Professor Alan Thorpe is affiliated with Queen Mary University of London, specifically within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. His research focuses on Insect Neuropeptides, exploring their roles in physiological and behavioral processes. He holds a professorial appointment and is based at the Fogg Building (Room 2.23). Research interests emphasize understanding neuropeptide signaling pathways and their implications in insect biology, potentially extending to applications in pest control or ecological studies. No specific publications or awards are detailed in the provided text, though his affiliation suggests active engagement in academic and research activities.
Professor Lars Chittka holds the position of Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology at Queen Mary University of London, within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. His research focuses on animal cognition, sensory systems, pollination ecology, and social insect behavior, with a particular emphasis on bees as model organisms. Chittka’s work bridges sensory physiology, learning psychology, and evolutionary ecology, exploring how sensory systems and cognitive processes function in natural foraging environments. His lab investigates topics such as insect color vision, navigation, and the welfare implications of insect consciousness. Key areas of research include the cognitive abilities of bees, including their capacity for social learning, tool use, and decision-making. Chittka has pioneered studies on how bees perceive and interact with their environment, including the role of floral signals and the impact of environmental factors like nectar quality and nociception. His team uses field studies, computer-controlled behavioral tests, and phylogenetic analyses to address these questions. Chittka supervises a range of PhD and postdoctoral researchers, including current students such as Joanna Brebner and Yonghe Zhou. His work has been featured in high-impact journals and media outlets like Science and Nature , and he has contributed to public engagement through articles and commentary on topics like insect welfare and conservation. Chittka’s research also extends to collaborations with engineering and computer science groups, such as the NimbleAI project exploring neuromorphic computing inspired by insect vision. His lab is affiliated with the Centre for Brain and Behaviour and the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding animal behavior and cognition.
Bernard Evans is a Lecturer at the University of Adelaide's School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, within the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Systems), a Bachelor of Health Sciences, and a PhD from the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on computational neuroscience, particularly the electrophysiological and computational modeling of dragonfly visual neurons, and applies insights from insect neurobiology to develop low-power deep learning systems for surveillance and computer vision tasks. Research Interests: Educational Technology, Computational Neuroscience, Behavioral Ecology, Computer Vision, and Explainability in Neural Networks. His publications explore the intersection of neuroscience and engineering, including dragonfly visual systems' adaptation mechanisms, target detection in cluttered environments, and bio-inspired algorithms for autonomous systems. His work bridges electrophysiological studies with hardware implementation on FPGA platforms for real-world applications. Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD candidates in Computer Science and related fields.
Rhys Thatcher is a Researcher in the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. He holds a PhD from the University of Teesside and is a BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, Fellow of BASES, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. BSc (Hons) Sport Science – University of Teesside MSc – Loughborough University PhD – University of Teesside (2001) His research focuses on the role of diet and exercise in chronic disease prevention, particularly type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. He has led numerous funded projects in collaboration with NHS bodies, universities, and industry partners, exploring interventions such as HIIT, social prescribing, and digital education for diabetes prevention. His recent publications highlight a strong trend in public health, exercise immunology, metabolomics, and behavioral science. Key themes include vitamin D and immune function, gut health during exercise, sedentary behavior during the pandemic, and evaluation of diabetes prevention programs. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy BASES accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist Rhys Thatcher has supervised nine PhD and four MPhil students to completion and continues to mentor doctoral researchers. He has secured grants from organizations including the SSN Educational and Charitable Trust, NHS Wales, and Aston University. His research integrates clinical, physiological, and public health perspectives. He is actively involved in public engagement, with media appearances discussing the accuracy of fitness trackers and the impact of his research on public health policy.
