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Dr. Valeria Marasco

Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology
Ornithology
Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
Savoyenstr. 1a
A-1160 Vienna


T +43 (1) 25077 7433
F +43 (1) 25077 94 7433
E-Mail to Valeria Marasco

Research Interests

My main research interest lies in behavioural ecology and evolutionary physiology. I am particularly interested in understanding endocrine and neuroendocrine pathways through which individuals respond to variable and changing environmental conditions in the context of life history strategies.

My research aims at integrating our knowledge of mechanisms acting on different biological scales, from cellular to the whole-organism level, by using omics approaches as well as molecular and physiological techniques. I am interested in understanding how these mechanisms have been evolved to mediate phenotypic responses and organismal outcomes in the context of reproduction and survival.

Please visit my blog if you would like to know more about my research.  

Curriculum Vitae

2009-2013

PhD in Ecology and Environmental Biology, University of Glasgow (UK)

2006-2009MSc Nature Conservation, University of Florence (Italy)
2003-2006

BSc Natural Sciences, University of Bologna (Italy)

Academic employment

03/2020- present   FWF Lise Meitner Post-Doctoral Fellow, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Host lab: Prof Leonida Fusani
04/2019-02/2020  Maternity leave
2017-presentMarie Curie Post-Doctoral Fellow, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Supervisor: Prof Leonida Fusani
2013-2016Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, University of Glasgow (UK), ERC grant “ECOTELO”, PI: Prof. Pat Monaghan.
2013-2009PhD in Ecology and Environmental Biology, University of Glasgow (UK). Supervisors: Dr. Karen A. Spencer, Dr. Jane Robinson, and Dr. Pawel Herzyk

Projects

2017-2019Understanding adaptations and modulatory drivers of nutritional stress during migration using the European quail as study species.  Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF), MIGRADAPT
2013-2016Impact of protracted stressful conditions on longevity, reproduction, stress physiology, and telomere dynamics and potential inter-generation effects using the zebra finch as study species. ERC grant ECOTELO, PI: Prof. Pat Monaghan
2009-2013Long-term impact of pre- and/or post-natal exposure to glucocorticoids on stress physiology and neuroendocrine gene expression pathways, using the Japanese quail as study species. Kelvin-Smith PhD Scholarship (University of Glasgow, UK)

Grants

2020-2022FWF Lise Meitner Fellowship (Principal Investigator). How does environmental stress affect migration strategies? Host lab: Prof Leonida Fusani.
2018

Conference Travel Grant, Company of Biologists (COB)

2018

Vetmeduni Travel Grant for Young Scientists

2017-2019MSCA-IF-2015-EF Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (IF-EF): MIGRADAPT: an avian model for understanding adaptations and modulatory drivers of avian migration. Supervisor: Prof. Leonida Fusani
2014-2015Silver Sponsorship (PrimerDesign). Genetic regulation of telomere length in the zebra finch
2014Conference Travel Grant, Society of Experimental Biology (SEB) and Company of Biologists (COB)
2009-2013Kelvin-Smith PhD Scholarship (University of Glasgow, UK)
2012Conference Travel Grant, Society of Experimental Biology (SEB) and Company of Biologists (COB)
2012Project Grant funded by the British Society for Neuroendocrinology (BSN) in collaboration with Dr. J. Robinson. Impact of acute stress on triglycerides in the Japanese quail
2008Conference Travel Grant, Italian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (SIE)

Academic Awards

2020„VetTalents“-Programms der Vetmeduni Vienna (2020-2021)
2016“Italy Made Me Award 2016” in the Life Sciences (UK)
2012Young Investigator Award, International Symposium on Avian Endocrinology 2012 (ISAE 2012), 5-9th June, Gifu, Japan

 Publications

Publications