New FWF-project: How a European zoo biobank aims to support conservation

The new FWF-funded project “Banking on zoos for conservation?” addresses the question how a collection of biological materials from zoo animals might contribute to the conservation of endangered species.

The project investigates the so-called biobank of the European zoo organization EAZA, which collects and stores blood and tissue samples in four different European locations. The project team focuses on the work in and organization of the biobank in relation to international conservation policies. The central question is how such a collection of samples and their use in research relates to the socio-politically complex issues of biodiversity and mass extinction.

The project will be led by Erik Aarden and run from May 2025 until April 2028.

The project has two positions to fill, for which you can find further details here: https://www.aau.at/blog/job-openings-doctoral-and-postdoctoral-level/