Highlighted PhD Projects
Baptiste Brault – University of Sherbrooke
Effects of human and climatic disturbance on the denning behaviour and reproductive success of the brown bear
Baptiste’s PhD project aims to understand how brown bears adjust their denning behaviour in response to human and climatic disturbances, and whether these adjustments influence their fitness. The project explores three complementary dimensions: (1) how bears select den sites and den types based on individual traits and human influence; (2) how climate, environmental conditions, and individual characteristics shape the phenology of denning; and (3) how spatio-temporal variation in denning behaviour affects key outcomes such as den abandonment risk, post-denning body condition, and cub survival. By shedding light on behavioural plasticity in brown bears, this research provides essential tools for the management and conservation of the species in the face of rapid environmental change. More broadly, it contributes to understanding how long-lived mammals may cope with accelerating ecological disruptions, offering insights relevant to biodiversity conservation on a global scale.
Alexandre Geffroy - University of Strasbourg
Towards the identification of anti-atrophy compounds in bear serum
In humans, sedentary lifestyle and fasting are associated with muscle atrophy and the development of pathologies, such as metabolic syndrome. Conversely, muscle loss is very limited in brown bears during the 5 to 7 months of hibernation. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of as yet unknown compounds (anti-atrophy) in the serum of hibernating brown bears, which are likely involved in muscle preservation. Using a combination of cell and molecular biology and proteomics approaches, this thesis project aims to better understand how bear serum modulates protein balance and to identify circulating anti-atrophy compounds in hibernating bear blood.
Lucy Lemiere - University of Inland Norway
​Reproductive ecophysiology and phenology of moose and brown bear in a changing climate
Lucie is a veterinarian with a Masters in Ecology, Ecophysiology and Ethology from the University of Strasbourg (France). Lucie collaborated with the One Health & Ecophysiology group as part of her veterinary and master’s thesis in 2021 before starting a PhD in applied ecology at INN in January 2022. Her research focuses on the reproductive ecophysiology and phenology of large mammals. As a wildlife veterinarian, she also attends captures of various mammal species in Scandinavia.
Jacopo Morelli - University of Inland Norway
"Wildlife Anesthesia and Welfare Project: assessment and prevention of adverse effects from wildlife capture and anesthesia"
Wildlife capture and chemical immobilization are two aspects of the most challenging form of veterinary anesthesia, and are not devoid of short- and long-term adverse effects for the animals involved. Following his mission to improve wild animal welfare during and after field anesthesia, Jacopo is conducting a self-funded PhD project in Scandinavia while working as an emergency veterinarian in the UK. The aim is to investigate and alleviate the adverse effects associated with capture and anesthesia of free-ranging brown bears, wolves and moose. For bears specifically, he is looking into treating cardiocirculatory, respiratory and thermoregulatory adverse effects associated with the capture event.