Friederike Pohlin: 2021 Ippen Award Winner

Congratulations to Friederike Pohlin for winning the 2021 Rudolf Ippen Young Scientist award honouring a young scientist whose scientific output, particularly the papers published in the past 12 months, document the beginning of a promising career in wildlife veterinary science, conservation medicine, or zoo animal medicine. This prize is awarded jointly by EAZWV and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW).

Click here for more information on The Rudolf Ippen Young Scientist Award

Click on the video below to view the award presentation.

Below follows an article from Fidu on her career to date and we hope it will inspire other young scientists in their work and that they will also apply for this award.

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My passion for wildlife conservation goes back to my early childhood where I learned that human actions threaten more species with global extinction than ever before. This realisation coupled with my interest in science and the desire to advocate for animals, was the foundation for my passion in wildlife veterinary medicine.

In 2013, I graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Thereafter, I completed an MSc-degree in Wildlife Ecology and Wildlife Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna while working as a veterinarian in mixed and small animal practice. During those years, I developed a strong interest in the stress-physiology of wild mammals and in veterinary anaesthesia. In 2017, I managed to combine my two passions by enrolling in the PhD programme of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia alternative residency programme. Whilst the PhD programme taught me how to plan and execute my own research project, the residency provided me with a valuable clinical skillset. I learned how to describe and deal with complicated acid-base imbalances in wild and domestic animals, how to assess animal welfare from a scientific and clinical point of view, and what to pay attention to when working with wildlife in a research and hospital setting.

Since 2020, I am part of the Wildlife Medicine Group of the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology at the Veterinary University of Vienna. The group is responsible for a variety of veterinary, clinical and research related tasks working with large carnivores, wild ungulates, small hibernators and birds. I consider myself extremely fortunate for the most wonderful and supportive mentorship I have received during this journey: Prof. Leith Meyer, who supervised my PhD thesis and nominated me for this award; Dr. Peter Buss, Dr. Emma Hooijberg and Dr. Markus Hofmeyr who co-supervised my thesis and shared their knowledge and passion for rhinos with me; Prof. Gareth Zeiler, who supervised my residency; Prof. Chris Walzer, who supervised my MSc thesis; and my colleagues Dr. Gabrielle Stalder and Dr. Johanna Painer, who themselves were awarded the Rudolph Ippen award in the past and inspire me on a daily basis. I believe that the combination of the advanced research-training and the clinical specialisation, made me a strong candidate for this award. As part of my PhD thesis, I have authored numerous publications on the challenges to animal welfare associated with the capture and transport in black- and white rhinos . By identifying these challenges, future studies can now be directed towards improving animal welfare during rhino translocation. I hope that, over the long term, my research will contribute to establishing new scientific-based state-of-the-art guidelines for the transport of free-ranging wild rhinos.

Within the past 9 years, I have regularly attended the EAZWV conference, or student workshops organised by the association, as they present a great opportunity to learn from zoo- and wildlife professionals, enhance one’s skills, and connect with students and mentors from the same field of interest. In fact, I met my PhD supervisor, Prof. Leith Meyer, at the mentor-mixer of the 1st joint EAZWV/AAZV/IZW conference 2015 in Barcelona! Receiving this award, represents not only a milestone for my professional career, but is also a truly emotional and personal achievement resulting from the support and the opportunities offered to me by my mentors. Thank you so much!

Friederike (Fidu) Pohlin, 8/12/21

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Video 1. Ippen Award Jury Comment

Video 2: Response from Fidu