Dr. Markus Knaden serves as Project Group Leader of the Odor-Guided Behaviour group within the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. His research integrates neurobiological and ecological approaches to investigate how insects process olfactory information for critical behaviors including navigation, foraging, mate selection, and oviposition across diverse species such as Drosophila, desert ants, and locusts. His primary research focuses on the neural and evolutionary mechanisms underlying odor-guided behavior in natural contexts. Key interests include the role of chemical signals in niche specialization, the impact of environmental pollutants like ozone on insect communication, neural circuit adaptations for path integration in desert ants, and the evolutionary trade-offs between sensory modalities in Drosophila. His work bridges molecular neurobiology, behavioral ecology, and chemical ecology to address fundamental questions about sensory processing and adaptive decision-making. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals consistent emphasis on chemical-ecological interactions, with particular attention to how anthropogenic changes affect insect behavior. His research demonstrates how toxic compounds create evolutionary niches, how neural circuits integrate multimodal cues, and how environmental complexity shapes navigational strategies. This body of work establishes critical links between molecular mechanisms and ecological outcomes in insect olfaction. Dr. Knaden leads the Odor-Guided Behaviour research group, which employs interdisciplinary methodologies including electrophysiology, behavioral assays, chemical analysis, and computational modeling. His team investigates how insects extract meaningful information from complex odor landscapes, with implications for understanding sensory processing principles and developing ecologically sustainable pest management strategies based on behavioral disruption rather than insecticides.
Dr. Simon Butt is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (DPAG) , University of Oxford, and serves as a Tutorial Fellow at Keble College . His research focuses on neuronal interactions in the neonatal brain and the role of genetic determinants in cortical development. Undergraduate: Biological Sciences, University of Oxford (1996) PhD: Serotonergic modulation in insect motorneurons, University of St. Andrews His work explores: Genetic basis of cortical interneuron diversity Development of GABAergic circuits Role of serotonin in sensory encoding Transient neuronal connections in early postnatal development Cortical network maturation Claustrum-cortex interactions Recent publications reveal expertise in: Claustrum connectivity analysis (2025) Perinatal serotonin-GABA interactions (2025) Two-photon imaging of neurotransmitter dynamics (2024) Developmental origins of cortical projections (2023) Transient interneuron circuits (2016-2022) Scientific recognition: HFSPO Long-term Fellowship (postdoctoral) Brain & Behaviour Award (2013-2015) Major funding sources: Wellcome Trust (2009-present) MRC (2012-2015) OUP John Fell Fund (2011-2014) Human Frontiers Science Program (2008-2012)
Trine Bilde is a Professor and Centre Director at the Department of Biology, Aarhus University, where she leads the Center for Ecological Genetics (EcoGenetics). Her center investigates genetic diversity-functional response relationships to predict insect distribution under global change and develop biodiversity management tools. Her research spans evolutionary ecology, genetics, and genomics, with core expertise in social spiders. She examines group living dynamics, cooperation, mating systems (including inbred social structures), genomic consequences of sociality, and genetic/non-genetic adaptation processes. Key projects include the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded 'The missing link' initiative on arthropod genetic variation in agro-ecosystems. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal dominant themes: DNA methylation responses to infection in social spiders, mutation rate reductions from social evolution, and seminatural habitats as genetic reservoirs. Her work consistently links sociality to depleted genomic diversity and reduced selection efficacy, with strong conservation implications for ecosystem services like pollination. Bilde secured major funding through the Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme 2020 for her six-year international project on beneficial arthropods in agricultural ecosystems. Historical projects include biogeography of social spiders (2011-2013) and macroecology of Stegodyphus sociality (2009-2013). The Center for Ecological Genetics (EcoGenetics) serves as her primary research hub, focusing on population genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation, climate adaptation mechanisms, and microbiome dynamics in social spiders under environmental stress.
Hanne Løvlie is a Senior Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at Linköping University, where she leads the Lovlie Group. Her research is centered on animal behaviour, personality, and cognition, primarily using red junglefowl as a model species. She investigates how genetic, neurochemical, and environmental factors influence behavioural traits such as impulsivity, optimism, fearfulness, and social interactions. Her research interests include: Animal personality and individual variation Cognitive and affective states in non-human animals Behavioural genetics and neuroethology Effects of early life experiences and environmental enrichment Impact of human pharmaceuticals on animal behaviour Sexual selection and social competition The recent publications show a strong focus on monoaminergic systems (serotonin and dopamine) and their role in shaping behaviour across species including chickens, crickets, and fish. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations and employs both experimental and meta-analytic approaches. Themes such as judgement bias, cognitive flexibility, and the genetic basis of learning are recurrent in her research. Hanne Løvlie has contributed to significant findings, including how enriched environments buffer stress in chickens, how kin recognition affects aggression in roosters, and how human medicines alter animal personalities. Her research has implications for animal welfare, evolutionary biology, and environmental science. She actively collaborates with researchers from institutions such as Stockholm University and contributes to public understanding of science through media engagement and outreach. While no formal list of students or awards is provided in the text, her role as a research leader suggests mentorship of junior researchers. She has secured research funding and leads an active lab group focused on behavioural genomics and physiology.
