CV page
Senior Lecturer and Group Leader of the Animal Environment and Building Function Group at the Department of Biosystems and Technology in Alnarp.
Presentation
Throughout my research career, I have been fortunate to engage in diverse collaborative projects across Europe and Australia that encompassed several key themes. These projects required multidisciplinary teams, bringing together expertise from Veterinary and Animal Sciences—such as heat stress, lameness, and welfare—with fields in Computer Science like modeling, scaling, validation, and pattern recognition. I strive to connect these varied research domains and have had the opportunity to lead such projects. My work focuses on movement monitoring to track general health and assess the welfare of production and companion animals.
Teaching
At the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, I taught Animal Biomechanics to both undergraduate and graduate students.
From 2018 to 2023, I served as a tenured academic at the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Queensland. I dedicated significant time to course and program development, enhancing the educational offerings and curriculum. As the program coordinator and lecturer for the Bachelor of Equine Science, I taught various classes in Equine Behaviour, Equine Exercise Physiology, and Rehabilitation.
Research
My research focuses on enhancing animal welfare and health by deepening our understanding of biomechanics and musculoskeletal function. I have led multidisciplinary projects investigating muscle mechanics in equines, particularly spinal muscles. Using surface electromyography and kinematic measurements, I characterized how these muscles support movement and how their function changes with age.
I conducted comparative studies on quadrupedal mammals to explore species-specific locomotion. I also participated in applied research projects, including creating an information hub for off-the-track racehorses to promote their versatility and improve welfare. Earlier projects involved biomechanical lameness evaluations, where I collaborated with veterinarians and horse owners to advance diagnostic methods.
Overall, my research areas include equine muscle mechanics, comparative biomechanics of quadrupeds, motion modelling, and applied welfare projects aimed at translating scientific insights into practical benefits for production and companion animals and the community.
Cooperation
Collaboration has been central to my research, enabling me to work with industry and academic partners across various disciplines and countries. I have actively connected animal science with fields like computer science, data science, and technology through these partnerships.
In the industry sector, I have worked closely with horse breeders, farriers, and trainers in Austria and Australia. Notably, I have collaborated with governmental bodies and breeding associations. I have also engaged with welfare regulatory bodies like the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to advance animal welfare initiatives.
Academically, I have partnered with veterinarians at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna) and animal scientists at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna. My collaborations extend to wildlife and animal scientists at the University of Queensland, as well as computer scientists at the University of Bonn and TU Darmstadt. These interdisciplinary cooperations have enriched my research, allowing us to integrate technological advancements with animal science for broader impact.
Background
- Docent in Animal Physiology (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria)
- PhD in Equine Biomechanics (University of Veterinary Medicine (Vetmeduni) Vienna, Vienna, Austria)
- Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Major in Animal Breeding (University of Kaposvar, Kaposvar, Hungary)
Supervision
Main supervisor for PhD candidate
- Hyungsung Kang, University of Queensland (Australia), graduated (PhD) 2023 (The use of percutaneous thermal sensing microchip for non-invasive measurement of body temperature in horses)
Co-supervisor for PhD candidate
- Jayne McGhie, UQ, started 2021 University of Queensland (Australia) (Investigation into the incidence of heat stress in protection and detection working dogs)
