Staff
Prof. Dr. Thomas Bugnyar
Vice Head
Head of Research Group "Corvid Lab"
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petra Sumasgutner
Picture: Daniela Matejschek
Privatdozentin Dr. Didone Frigerio
Picture: D. Matejschek
Vice-Head
Senior Scientist
Dr. Andrew Katsis
Dr. Lauren Common
Postdoctoral Researcher
Project: Replicate evolution in avian parasites during island invasion
Mag. Gudrun Gegendorfer
Picture: Daniela Matejschek
Administration
Julia Rittenschober, MSc
Picture: Daniela Matejschek
Administration
Dr. Shane Sumasgutner
Picture: Daniela Matejschek
Technical Assistant
Email: shane.mcpherson[at]gmail.com
PhD Candidates
Picture: Lugerbauer
Matthias Schmidt, MSc
Project title: Eastern Imperial Eagle in Central Europe: Population development and spatial use in relation to direct and indirect threats, with a special focus on the use of wind energy infrastructure in Austria
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner and Erwin Nemeth
Email: matthias.schmidt@birdlife.at
Johannes Ploderer, MSc
Project title: Movement ecology and personality in Darwin's finches and the short-eared owl
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Co-Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner, Lauren Common, Andrew Katsis
Josue David Arteaga-Torres, MSc.
Project title: Acceleration for Food: Movement and Foraging Ecology of Short-Eared Owls on the Galapagos
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
EMail: josue.arteaga.t@gmail.com
Varalika Jain, MSc
Project title: Moving towards coexistence: understanding behavioural responses of eagles to human
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
EMail: varalika.jain@univie.ac.at
Alper Yelimlieş, BA
Project title: Female song, duet, and fitness in the Galápagos yellow warbler
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
EMail: alperyelimlies@gmail.com
Silvia Damini, MSc
Project title: Interspecific interactions in the foraging context in ravens (Corvus corax)
Supervisor: Thomas Bugnyar
Co-Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
EMail: silviadamini94@gmail.com
Jefferson Garcia Loor, BSc
Project title: Personality and home range size in Darwin's finches: effects of predator eradication and translocation
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Awani Bapat, MSc
Project Title: The use of social information and strategies for social interactions by free-flying ravens.
Supervisor: Thomas Bugnyar
Email: awanibapat@gmail.com
Master Candidates
Lucas Landolfi, BSc
Project title: Urban Hunters: Energetic expenditure and Prey Diversity of Crowned Eagles in Human-Dominated Environments
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
Co-Supervisors: Shane McPherson, Varalika Jain
Carina Wallisch, BSc
Project title: Experience behavioral biology - with pupils
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio together with Martin Scheuch (HAUP Vienna)
Sarah Falkensteiner-Kudweis, BSc
Project title: You are what you eat - do pupils know that? Underestimated microbiome - pre-concepts of pupils
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio, together with Claudia Angele
Valentina Unger, BSc
Project title: Bird protection through nature-oriented garden design - an analysis of awareness among the Austrian population
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio
Marcel Vockner, BSc
Project title: Ecological Release of Darwin’s Medium Tree Finch After Predator Removal on Floreana Island
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Co-supervisor: Lauren Common, Andrew Katsis
Viktoria Zanghellini, BSc
Project title: The influence of specific announcement signals during medical target training on the physiological and behavioral stress response of dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) during medical examinations.
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio, together with Marianne Heberlein and Lina Oberliessen (Wolf Science Centre, VetMed Wien)
Lara Howard, BSc
Project title: Movement ecology of urban Crowned Eagles
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
Co-Supervisors: Shane McPherson, Susie Cunningham, Varalika Jain
Sarah Guttenberger, BSc
Project title: Space use of urban and rural Eurasian kestrels in Austria
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
Regine Peschel, BSc
Project title:The influence of group size and social rank on social complexity in Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
Co-Supervisor: Stefan Fischer
Sabrina Cighetti, BSc
Project title: emotional contagion and comfort behaviours in ravens (Corvus corax)
Supervisor: Thomas Bugnyar
Co-Supervisor: Silvia Damini
Maximilian Schwengel, BSc
Project title: Which factors affect the variation in calling in corvus corax? Do calls change in base of social / foraging environment?
