I am a neurobiologist with a strong interest in how conserved neuron types and brain structures can provide the basis for behavioral diversity, particularly in aggression and courtship. I strive to provide mechanistic explanations for behavior, integrating the connectivity of brain areas, hormonal effects, gene expression networks and functional pathways.

In my current work as a Lise Meitner Fellow I study how genetics and hormones shape the brain and mating behavior of male ruffs (Calidris pugnax), a species with alternative mating tactics linked to a chromosome inversion. We combine behavioral, neuroanatomical and transcriptomics analyses to gain insight on the evolution of this fascinating species.

Learn more about the FWF project “Neural bases for behavior differences in male ruffs” (#M3302-B)

Most recent publications and preprints

“How inversion variants can shape neural circuitry: Insights from the three-morph mating tactics of ruffs” from the issue Women in Avian Physiology 2022 in Frontiers in Physiology PDF link

“A supergene affects steroid metabolism during early ontogeny in a bird with alternative reproductive morphs” (preprint) PDF link

Past research (selected)

Ruffs (Max Plank Institute for Biological Intelligence, former Max Plank Institute for Ornithology)

• Intralocus conflicts associated with ruff inversion haplotypes PDF link
• Morph differences in the response to a GnRH challenge and pituitary gene expression in ruffs PDF link
• Characterization of testicular expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis in the ruff PDF link
• Allele-specific expression of inversion genes, including the breakpoint gene CENPN, across tissues in the ruff PDF link

Telomeres in the great tit (Parus major)

• Increased glucocorticoid concentrations in early life cause mitochondrial inefficiency and short telomeres PDF link

Imprinting in newly hatched chicks (Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy)

• Neural activity and roles for oxytocin-family peptides in innate predispositions that precede imprinting in chicken PDF link
• Role of the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala in preferences for naturalistic stimuli PDF link
• Review of early life predispositions in humans and precocial birds PDF link

African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni (Stanford University)

• Changes in serotonin turnover in association with social rank in the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni PDF link
• Activation of vasotocin neurons during male aggression, but not courtship, in Astatotilapia burtoni PDF link
• Control of female spawning behavior by prostaglandin F2-alpha in Astatotilapia burtoni PDF link

Ribozyme evolution (Smith College)

• Evolution of the ribozyme and protein of bacterial RNase P, a ribonucleoprotein responsible for tRNA processing

Research Gate

Google Scholar

Profile at the Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna