- A418, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584484
- N.vonEngelhardt@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Nikolaus von Engelhardt
Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Physiology
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
Professional experience
1/09/2019 - current: Animal Behaviour & Welfare Programme Lead, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth University, UK
5/10/2015 - current: Associate Professor, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth University, UK
1/2/2009 - 30/09/2015: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Germany
1/2/2007 - 31/1/2009: Marie Curie Research Fellow, Behavioural Ecology, Cambridge University, UK
15/9/2006 - 15/12/2006: Visiting Fellow, School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
15/6/2006 - 15/9/2006: Lecturer, Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
31/5/2004 - 31/1/2009: Associated researcher, Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Education
2000-2004: PhD student, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
1995-1999: Diplom (MSc) in Biology, University of Bayreuth, Germany
1996-1997: Special Exchange Student (Santander Program), Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
1993-1995: Vordiplom (BSc) in Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany
1992: Study of Medicine, University of Göttingen, Germany
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
My main teaching interests are animal behavior and behavioural physiology (in particular endocrinology), as well as some molecular genetics.
I look at behavioural and physiological mechanisms from an evolutionary and developmental perspective. I favour experimental approaches and have ample experience with setting up behavioural experiments and hormonal and genetic techniques. Ideally this is linked to the study of animals in the wild.
At Plymouth University I currently teach on a range of modules in this area both for bachelor and master degrees.
Members of Plymouth University can find the courses I teach on here: https://dle.plymouth.ac.uk/user/profile.php?id=84537
Research
Research
Research interests
I am especially interested in the mechanisms and the function underlying social interactions and the development of individual differences within populations.
Find more information about our research group here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/animal-behaviour-research-group
We run a weekly research discussion seminar on topics in behaviour and evolution every Friday at 4pm in PSQ A429. If you are interested in contributing and participating, please contact me.
My research focuses on the shaping of individual development by early environmental effects, in particular social and transgenerational influences. One major goal is to understand more about the behavioural, physiological and genetic mechanisms of transgenerational effects. I also study how social influences later in life shape adult behavior. Finally, I work on the links between ecology, behaviour and physiology. So far I have mostly been involved in fundamental research, but my questions and methods are clearly relevant also for applied aspects in wildlife conservation and animal welfare, particularly in relation to climate change, endocrine disruption and other anthropogenic influences. I am also experienced with the development of molecular methods to assess genetic diversity, paternity and sex as well as endocrine methods that can be used for non-invasive studies and field research (using hair, feathers, saliva or feces) and are useful to assess stress and reproductive performance in field research and captivity.
Find my publications here:
If you are interested in participating in my current research, please contact me, there may be various possibilities for projects using behavioural, endocrinological and genetic techniques depending upon interest and experience.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals