The focus of my research over the past 10 years represents a combination of reproductive neuroendocrinology, rodent behaviour and neuroepigenomics. My studies have been investigating epigenetic and neuroendocrinological mechanisms through which environmental experiences are encoded and maintained with a particular focus on behavioral and neural plasticity. These studies integrate molecular, behavioural, histological, and computational analyses.
From 2018 I have been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bern with Prof. Hanno Würbel, where I examine the underlying causes of poor reproducibility. Our goal is to provide effective solutions for improving reproducibility in preclinical animal research. I am using a multi-laboratory study design to investigate whether and how environmental factors commonly seen in laboratory facilities (different housing and husbandry conditions) shape animals’ phenotype at all levels of organization, from molecular to behavioral. This research might explain inconsistencies of results between studies, improve scientific validity and increase reproducibility in both basic and applied animal research.
I am also strong supporter of inclusion of biological variables (such as sex, age and reproductive histories) which have been largely ignored in animal study designs, leading to an incomplete understanding of differences in basic biological functions, disease processes and treatment responses.
