Barbara Zimmermann is a Professor in Applied Ecology at the University of Inland Norway, affiliated with the Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology. She leads the LARGE research group focusing on ecology and management of large animals , particularly large carnivores and their impacts on prey species. Her work examines human-wildlife conflicts , climate change effects on wildlife, and GPS-based animal monitoring . Current research investigates wolf-ungulate interactions, livestock predation patterns, and boreal ecosystem dynamics. Projects include CarniForeGraze , GRENSEVILT , and studies on wildlife response to wind power development. Recent publications focus on quantifying carnivore predation vs. human harvest, cattle grazing impacts in boreal forests, and technological applications in wildlife monitoring. Her work spans Scandinavian wolf ecology , moose population dynamics , and human-carnivore coexistence .
Jean-Christophe Billeter is a Professor of Neurogenetics of Social Behaviour at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering. He leads the Billeter lab within the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), where he conducts research on the genetic and neural mechanisms underlying social behavior in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). His work bridges neurogenetics, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary biology to understand how genetic and environmental factors interact to shape social interactions. Dr. Billeter earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biology from the University of Geneva (1997, 1999) and completed his PhD at the University of Glasgow in 2003. His research journey took him to Brandeis University with Prof. Jeffrey C. Hall, followed by positions at the University of Glasgow with Dr. Stephen F. Goodwin, and the University of Toronto with Dr. Joel D. Levine before establishing his lab at the University of Groningen in 2011. His research focuses on three fundamental questions: (1) What mechanisms regulate the response of an individual to its social context? (2) What explains individual differences in sociability? (3) Are those mechanisms evolutionary conserved? By utilizing the genetic tractability of Drosophila , Dr. Billeter's lab has made significant contributions to understanding pheromone communication, social recognition, reproductive behavior, and the neural circuits underlying social interactions. His work demonstrates that even simple organisms like fruit flies exhibit complex social behaviors that can provide insights into broader biological principles. Dr. Billeter's publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of neurogenetics and social behavior, with particular attention to how environmental factors modulate genetic programs that control social interactions. His recent work spans from molecular mechanisms of pheromone detection to evolutionary questions about the conservation of social behavior mechanisms across species. The consistent thread through his research is the use of Drosophila as a model system to uncover fundamental principles of social behavior that may be applicable to more complex organisms. Netherlands Evolutionary Biology Prize (2021) Art of Neurosciences Award (2015) Nominee of the 2014-2015 Faculty Teaching Award Dr. Billeter is actively involved in mentoring students and has supervised multiple PhD candidates including Doubovetzky, N., Wang, X., and Sarma, A. His lab continues to investigate the neurogenetic basis of social behavior, with current projects examining how social context influences stress responses, the relationship between sociability, sleep, and memory, and the evolutionary impact of habitat-dependent reproductive decisions.
Samuel Lymbery serves as a Research Fellow in Biosecurity at Murdoch University's Centre for Biosecurity and One Health within the Harry Butler Institute. His work bridges entomology, behavioral ecology, and global biosecurity frameworks with emphasis on invasive species management. His core research domains include social insect dynamics, biosecurity science for invasive species ecology, animal behaviour mechanisms, and evolutionary biology principles. Current projects focus on hitchhiker pest risks in international shipping containers through structural design modifications and behavioral ecology studies, alongside side-projects in freshwater ecosystem conservation, human-impacted population genetics, carnivorous plant symbiosis, and chemical control of invasive insects. His notable recognitions feature: Forrest Prospect Fellowship (2021) Hackett Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship (2015) Royal Society of Western Australia Medal (2013) Multiple UWA scholarships including Roy Hart Memorial and Janice Klumpp Award Funded through prestigious fellowships like the Forrest Prospect award, he leads international collaborations with CSIRO, University of Western Australia, and global shipping industry stakeholders. His laboratory work centers on ant warfare dynamics and containerized pest behavior within the Centre for Biosecurity and One Health's multidisciplinary framework.
