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Orcid ID: 0000-0002-7994-7090
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Download a PDF of my CV HERE
(updated December 2021)
Mario Benjamin Pesendorfer
mario.pesendorfer@yahoo.com

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Institute of Forest Ecology
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Peter-Jordan-Straße 82
1190 Vienna, Austria

Research Associate
Migratory Bird Center
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
National Zoological Park
PO Box 37012 MRC 5503
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Adjunct Professor
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Purdue University
715 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
EDUCATION
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (2023)
Habilitation in Forest Ecology
Colloquium (October 26th, 2023)

University of Nebraska – Lincoln, USA (2014)
Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Scatter-Hoarding of Acorns by Island Scrub-Jays
Advisers: Alan C. Kamil & Alan B. Bond

University of Vienna, Austria (2007)
Mag. rer. nat. in Zoology (BSc. + MSc.)
Individual and “Observational” Learning of Object Affordances in Kea (Nestor notabilis)
Adviser: Ludwig Huber

EXPERTISE
  • terrestrial ecology, zoology, & behavioral ecology
  • study design, captive and field experiments, data collection, analysis & scientific writing
  • animal trapping & marking (birds & mammals)
  • vegetation sampling
  • statistical, mathematical, & simulation modeling
  • spatial analysis & map construction 
  • literature review & synthesis
  • teaching, formal & non-formal writing
  • public presentations
  • scientific consulting

see Publications for articles & conference presentations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • October 2019 to current
    Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
    Postdoctoral Associate
    Mentor: Georg Gratzer

  • Sep 2018 - December 2019
    Cornell Lab of Ornithology
    Postdoctoral Associate
    Biotic and abiotic drivers of population dynamics and seed dispersal by scrub-jays
    Mentors: John W. Fitzpatrick & Mike Webster

  • Feb 2014 - Aug 2018
    Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Hastings Natural History Reservation
    Postdoctoral Associate
    Drivers and consequences of masting in California oaks
    Mentor: Walter D. Koenig

  • Jun 2012 – Dec 2013 
    Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C.
    Predoctoral Fellow
    Construction of a simulation model of scatter-hoarding corvids.
    Mentors: T. Scott Sillett, T. Brandt Ryder, SI Migratory Bird Center

  • Aug 2009 – present
    Channel Islands National Park, CA
    Field Research, Data Analysis and Publication
    Oak masting, dispersal and restoration.

  • Aug 2008 – Dec 2013
    University of Nebraska – Lincoln
    Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant
    Avian Cognition Lab: bird capture, husbandry, behavioral experiments
    Introductory & Organismic Biology Lab (Bio 101 & 103)
    Field Animal Behavior (Bio 452)
    Field Ornithology (Bio 496)

  • Aug 2007 - Mar 2008 
    Department of Cognition Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
    Field Research, Data Analysis and Publication 
    Mechanisms of cultural transmission of behavior in free-living common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in north-eastern Brazil.
    Supervisor: Friederike Range 

  • Jun 2004 - Feb 2008
    Department of Cognition Biology, University of Vienna, Austria 
    Research Assistant and Animal Caretaking
    Assistant in a research project on social and technical intelligence of Keas (Nestor notabilis)
    Supervisors: Ludwig Huber and Gyula Gajdon
     
  • Aug 2005 - Jul 2007
    Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Vienna, Austria
    Beaver Management Assistant
    Wildlife management for the State of Lower Austria. Assessment and mapping the beaver damage for the Austrian waterway authorities. Trapping and relocation of problem animals, removal of dams. 
    Supervisor: Wolfgang Vogl

  • Feb 2005 - Jul 2007
    Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Vienna, Austria
    Bird Population Monitoring
    Monitoring of nest boxes, identification, trapping, handling, banding, blood sampling of passerines and woodpeckers.
    Supervisor: Hans Winkler

 
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
  • 2013 Smithsonian Visiting Student Fellowship ($15,000), Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C
  • 2012 CIC / Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellowship ($30,000), Council for Institutional Cooperation / Smithsonian Institution,
  • 2011 Smithsonian Graduate Student Fellowship ($6,500.-), Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
  • 2011 ABS Research Award ($500.-), Animal Behavior Society, Bloomington, IN
  • 2011 Travel Award ($ 500.-), School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • 2010 AOU Research Award ($700.-), American Ornithologists' Union
  • 2010 Travel Award ($ 500.-), School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • 2009 Travel Award ($ 500.-), School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • 2009 Special Funds Award ($ 1500.-), School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • 2007 Graduation with Distinction & Diploma Thesis of the Year Award, Department for Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna

COLLABORATORS
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
SERVICE ​
TEACHING & GUEST LECTURES
  • Introduction to Animal Behavior, Cornell University, Summer 2019 (instructor on record)
  • Introductory Biology Laboratory; University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 3 Semesters
  • Organismic Biology Laboratory; University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 3 Semesters
  • Field Animal Behavior with Alan Kamil; University of Nebraska - Lincoln (Summer 2011)
  • Field Ornithology with John Faaborg; University of Nebraska - Lincoln (Summer 2012)
  • R Introductory Course; self-developed course; UC Hastings Natural History Reservation (Spring 2014-2016)
  • Various Guest Lectures (over 500 people reached) see OUTREACH