معرفی
Dr Thomas Hesselberg is a Tutor at the Department of Biology and Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. His roles include teaching behaviour and statistics to undergraduate biology students, supervising MBIOL research projects, and leading postgraduate programs as Joint Head of Programmes (STEM and Joint Programmes) and Co-Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques.
- Education:
- Biological Sciences (BSc), Aarhus Universitet
- Biomimetics (PhD), University of Bath
- Professional Roles:
- Research Associate, Department of Biology, University of Oxford (2011–present)
- Senior Research Fellow and Tutor, MSc in Island Biodiversity and Conservation, Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies
- External Examiner, MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Management, Scotland's Rural University College
- Associate Editor, Ecological Entomology
Research Interests: Dr Hesselberg investigates how behaviour in invertebrates (particularly orb spiders and their webs) is shaped by physiological and environmental factors. His work explores behavioural plasticity in species with limited brain capacity, focusing on adaptations to ecological constraints like silk material properties and cave environments. His research bridges basic biological understanding and biomimetic applications for robotics.
Professional Memberships: Dr Hesselberg is affiliated with the American Arachnological Society, British Arachnological Society, British Ecological Society, International Society of Bionic Engineering, International Society for Subterranean Biology, Royal Society of Biology, and Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Scientific Awards & Recognition:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014–present)
- Expert Evaluator for EU Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships projects
- Grant reviewer for the British Ecological Society
Teaching & Leadership: He teaches data analysis for ecologists and contributes to ecological survey techniques. His leadership roles include Joint Head of Programmes and Co-Director for postgraduate courses.