Einat Couzin-Fuchs is an Affiliated Scientist and IMPRS Lecturer in the Department of Collective Behavior at the University of Konstanz, Germany, affiliated with the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour and Konstanz Neurobiology. Her research focuses on neural mechanisms of social plasticity in locusts, examining rapid transitions between solitary and gregarious states through sensory integration and decision-making processes. She employs neurophysiology, virtual reality, and quantitative behavior analysis to study odor representation in changing social environments and the emergence of collective behavior. Recent work reveals how crowding alters antennal lobe processing and how personal/social experiences integrate to drive foraging decisions. The Couzin-Fuchs Lab develops advanced calcium imaging and computer vision protocols for automated pose tracking, uncovering sensorimotor transformations underlying swarming behavior and group decision dynamics in locusts.
Emma Despland is a Professor of Biology at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, specializing in insect-plant interactions and collective behaviour of herbivorous insects. Her research integrates chemical ecology, behaviour, and population dynamics to address critical questions in pest management and biodiversity conservation across diverse ecosystems from Canadian boreal forests to neotropical regions and urban landscapes. Her academic credentials include: B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from McGill University M.Sc. in Biologie from Laval University D.Phil. in Zoology from the University of Oxford Dr. Despland's research examines individual-level behaviours in insect herbivores, focusing on social relationships among conspecifics and trophic interactions with plants and natural enemies. She investigates outbreak mechanisms in pest species like Forest Tent Caterpillar, Spruce Budworm, and desert locust, while also studying urban biodiversity conservation in Montreal and neotropical ecosystems. Her work combines field observations with laboratory experiments to understand how individual behaviours scale to population-level processes under environmental change. Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent emphasis on collective behaviour in caterpillars, plant defence mechanisms, and climate change impacts. Key trends include cooperative foraging strategies against plant defences, phenological mismatches in insect-plant interactions, and the ecological consequences of insect outbreaks across forest and desert ecosystems. No scientific awards or fellowships are documented in the provided information. She actively mentors graduate students through diverse projects including caterpillar collective behaviour, biocontrol of outbreaks, host plant synchrony with spruce budworm, and trophic relationships of invasive insects. Her research program addresses urgent ecological challenges in forest management and urban conservation, though specific grant details remain unlisted in the source material. Dr. Despland leads a research laboratory focused on insect behavioural ecology, with documented current and former members contributing to projects spanning chemical ecology, population dynamics, and conservation biology. Her team employs interdisciplinary approaches to study insect-plant interactions across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Andrew Smith serves as Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, conducting globally recognized research in behavioural ecology and primate sensory systems. His fieldwork spans Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Greece, and the Philippines with species ranging from primates to sea turtles. His academic credentials include: University Teaching Fellowship (Anglia Ruskin University) PG Cert Learning and Teaching (HE) (Anglia Ruskin University) PhD in Primate Ecology (University of Reading) BSc (Hons) Psychology & Zoology (University of Reading) Smith's research integrates colour vision polymorphism in New World monkeys, resource partitioning in coral reef fish, and welfare assessment of captive species. He examines how perceptual capabilities influence ecological interactions across taxa, with particular focus on trichromacy evolution and exudativory in primates. His Conservation Working Party involvement with the Primate Society of Great Britain informs habitat management strategies for endangered species. His publication trends reveal consistent interdisciplinary contributions spanning chemical ecology (scent communication), visual perception (fruit detection), and conservation biology (forest regeneration). The 2022-2003 corpus demonstrates methodological diversity from portable mass spectrometry field analysis to long-term behavioural observation across 14 studies. Key recognitions include: University Teaching Fellowship from Anglia Ruskin University Senior Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy As active supervisor of graduate research on mara behavioural ecology and baboon time budgets, Smith contributes to academic training while serving as journal reviewer for 10+ publications including American Journal of Primatology and Journal of Zoology. His peer-review activities reflect significant standing in primatology and ecological research communities. Within Anglia Ruskin's Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Smith collaborates on projects investigating animal-environment interactions through field observation and experimental approaches, with particular emphasis on tropical vertebrate communities and anthropogenic impacts.