Supervisor: Thomas Bugnyar
Co-Supervisor: Silvia Damini
Isabella Graßmann, BSc
Project title: Boldness, sociability and survival of captive-released common ravens
Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner
Co-Supervisor: Silvia Damini
Gregory Nikolopoulos, BSc
Project title: The role of raven communication on foraging
Supervisor: Thomas Bugnyar
Evi Ulm, BSc.
Project title: Breeding ecology of secondary cavity breeders
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio, together with Sonia Kleindorfer, Lauren Common
Amit Kumar, BSc
Project title: The impact of traffic noise on the heart rate in Great tits
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Alina Döhring, BSc
Project title: Mirror trials in Greylag Geese: Personality and object permanence
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Co-Supervisor: Lauren Common, Andrew Katsis
Mariia Klymenko, Dipl.Tzt.
Project title: Components of relationship quality in greylag geese monogamous pair bonds
Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Barbara Steininger, BSc
Project title: Social integration of hand-raised greylag geese (Anser anser)
Supervisor: Didone Frigerio
Co-Supervisor: Sonia Kleindorfer
Volunteers
Felix Kirnbauer
Student Assistant
Anna Geisler, BSc
Katherine Alban Morales, BSc
Monica Sageder, MSc
Social Services
Paul Holzinger
Associated Scientists
Picture: D. Matejschek
Dr. Josef Hemetsberger
Biodiversity Project, University of Vienna
Email: josef.hemetsberger@univie.ac.at
Prof. Dr. Kurt Kotrschal
Wolf Science Center, University of Veterinary Medicine (Vienna)
University of Vienna
Dr. Birgit Fessl
Coordinator of the Galapagos Land Bird Conservation Plan
Email: birgit.fessl@gmail.com
Alumni
SURLEMONT, M. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2025)
OSSOLA, M. | University of Göttingen (Master thesis, 2025)
BONTE, E. | University of Padua (Master thesis, 2024)
ERNSTEN, R. | Wageningen University (Master thesis, 2024)
CASTELLAZZI, F. | Wageningen University (Master thesis, 2024)
GÖTZ, R. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
PLODERER, J. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
PAETOW DE JESUS, I. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
GEHBAUER, M. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
BACHMANN, S. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
REICHEBNER, M. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
LESIGANG, J. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
WEBER, J. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
BOLD, A. | University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (Master thesis, 2024)
SCHORN, J. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
LIND, E.| University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2024)
LAUFFER, J. University of Greifswald (Master thesis, 2023)
LINDEMAN, A. | Wageningen University (Master thesis, 2023)
KREIKENBOHM, R. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2023)
HORLEBEIN, S. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2023)
BERNATOVIC, G. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2023)
RUF, A. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2023)
SCHÖN, M. | University of Huddersfield and University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
VOGEL, T. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
WERDERITSCH, S. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
PÜHRINGER-STURMAYR, V. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2022)
FABBRI, A. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
GALLEGO-ABENZA, M. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2022)
MENTHONNEX, T. | Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté (Master thesis, 2022)
HUGE, A. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
NILLES, T. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
FRIRY, S. | University of Lille (Master thesis, 2022)
FELKER, L. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
KÖRMER, E.-M. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
WEINHÄUPL, V. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
HEGER, B. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2022)
COMIN, V.N. | University of Padova (Master thesis, 2022)
MURARI, G. | University of Turin (Master thesis, 2022)
GUGGENBERGER, M. | University of Tübingen (Master thesis, 2021)
JAIN, V. | University of Cape Town (Master thesis, 2021)
HOCHLEITNER, L. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2021)
ARBEITHUBER, K. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2021)
