PhD Candidate Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Madison Rittinger

I am a behavioral ecologist who is broadly interested in understanding how and why animals behave the way they do using a cognitive perspective. To investigate these questions, I use a variety of field and lab-based techniques ranging from field experiments to microCT imaging. Outside of research I am passionate about teaching in higher education and mentoring undergraduate researchers. One of my career goals is to give undergraduates research experiences I did not have access to when I was in their position. Outside of work I thoroughly enjoy being outside, playing board games, playing/watching basketball, and antagonizing my cat — Ollie.

Currently

Analyzing data and writing manuscripts

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News

Jul 17, 2026 Presenting at the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) conference.
Jun 01, 2026 Website launched.

Selected Publications

  1. instinct-insight.jpg
    Instinct to insight: a variation-based framework to test hypotheses about how animals solve problems
    Madison A Rittinger and Rafael Lucas Rodrı́guez
    Biology Letters, 2025
  2. web-spider.jpg
    Heuristic test reveals little effect of learning and maturation on early prey capture experiences in a web-building spider
    Madison A Rittinger, Rafael L Rodrı́guez, and Ignacio Escalante
    Scientific Reports, 2024