Professor Geoff Faulkner is a Professor in Neuroscience at the Queensland Brain Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland. His research focuses on understanding retrotransposons and genetic mosaicism in mammalian embryogenesis and neurons, with implications for neurological diseases including Rett syndrome, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland Bachelor of Science (Honours), The University of Queensland Research Interests: Professor Faulkner's work bridges neuroscience and genomics, investigating how mobile genetic elements contribute to neuronal diversity and disease. His laboratory employs cutting-edge genomic technologies to study somatic retrotransposition and its roles in brain development, neurodegeneration, and cancer pathogenesis. Publication Trends: His recent articles demonstrate a strong focus on transposable element biology, neurodevelopmental genetics, and epigenetic regulation. The research spans molecular mechanisms of retrotransposition, neurodevelopmental applications, and connections to viral immunity and cancer biology, utilizing model systems from fruitflies to primates. Grants & Supervision: Currently leads ARC Discovery and NHMRC Investigator grants on mobile DNA in neuronal development and neurodegeneration. Available for student supervision with projects in neuroscience and genomics.
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.
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. John Gould is a Lecturer in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research focuses on conservation biology, particularly the population dynamics of threatened Australian amphibians and the application of management strategies to reduce extinction risk. Dr. Gould earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science from the University of Newcastle, along with a Bachelor of Science (Biological Science) and a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (Honours), also from the University of Newcastle. Dr. Gould's research explores the intersection of animal behavior, natural history, and conservation. His work has led to several discoveries of unknown or poorly described behaviors and species interactions in the wild across amphibians and invertebrates. His research specifically examines key threatening processes such as emerging infectious diseases and introduced fish, as well as management approaches like habitat construction and exclusion fencing. His PhD focused on the reproductive behavior of an Australian ground frog (Lechriodus), including communal spawning and oviposition site selection, which has implications for conserving amphibians that breed in highly ephemeral waterbodies. Dr. Gould's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on amphibian conservation, with particular attention to behavioral ecology, habitat management, and species interactions. His work spans from detailed observations of specific behaviors (like tadpole habitat switching and mosquito feeding strategies) to broader conservation applications (such as fire ecology impacts and exclusion fencing effectiveness). A notable trend is his use of citizen science and innovative identification methods for monitoring threatened species. Dr. Gould serves as a co-supervisor for graduate students, including a Master's student working on an art-based citizen science project about frogs and a PhD student researching the ecology of the threatened Green and Golden Bell Frog in created habitats. He has held teaching appointments as Course Coordinator for several environmental science courses including "Implementing Environmental Resilience and Addressing Complexity," "Biodiversity, Conservation and Management," and "Sustainability and Ecosystem Health." His research collaborations span multiple countries, with significant work conducted in Australia, but also including international partnerships with researchers in Germany, the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and other nations.
Professor Paul Burke is a Professor of Marketing and Deputy Director of the Centre for Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) at the UTS Business School. He holds expertise in choice modelling, experimental design, and consumer behaviour, with interdisciplinary applications across branding, education, health, and disability policy. His research has been published in top-tier journals including Journal of Marketing Research and Research Policy , and he has secured over $4.3M in research grants. Education: Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours in Marketing), University of Sydney His research interests span decision-making in diverse contexts, from vaccination uptake to teacher retention. He has advised organizations such as Westpac, Toyota, and government bodies including the NSW Department of Education. Professor Burke is a co-author of Business Analytics & Statistics , and has received national teaching awards for his contributions to large-class pedagogy. Recent work includes studies on mobile pedagogies, Australia-China relations polling, and well-being measurement frameworks. He leads transdisciplinary projects funded by ARC and industry partners, emphasizing practical applications of statistical methods. Grants & Awards: ARC DECRA, ARC Discovery, and multiple Linkage grants; Carrick & ALTC Citations for Teaching Excellence He supervises PhD students in marketing analytics and teaches courses on choice modeling, marketing research, and business statistics. His Centre (BIDA) collaborates with industry on data-driven decision-making solutions.
