Sophie Reichert

Biography

Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (2016-present) Post-doctoral Researcher in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Glasgow, UK (2014‒2016) PhD on ‘Determinants of telomere length and implications in life-history trade-offs’ at the University of Strasbourg, France (2010‒2014)

Research Interest

My research aims to characterise and understand in detail which environmental factors and stressors influence ageing mechanisms and how this shapes senescence patterns in both animals and birds. It sits on the crossroads between ecophysiology and evolutionary biology. I began my career on linking health with ageing rates with an undergraduate degree in Ecophysiology at the University of Strasbourg, France. Understanding the mechanisms underlying ageing is crucial for our overall comprehension of the diversity of life and how it evolved. However, little is known about the processes mediating and underlying the diversity observed in ageing processes. This led me to study the mechanisms involved in ageing and, in particular, the role of telomeres. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that cap eukaryotic chromosomes. They offer great potential as they reflect ageing rates and are thought to link lifestyle conditions and senescence. During my PhD, I studied the molecular determinants (oxidative stress and telomerase activity) of telomere dynamics and their potential role as a mechanism underlying differences in ageing rates. The aim of this work was also to establish telomeres as a health marker. Working on bird models, my research determined the heritability of telomere length (TL); characterised TL determinants; tested the link between TL and individual maintenance, and ultimately how telomeres reflect biological state. To further my aim to determine which stressors affect ageing, I then looked at the links between early-life stress, cognition and senescence rates. I currently work on which factors determine ageing markers (TL and oxidative stress) and senescence rates in a long-lived mammal, the Asian elephant.