Cognition and Communication 2

Cognitive biology seeks to understand cognition, communication and behavior in human and other animals, from both proximate (mechanistic and developmental) and ultimate (phylogenetic and adaptive) perspectives, and with a strong emphasis on experimental comparisons of multiple species (the comparative method). The purpose of the proposed DK Program Cognition and Communication 2 is to synergize existing Viennese research strengths with PhD training opportunities, thus creating a world-class centre for educating the next generation of researchers in cognitive biology. We will prepare our students to excel in this competitive and highly interdisciplinary research area by focusing on rigorous experimental methods within a broad theoretical framework, grounded in evolutionary theory and the comparative method. PhD students in our program are trained in both field and laboratory research, experimental design, and comparative methodologies to address specific questions concerning neural, endocrine and behavioral mechanisms from developmental and evolutionary perspectives. They also receive thorough soft skills training in writing, communication, and interacting with press and public. Our program will knit together separate groups at different universities, all of whom employ the cognitive biology approach, to create an unparalleled opportunity for PhD trainees to do excellent comparative research on a broad range of species with the full panoply of modern methods. Our program will be flexible (encouraging innovation and motivation) but structured, with a strong emphasis on mentoring and monitoring. The program will combine the expertise of ten internationally recognized researchers, and be based both at the University of Vienna (Bugnyar, Fitch, Hödl, Lamm, Kotrschal, Stoeger, Tebbich) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Huber, Range); Fusani holds a double appointment with both University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. It will thus knit several excellent existing groups together. PhD candidates in our program can take full advantage of the excellent research opportunities and facilities around Vienna, resulting from the collaboration of the two universities. Strong connections also exist with multiple international research centers, providing outstanding opportunities for exchange visits and postdoc options for our PhDs. Our international PhD candidates will also be embedded in the framework of the newly created Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behaviour and Neuroscience. The VDS aims to foster an excellent scientific environment, where doctoral candidates are able to develop and excel. Our goal is to provide the facilities and structured mentorship needed to successfully train and empower the next generation of PhD students to become independent, innovative and rigorous researchers meeting or exceeding the highest international standards.

The Doctoral College (DK) "Cognition and Communication 2" was a large, interdisciplinary research training programme, hosted from 2017 to 2024 at the University of Vienna (UniVie) and the Veterinary Medicine University of Vienna (VetMedUni). The project involved twelve principal investigators and 40 PhD students, performing research in many fields of cognition and communication in humans and other animals. Topics ranged from comparisons of dog and human brain activations, social interactions in ravens, elephant communication, mother/infant interaction, cognition in wolves and dogs, courtship in multiple bird species, and human and animal rhythmic interactions. In addition to these scientific research projects, the DK had a strong focus on educating young scientists to be excellent researchers, and included many topics often omitted in PhD education, ranging from scientific writing to ethics and open science. The scientific research done in this group was diverse, but most projects included a strong inter-disciplinary component. For example, an innovative project examined brain activations in pet dogs, trained to stay still in an fMRI scanner while they watched videos or listened to sounds. Dog brain imaging is currently done in only a few labs around the world. Our Vienna project, led by Prof. Claus Lamm (UniVie) and Prof. Ludwig Huber (VetMedUni) is unique because it also compared dog and human brain activations, using the same stimuli and scanner. This project was initiated via the DK programme, with additional funding from the WWTF, the Austrian Ministry and the two Universities, and has produced 24 research publications already, with more in the pipeline. Another goal of the DK was to develop structured PhD educational practices designed to produce the next generation of excellent young researchers. In addition to "learning by doing" research alongside top researchers, the DK implemented many additional innovations. These started with a competitive international recruitment and interviewing process, ensuring that the very top candidates entered the programme, continued with a structured programme of mentorship aiding the students' progress, and culminates in a cumulative PhD thesis including at least three scientific papers. Students received additional training in scientific writing, presentation, statistics, open science, with coaching and support along the way. These goals were fostered through group retreats and an innovative system of "thesis advisory committee" meetings. These involved students meeting multiple PIs at least once a year to monitor progress, offer suggestions, and avoid problems. These practices have been picked up by both Universities, most prominently in the new Vienna Doctoral School CoBeNe (Cognition, Behavior and Neuroscience) at the University of Vienna. In summary, this DK both generated a large scientific output in top international journals, but also trained two cohorts of PhDs to become the leading researchers in Cognition and Communication in the next generation.