Chris Bauch is a full professor and university research chair in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on mathematical and computational modeling of natural and human systems interactions, including ecosystem dynamics, infectious diseases, and sustainability science. He holds affiliations with the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI). His work has been featured in high-impact journals like Science and PNAS, and he collaborates with global organizations such as the WHO and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Education: PhD, University of Warwick. Research interests include: Mathematical Biology Ecology and Epidemiology Sustainability Science Behavioral Dynamics Complex Systems Recent articles highlight his work on pandemic modeling, climate tipping points, and coupled socio-environmental systems. His research emphasizes predicting critical transitions and designing interventions to improve health and environmental outcomes. Key awards include the CIHR New Investigator Salary Award and MRI Early Researcher Award. He has advised numerous students, including Demetri Pananos and Notice Ringa, who have pursued impactful careers in academia and industry. His lab develops tools like the Dumbledore server for real-time social media sentiment analysis on health and environmental topics. The Bauch Lab focuses on bridging mathematical theory with practical applications, addressing challenges like vaccine hesitancy and climate change mitigation through innovative modeling frameworks.
Prof. Dr. Eckehard Liske is an Adjunct Professor at the Zoological Institute of Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany. He holds a PhD and Habilitation (Venia legendi) in Zoology, and has extensive experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. His research focuses on phytotherapy for gynaecological and psychological disorders, as well as the behavioural physiology of insects. He has authored over 50 papers in these fields. Prof. Liske completed his studies in Biology-Zoology at TU Darmstadt, followed by postdoctoral research at institutions in the USA and Germany, including the Max-Planck-Institut. He spent over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, leading international medical departments and specialising in herbal treatments. He is an invited speaker at global drug symposia and has participated in media discussions on menopause treatment. At TU Braunschweig, he teaches animal and human physiology in the biology bachelor's programme. His career includes roles such as Head of International Medical Department and lecturer on rational phytotherapy. No specific grants or awards are highlighted, though his academic qualifications include Privatdozent status.
Armando F J Perez Cueto Eulert serves as Professor in Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science at Umeå University, Sweden, and holds the Arctic Six Chair appointment (2024-2026) at the university's Arctic Centre. His interdisciplinary career bridges Food Science, Nutrition, and Consumer Behaviour across multiple European institutions. His educational trajectory includes foundational training as a food technologist, advanced specialization in Public Health Nutrition, and postdoctoral research in Consumer Behaviour at Ghent University and University of Copenhagen. This unique combination informs his current research on population dietary transitions. Professor Perez-Cueto's research centers on behavioral interventions for plant-based consumption, applying nudging principles from behavioral economics to real-world food environments. His work examines how citizen and population transitions toward plant-based diets can be facilitated through contextual modifications in professional meal settings. Recent projects investigate virtual reality applications for dietary change, fermented food acceptance, and cross-cultural consumer responses to alternative proteins. His publication record reveals strong trends in sustainable food systems research, with increasing focus on digital influences (social media, e-commerce), household-level dietary dynamics, and innovative methodologies like VR experiments. The work consistently bridges academic theory with practical applications for public health nutrition. Arctic Six Chair (2024-2026) at Umeå University's Arctic Centre ORCID: 0000-0003-1270-2678 Featured in Elsevier's Updated science-wide author databases (2021) He leads major EU-funded consumer studies including HealthFerm (GA 101060247), Locality (GA 101112884), and FlavourFerm (GA 101181661), building on previous coordination of Eligebien (2013) and uCare (2014) networks. His teaching portfolio spans sustainable food futures, public health nutrition, and food culture courses where he integrates behavioral economics principles. As Work Package Leader in multiple Horizon Europe projects, he directs consumer behavior research teams developing evidence-based strategies for plant-based dietary transitions in professional settings, with particular focus on Arctic food systems and fermented food innovations.
Alexander Wilson is Lecturer in Behavioural Ecology and Programme Leader for BSc Zoology at the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences. His research examines animal behavior in ecological contexts, with focus on social networks, predator-prey interactions, and conservation applications. Key research areas include: Collective behavior in marine and terrestrial species Individual behavioral variation (animal personality) Fisheries conservation and management Sensory ecology and decision-making Impact of anthropogenic stressors on behavior Teaching includes modules on Ecology and Diversity of Life, Zoology Field Course (Kenya), and Comparative Zoology. Research methodologies encompass field experiments, sensor tagging, video analysis, and stable isotope techniques applied across diverse taxa from crustaceans to sharks.
