Dr. Mélissa Peignier
Département fédéral de l'économie,
de la formation et de la recherche,
Agroscope
Haras National Suisse
About me
My name is Mélissa Peignier, I am a researcher specialized in animal behaviour and evolutionary ecology.
My scientific journey has been driven by a central question: why do individuals consistently differ in their behaviour, and what are the consequences of this variation?
After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Lorraine, in France, I pursued a Master’s in Behavioural Ecology at the University of Burgundy (France). During this time, I explored a range of research topics, including personality traits in pikeperch, space use strategies in caribous and the honesty of begging signals in ant larvae.
These early experiences deepened my interest in individual behavioural variation and confirmed my desire to focus my career on this field.
I went on to complete a PhD jointly between the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria and the University of Bern in Switzerland, focusing on the evolution and maintenance of personality traits in the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis.
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Equine Research Group at Agroscope (Switzerland), where I study personality and sensitivity processing sensitivity in horses.
Through my research, I aim to better understand the mechanisms underlying behavioural diversity within species, and how this variation shapes reproduction, survival, and adaptation in changing environments.
Current projects
My current projects focus on sensory processing sensitivity in horses. This personality trait, more commonly known as “hypersensitivity”, has been largely studied in humans (Aron and Aron, 1997; Acevedo, 2020). It characterises how an individual perceives and reacts to both external and internal stimuli.
The study of this personality trait has clinical importance in humans. Indeed, highly sensitive persons exposed to negative childhood environments have been shown to be more prone to develop anxiety or depression compared to individual scoring lower on the trait (Liss et al. 2008). However, highly sensitive persons have also been shown to flourish in positive environments (Aron and Aron 1997, Greven and Trupp, in press).
Sensory Processing Sensitivity, or SPS, has also been identified in dogs (Braem et al. 2017) and was also found to be associated with a higher likelihood of behavioural problems (Braem et al. 2020).
Nowadays, horses are considered as companion animals just as much as dogs are. Therefore, the assessment and understanding of horse personality has important implications for the horses’ welfare and the safety of the owner.
My aim is to investigate the existence of SPS in horses, its associations to the development of behavioural problems or stereotypies, and its genetic basis.
Published work
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CV
Research interests
Animal personality; Sexual selection; Social interactions; Behavioral ecology; Animal welfare
Education
2018 – 2022
2016 – 2018
2013 – 2016
PhD candidate
Veterinary University of Vienna, Austria & University of Bern, Switzerland
Thesis title “The interplay between sexual selection and personality in poison frogs”
Summa cum Laude
MSc student in Behavioral Ecology and Wildlife Management
University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
Thesis title “Larval hunger signalling in ants”
Thesis title “Seasonal variations in sociality and gregariousness in caribou”
Lower second-class honours
BSc student in Biology and environmental studies
University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
Thesis title “Personality of early life stage pikeperch and study of the morphological profile of cannibals and cannibalized individuals”
Lower second-class honours
Research experience
2023 – now
2022 – 2023
Post-doctoral researcher
Agroscope Avenches - Switzerland
Research assistant and lecturer
University of Bern - Switzerland
Reviews/memberships
Reviewer for Behaviour, Behavioural Processes, Animal Behaviour, Ethology, Journal of Herpetology, PLOS one, Proceedings B, Royal Society Open Science
Member of ISBE, ASAB
Grants and awards
2023
2022
2021
2019
Best PhD dissertation
Faculty prize - University of Bern – CHF 3'000
Travel grant
ISBE – $ 300
Young academics support
University of Bern – CHF 5'500
Travel grant
SEH – € 300
Conferences
07.2022
05.2022
02.2022
11.2021
12.2020
09.2019
05.2019
Conference – International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Conference – Ecology&Behaviour
Conference – Biology22
Conference – European Student Conference on Behaviour & Cognition
Conference – Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Conference – European Congress of Herpetology
Conference – Ecology&Behaviour
Teaching activities
Supervision of 20+ students
Lecturer for a research practical in behavioural ecology – University of Bern
Course on the profession of researcher to 10 years old –Lycée Français de Vienne, Austria
Course on field studies of animal personality to Bachelors – University of Bern, Switzerland
Course on the development of behavioural studies to Bachelors – HAFL, Switzerland
Prospective students / collaborators
I am always open to exploring new research collaborations and mentoring motivated students. If you are interested in working together I would be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out with a brief description of your background, interests, and how you see a potential fit.
Dr. Mélissa Peignier
Département fédéral de l'économie, de la formation et de la recherche,
Agroscope
Haras National Suisse