GATTRINGER, J. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2021)
HUCHLER, K. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2020)
RIBELLI, F. | University of Turin (Master thesis, 2020)
SCHIRZ, K. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2020)
WEMER, L. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2019)
BOEKELMAN, F.E. | University of Groningen (Master thesis, 2019)
JUNGHEIM, S. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2019)
STEINBACHER, C. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2019)
CZERNY, T. | University of Vienna (Master thesis, 2018)
DEPENAU, M. | University of Osnabrück (Master thesis, 2018)
POKRIEFKE, M. | (Bachelor thesis, 2018)
BÖHM, F. | University of Greifswald (Master thesis, 2017)
HERZHAUSER, K. | University of Köln (Bachelor thesis, 2017)
SZIPL, G. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2017)
LORETTO, M.-C. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2016)
REIMANN, S. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2015)
KREJCI, J. | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Master thesis, 2015)
SCHÜSSLER, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2014)
STIVAL, L. | University of Udine (Diploma Thesis, 2014)
WILLER, J. | University of Berlin (Diploma Thesis, 2014)
BAUER, A.C. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2013)
BLOCK, S.A. | University of Tübingen (Diploma Thesis, 2013)
ELSÄSSER, O. | University of Tübingen (Diploma Thesis, 2013)
EDER, C. | University of Graz (Diploma Thesis, 2012)
IONESCU, S.A. | University of Tübingen (Diploma Thesis, 2012)
MIKOLASCH, S. | (Dissertation, 2012)
VIBLANC, V.A. | University of Strasbourg (Dissertation, 2011)
WEDL, M. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2011)
AUER, M. | University of Graz (Diploma Thesis, 2010)
BRUST, V. | University of Osnabrück (Diploma Thesis, 2010)
HOHNSTEIN, A. | University of Berlin (Diploma Thesis, 2010)
KEHMEIER, S. | University of Hamburg (Diploma Thesis, 2010)
KRALJ FISER, S. | University of Ljubljana (Dissertation, 2009)
KUBITZA, R. | University of Osnabrück (Diploma Thesis, 2009)
MÖSLINGER, H. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2009)
SCHÖBERL, G. I. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2009)
WASCHER, C. A. F. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2009)
HINNERICHS, C. | University of Potsdam (Dissertation, 2008)
KAUFMANN, G. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2008)
SCHLÖGL, H. C. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2008)
SCHWAB, C. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2008)
SZIPL, G. | University of Hamburg (Diploma Thesis, 2008)
GATTERMAYR, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2007)
STÖWE, M. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2007)
BRAUN, A. | University of Kiel (Diploma Thesis, 2006)
MASON, F. | University of Udine (Bachelor Thesis, 2006)
PISA, P. E. | University of Trieste (Bachelor Thesis, 2006)
SWOBODA, R. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2006)
WEDL, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2006)
BONECHI, B. | University of Triest (Bachelor Thesis, 2005)
DOPPELSTEIN, K. | University of Rostock & University of Leipzig (Diploma Thesis, 2005)
SCHEIBLER, E. | University of Halle(Dissertation, 2005)
SCHLÖGL, C. | University of Bayreuth (Diploma Thesis, 2005)
WASCHER, C.A.F. | University of Graz (Diploma Thesis, 2005)
DORN, S. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2004)
EISING, C. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 2004)
KIRNBAUER, M. | University of Graz (Diploma Thesis, 2004)
MÜLLER, W. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 2004)
NAAR, L. | University of Graz (Diploma Thesis, 2004)
SCHWAB, C. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2004)
SELVA, N. | University of Sevilla (Dissertation, 2004)
ZOHMANN, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2004)
CARERE, C. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 2003)
DINGEMANSE, N. J. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 2003)
ENGLÄNDER, W. | University of Salzburg (Dissertation, 2003)
KREUTZMANN, B. | University of Halle (Dissertation, 2003)
MESSMER, C. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 2003)
SCHNASE, A. | University of Düsseldorf (Dissertation, 2003)
VAN OERS, K. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 2003)
FRIGERIO, D. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2002)
HAUHART, B. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
HEMETSBERGER, J. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2002)
