Madison Rittinger
I am a behavioral ecologist that is interested in understanding how and why animals behave the way they do using a behavioral and cognitive standpoint. I have worked with a variety of animals ranging from house wrens to tiger moths, but I currently work with spiders!
I earned my undergraduate degree from Ohio Dominican University where I majored in Biopsychology. I then went on to earn my Master’s from Illinois State studying hormones in birds. I am currently finishing up my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where I study spider behavior and cognition. During my time in graduate school I’ve always enjoyed teaching and mentoring students, and am excited to continue to do so. I love the community that college campuses offer and the impact that faculty can have on the trajectory of their student’s success. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with the students at MIAD and perhaps spark an interest in a future behavioral ecologist.
Although school and work take up a lot of my time, I do have other hobbies. In my free time I enjoy playing and coaching basketball, reading, hiking, and fighting with my cat Ollie.