Highlighted PhD Projects
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.
Rick Heeres - University of South-Eastern Norway
“Affairs in the forest”: The seasonal sociality within brown bears
Based on prior research, brown bears (Ursus arctos) are classified as an ‘nonsocial’ species. By quantifying the sociality of brown bears during a year, we want to investigate the variation/gradient of sociality within the population (based on e.g., sex, age, body condition, season). The objective of the PhD project is to contribute towards a fundamental understanding of how sociality affects fitness (reproduction, survival) and space use of solitary-living animals, and also how anthropogenic effects, especially hunting, affect the evolutionary trajectory of such species.
Lucy Lemiere - Inland Norway Univeristy of Applied Sciences
​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.
Alexandra Thiel - Inland Norway Univeristy of Applied Sciences
​Effects of capture and environmental conditions on Scandinavian brown bears
The Scandinavian bear project has been capturing bears in order to follow individuals and their offspring for over 40 years. Alex is evaluating if these capture efforts have any short-or long term effects on the bears’ behaviour, physiology and fitness. She is using both movement as well as physiology and life history data and her results will help to improve capture methods as well as animal welfare during the captures.