities include supervising bachelor and master’s students in ecophysiology, animal ecology, and behavioral biology. Her work bridges lab and field studies, often involving DNA metabarcoding and ecological validation techniques.

Publications span 47 works, including peer-reviewed articles in Microorganisms, Iscience, and Animal Microbiome. She actively engages in science communication through expert commentary on avian physiology and ecology.