HOFFMANN, I. E. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2002)
LEITENBERGER, A. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
LUDWIG, B. | University of Marburg (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
MERAN, I. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
SANDERS, B. | University of Würzburg (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
SPIELAUER, E. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2002)
BYRNE, R. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2001)
GEISBAUER, G. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2001)
ORTBAUER, B. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2001)
AUST, U. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2000)
BAYER, S. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
BUGNYAR, T. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2000)
FRITZ, J. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 2000)
NOWOTNY, R. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
PFEFFER, K. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
PRASCHBERGER, M. C. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
STÖWE, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
TINTNER, A. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
VÖLKL, B. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
WEISS, B. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 2000)
HIRSCHENHAUSER, K. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 1998)
MACHATSCHKE, I. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1998)
SZEDLARIK, C. M. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1998)
ZISSER, B. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1998)
JAHN, R. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 1997)
LOONEN, M.J.J.E. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 1997)
SCHINDLER, M. | University of Munich (Dissertation, 1997)
TUCKOVA, K. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1997)
FRITZ, J. | University of Innsbruck (Diploma Thesis, 1996)
GRIEBEL, U. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 1996)
HAMMER, G. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1996)
KABICHER, G. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1996)
LANGENHORST, T. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1996)
BODNER, M. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
BUGNYAR, T. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
HAGINGER, H. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
HIRSCHENHAUSER, K. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
IMHOF, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
JÜTTE, A. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
KNOLLEISEN, M. | University of Vienna (Diploma Thesis, 1995)
PFISTER-GFELLER, U. | University of Bern (Dissertation, 1995)
DRACK, G. | University of Salzburg (Dissertation, 1994)
ESSLER, H. | University of Salzburg (Dissertation, 1994)
FISCHER, B. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1994)
KICKERT, J. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 1994)
LINDNER, R. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1994)
DRACK, G. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1991)
GROOTHUIS, T. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 1989)
GUBLER, H. | (Dissertation, 1989)
GUBLER, H. | University of Zürich (Dissertation, 1989)
SCHMITT, A. | University of Vienna (Dissertation, 1988)
BRANDSTÄTTER, R. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1987)
HUBER, R. | University of Salzburg (Diploma Thesis, 1985)
TEN THOREN, A. | University of Osnabrück (Diploma Thesis, 1985)
SCHINDLER, M. | University of Munich (Diploma Thesis, 1984)
TEN THOREN, B. | University of Osnabrück (Diploma Thesis, 1984)
SONTAG, W. A. | University of Mainz (Dissertation, 1983)
MARTYS, M. | University of Salzburg (Dissertation, 1982)
BACON, P. J. | University of Oxford (Dissertation, 1980)
WALTHER, C. | University of Hohenheim (Diploma Thesis, 1980)
RUMMEL, L. H. | University of Maryland (Diploma Thesis, 1979)
RUMMEL, L.H. | University of Maryland (Diploma Thesis, 1979)
SCOTT, D. K. | University of Cambridge (Dissertation, 1978)
BAKHUS,W. L. | University of Gorningen (Dissertation, 1977)
KIRCHMAYER, B. | University of Munich (Diploma Thesis, 1977)
SCHMIDT, W. | University of Düsseldorf (Dissertation, 1975)
MERGLER, M. A. L. | University of Ohio (Diploma Thesis, 1974)
SCHÄFER, S. | University of Giessen (Diploma Thesis, 1972)
BÖTTGER, H. | University of Munich (Diploma Thesis, 1971)
FEEKES, F. | University of Groningen (Dissertation, 1971)