Jen Perry is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where she contributes to research and academic supervision. She leads the Jen Perry Lab, focused on evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology, with a strong emphasis on insect model systems such as Drosophila melanogaster. Research Interests: Her work investigates how evolutionary conflicts of interest—between mates, family members, and social partners—shape adaptation across multiple levels, including behavior, morphology, life history, gene expression, and molecular phenotypes. She uses experimental and evolutionary approaches to study sexual selection, kin selection, nutritional ecology, and conflict-driven evolution. The recent publication trends reflect a strong focus on Drosophila systems, sexual conflict, diet effects on behavior, and molecular evolution. Her articles frequently appear in high-impact journals such as Evolution , Biological Reviews , and Animal Behaviour , demonstrating consistent contributions to evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology over the past five years. Scientific Projects and Funding: Evolutionary conflict over animal nutrition and diet choice – Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), 2019–2022 Bridging the gap between sexual selection and kin selection – Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, 2021–2023 Advising and Grants: Dr. Perry actively welcomes inquiries from prospective Masters and PhD students, as well as early-career researchers developing fellowship proposals. She has successfully secured competitive fellowships and leads independent research, indicating a strong mentoring and grant-writing profile. Labs and Teams: She is the principal investigator of the Jen Perry Lab , which is part of the Organisms and the Environment research group at UEA. The lab fosters collaborative research and engages in interdisciplinary studies on evolutionary conflict.
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.
Muhammad Ihtisham Babar is a PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering at UNSW Canberra, working under the supervision of Associate Professor Sridhar Ravi in the Bio-Engineering Research Group. He serves as a Wind Tunnel Lab Demonstrator at the School of Engineering & Technology, UNSW ADFA Canberra. Education: PhD (Inprogress), Aerospace Engineering, University of New South Wales, 2025-28 BE, Aerospace Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, 2015-19 Ihtisham Babar's research focuses on bio-inspired flight systems, particularly studying insect flight in unsteady flow conditions. His work combines experimental approaches including wind tunnel testing and insect flight tracking with the development of bio-inspired flapping wing mechanisms. His research interests span aerodynamics, flapping wing biomechanics, fluid-structure interaction, and computational/experimental aerodynamics, with applications in understanding animal behavior and improving aircraft performance. Before commencing his PhD at UNSW Canberra in July 2024, Babar worked as a Design Engineer at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP), where he focused on aerodynamic design, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and experimental fluid mechanics. His industry experience includes internships at Turkish Aerospace Industries, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), providing him with practical knowledge in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, and structural inspection.
Dr. Jenson Lim is a Lecturer in Cell Biology at the University of Stirling's Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, where he has been employed since 2014. His academic journey includes a PhD in Biochemistry from Imperial College London (1999–2003), a BSc in Biotechnology (First Class Honours) from University College London (1997–1999), and a Diploma in Biotechnology from Singapore Polytechnic (1993–1995). Prior to his current role, he held post-doctoral positions at universities in Birmingham and London and served as a Senior Scientist at nanoTherics Limited. Research Focus Dr. Lim investigates immune systems across diverse organisms—vertebrates (mice/humans), invertebrates (insects), and plants—addressing three core questions: (1) How environmental stressors/nutrients modulate animal immunity; (2) Similarities/differences in phagocyte function between vertebrates and invertebrates; and (3) Plant immune responses to environmental stressors. His interdisciplinary work bridges cell biology, environmental science, and immunology. Recent publications (2019–2023) emphasize radiation/toxicology effects on model insects (e.g., Galleria mellonella ), nanomagnetic applications in gene delivery/cancer therapy, and phagocytosis mechanisms. This reflects a consistent focus on stress-induced immunological adaptations and biomedical nanotechnology. Academic Contributions Dr. Lim contributes to the University of Stirling's research programmes in Environmental Change and Health & Behaviour , with thematic alignment to Global Security & Resilience and Living Well . He is affiliated with the Evolving Organisms research group, emphasizing ecological and physiological adaptations.
