Erica Calabretta is currently pursuing a PhD in Biology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. Her research focuses on the migration ecology and physiology of long-distance migratory bird species at a key stopover site in the Central Mediterranean. She investigates how environmental conditions at the pre-breeding grounds and during long sea crossings influence the timing, performance, and overlap of pre-breeding migration in several trans-Saharan migratory species (i.e., birds that spend the non-breeding season over the Sahara Desert).

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and a Master’s degree in Ecology and Biology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza.” Through her diverse international training and research experiences in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Austria, she has developed an interdisciplinary perspective, combining fieldwork, data analysis, and laboratory work with solid and versatile ecological expertise.