DR. MARIA SANTACÀ
Dr. Maria Santacà
Post-doc researcher
Email:
Address:
Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology
University of Vienna
Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna
Austria
Date of Birth:
August 15th, 1993
A Bit About Me
It all started with the bachelor's degree in Biology and then continued with the master's in Evolutionary Biology at the Department of Biology, University of Padova (Italy). During the internship for the master's thesis, I discovered the passion for research; thus, I decided to do a PhD in Psychological Sciences in Padova, at the Department of General Psychology, focusing on animal behaviour and cognition.
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Studies investigating non-human animals’ perception of visual illusions have become a useful tool to compare visual perception of human and non-human animals. Such investigations allow us to assess whether animals are like humans, interpreting and altering visual inputs (and if so, whether their rules are the same of humans), or if they are more like machines, detecting visual inputs with little or no variability. Investigation of illusion susceptibility may also shed light on the impact of environmental and evolutionary pressures on visual perception. In particular, my PhD project was focused on comparing the perception of visual illusions within and between species adopting different methodological approaches.
After completion of my PhD, I joined the research group of Prof. Clelia Gasparini: given the interest I have always had in sexual selection, the decision was very easy. We are focusing in particular on sexual selection, using zebrafish as a model species. We studied male and female interactions before mating, and also the sperm-eggs interaction after mating in light of evolutionary processes. I am happy I had the possibility to come back where it all started!
Ps. Different papers in progress...stay tuned!
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In 2023, my research journey took an exciting turn as I was awarded a prestigious grant by the Austrian Science Fund, marking a significant milestone in my endeavors. I joined the group of Prof. Leonida Fusani at the University of Vienna and we are studying if ring-doves see visual illusion in the first place and, then, if visual illusions affect mate choice. I am thrilled to conduct this research as it seamlessly combines the two fields I have been passionate about and involved in so far. I am really grateful for the opportunities that unfolded, I look forward to sharing more of this inspiring journey with you on my website!
Work Experience
August 2021 - October 2022
May 2021 - July 2021
May 2021
June 2019 - September 2019
July 2018 - August 2018
September 2017 - December 2020
July 2017 - September 2017
July 2017
February 2017 - June 2017
September 2016 - February 2017
July 2015
Research fellow. Research grant titled “Gametic compatibility and fertilization success” for the research project entitled “Sperm selection in ARTs: a new approach” at the Department of Biology (University of Padova, Italy) under the supervision of Prof. Gasparini.
Occasional self-employment. Support activities for the STARS @ UNIPD 2019 project entitled: "How do we know what we do not know ? Using zebrafish to study the evolutionary roots of metacognition - MetaZeb" under the supervision of Dr. Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini (Department of Biosciences, University of Padova, Italy).
PhD oral defence
Visiting PhD student at the Primate Research Institute (Kyoto University, Japan).
Visiting PhD student at the School of Life Sciences (University of Lincoln, UK).
PhD student at the Department of General Psychology (University of Padova, Italy).
Post-graduate internship at the School of Life Sciences (University of Lincoln, UK).
Master’s Degree in Evolutionary Biology at University of Padova (score 110/110 cum laude). Thesis title: “Optical illusions as a tool for comparing visual perception in distantly related species. A study on Delboeuf illusion in Lemur catta and Poecilia reticulata.”.
Under-graduate internship at the Department of General Psychology (University of Padova, Italy).
Under-graduate internship at the Research and Conservation Department of Parco Natura Viva, Garda Zoological Park (Italy).
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at University of Padova (score 107/110). Thesis title: “Heart failure: the role of calcium homestasis”.
November 2022 - September 2023
Research fellow. Research grant for the research project entitled “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: Do visual illusions influence physical attractiveness?” at the Department of General Psychology (University of Padova, Italy).
October 2023 - September 2026
Senior post-doc researcher. Research grant for the research project entitled “Do visual illusions influence social decision in animals?” at the Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology (University of Vienna, Austria).
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