Ilona Grunwald-Kadow is Professor of Physiology and Head of the Institute of Physiology II at the University of Bonn ’s Faculty of Medicine, and concurrently serves as Vice Rector for Research and Young Scientists . An elected member of EMBO , she combines neurogenetics, physiology, and behaviour to decipher how neural circuits allow organisms to adapt to ever-changing environments. Education & Career: Professor of Physiology, University of Bonn (2022–present) Vice Rector for Research and Young Scientists, University of Bonn (2022–present) Head, Institute of Physiology II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn (2022–present) Research Interests: Using Drosophila melanogaster and mouse models, her laboratory investigates how sensory inputs, internal states, and genetic programs interact to produce flexible, adaptive behaviour. Core themes include: Neurogenetic bases of state-dependent behaviour Dopaminergic modulation of sensory processing Mechanisms linking metabolic state to decision-making Hormonal modulation of olfaction and taste Neural circuits for motivation, risk-assessment, and memory Scientific Awards: Elected Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) EMBO Young Investigator Award ERC Starting Grant Human Frontiers Science Program Career Development Award Otto Hahn Medal, Max Planck Society Research Environment & Funding: Her lab is embedded in the iBehave Network and NeurotechEU consortiums, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across Europe. Funding sources include the European Research Council, German Research Foundation, and Human Frontiers Science Program. Lab Team & Mentoring: The Grunwald-Kadow group comprises post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, and technical/administrative staff working at the intersection of genetics, physiology, imaging, and behaviour. The lab actively trains the next generation of neuroscientists through hands-on mentoring and cross-disciplinary projects.
Richard Peters is an Associate Professor in Ecological Plant and Animal Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne, where he serves as Group Leader of the Animal Behaviour Group (ABG). His research spans multiple continents including Australia, China, and Ecuador, focusing on diverse animal taxa such as lizards, frogs, birds, insects, and arachnids. Dr. Peters completed his BA(Hons) and PhD at Macquarie University, followed by postdoctoral positions at Macquarie University (2003-2005) and The Australian National University as an ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2005-2009). His research program centers on animal behavior with particular emphasis on the evolution of animal signals in relation to sensory system function and evolutionary processes. The ABG investigates vibratory, acoustic, and movement-based visual signals across diverse ecological contexts. Current projects include studies on fishing spiders' population structure, Guthega skink conservation, and the 'Virtual Lens' project examining motion vision. His work integrates field studies with computational approaches to understand how environmental constraints shape animal communication systems. Dr. Peters' publication record demonstrates consistent productivity in leading journals across animal behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology. His recent work shows a trend toward increasingly interdisciplinary research combining behavioral observations with computational modeling, particularly in the context of visual signal transmission in natural environments. His research has expanded from primarily Australian systems to include international collaborations in China and Ecuador. Dr. Peters has secured significant research funding including an ARC Discovery Project grant ($333K) for the Virtual Lens project and a National Geographic Society Research & Exploration Grant for work on Anolis lizards in Ecuador. His research has practical applications in conservation, particularly for endangered species like the Guthega skink. He leads the Animal Behaviour Group, a dynamic research team that has worked across three continents studying over 50 species. The group maintains field sites in diverse Australian ecosystems including the Galapagos Islands, Ecuadorian rainforests, and Chinese wetlands. Current projects include investigations of spider predation on agricultural pests, fishing spider population dynamics, Guthega skink conservation, and the Virtual Lens project examining motion signal transmission.
Dr. Iain Matthews is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biology, University of St Andrews, UK. His research focuses on Biodiversity, Ecology, Fish Behavior, Genetics , and ecological modeling, with links to UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is affiliated with the Fish Behaviour and Biodiversity Research Group and Centre for Biological Diversity. Research Interests: His work spans evolutionary ecology, aquatic systems, and biodiversity time series analysis. Key areas include pollination dynamics, fish mating systems, and predictive ecological modeling. Recent Article Trends: His publications address biodiversity databases, floral adaptations, and genetic mechanisms in sexually selected traits, often integrating interdisciplinary approaches across Ecology, Evolution, and Data Science . Scientific Awards: Teaching Excellence Award (2023) Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (2009) Advising & Activities: Supervised 2 research works. Active in external examination (University of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands) since 2012 and member of the British Ecological Society Aquatic Ecology Special Interest Group since 2011. Labs & Teams: Collaborates with the Fish Behaviour and Biodiversity Research Group at the University of St Andrews.
