Dr. Lynea Witczak Oldfather

Lynea earned her PhD from the University of California, Davis where she studied the neurobiology of social bonds in a monogamous primate.

Lynea’s Fulbright project builds on her PhD research, focusing on one of the world’s few confirmed monogamous reptiles, the Australian sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa). Lynea aims to determine whether neurobiological mechanisms promoting pair bonding may be generalised to other taxa – the evolutionary origins of pair bonding not currently being well understood. She will also teach students behavioral neuroendocrinology methods and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to understand their experiences and support their further interest in the sciences.