Apr. 2010-2015: Ph.D. student at Department of Biology, University of Oldenburg, Germany, AG Animal Navigation/"Neurosensorik" (Group leader: Prof. Dr. H. Mouritsen).
Project: "Star Compass Learning in Night-Migratory Songbirds"

Oct. 2009: Graduation: Diplom-Biologin (M.Sc.) at the Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg. Thesis: "Quantitative Analysis of the Predation Frequency on Grouse (Tetraonidae) Leks". Prof. Dr. Ilse Storch (Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Management), Prof. Dr. Josef K. Müller (Institute of Biology I).

2004-2009: Studies in Biology at the Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg (Germany). Specialization in Evolution and Ecology of Animals, Developmental Biology, Neurobiology and Animal Physiology, Wildlife Ecology and Management.

1997-2004: Secondary School Education at Barnim-Oberschule (Gymnasium) Berlin-Lichtenberg (Germany). Graduation: Abitur (university entrance qualification).

Conference Contributions:

Oct. 2009: 5^th International Black Grouse Conference, Bialowieza (Poland). Presentation: "Does Predation Affect Lekking Behaviour in Grouse? A Summary of Field Observations".

2015: Alert, B., Michalik, A., Thiele, N., Bottesch, M. & Mouritsen, H. (2015) "Re-calibration of the magnetic compass in hand-raised European robins (Erithacus rubecula)." Scientific Reports, 5:14323, doi:10.1038/srep14323

2015:  Alert, B., Michalik, A., Helduser, S., Mouritsen, H., Güntürkün, O. (2015) Perceptual strategies of pigeons to detect a rotational centre – A hint for star compass learning? PLOS ONE 10(3): e0119919. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119919.

2013: Michalik, A., Alert, B., Engels, S., Lefeldt, N. & Mouritsen, H. (2013) "Star compass learning: how long does it take?" J. Ornithol, in press, doi: 10.1007/s10336-013-1004-x