Prof. Dr. sc. nat. Edna Hillmann
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Faculty of Life Sciences
Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences
Division of Animal Husbandry and Ethology
My research focuses on animal husbandry, animal welfare and the behaviour of farm animals. I investigate basic questions such as the validation of indicators to measure animal welfare, the coding of emotions in behaviour and vocalisation, and the effects of rearing conditions on health and stress management. Research questions relating to practical animal husbandry are also very important to me, where I pursue the goal of optimising husbandry systems with regard to animal welfare. A large part of my group's research will take place on experimental and practical farms, and I would also like to rebuild an animal husbandry facility on the Dahlem campus.
The findings from research should be directly incorporated into teaching, and at the same time students should be involved in research wherever possible. Good scientific practice and independent, critical thinking are particularly important to me in my teaching.
I completed my studies at the Institute of Biology at the FU Berlin and wrote my diploma thesis at the then Institute of Animal Breeding and Animal Behaviour at the FAL in Trenthorst on the influence of rearing conditions on the behaviour and stress management of piglets. I then did my doctorate in Switzerland at ETH Zurich and at the Centre for Animal Welfare at the Federal Veterinary Office on the behaviour and vocalisation of pigs under certain ambient temperatures.
After 17 years in Switzerland, I have now returned to Berlin with my family. I would describe our family as a classic ‘dual career model’, and so I am glad that we can continue to live this model because my husband will be working as a private lecturer at the Thaer Institute on topics relating to comparative behavioural biology in mammals.
Career
since 2017
Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Ethology
2012 - 2017
Head of the Unit for Ethology and Animal Welfare, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich
2004 - 2012
Post doc and research associate Physiology & Behaviour, ETH Zurich
2000 - 2003
Doctorate at ETH Zurich and Centre for Animal Welfare at the Federal Veterinary Office, Switzerland
1992 - 1999
Study of biology at FU Berlin, specialising in behavioural biology and zoology
Publications
www.researchgate.net/profile/Edna_Hillmann