PhD Candidate Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Madison Rittinger
I’m 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.
Teaching Patterns in Nature and Ecology Lab
News
| Sep 08, 2026 | New paper published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
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| Jul 17, 2026 | Presenting at the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) conference. |
| Jun 01, 2026 | Website launched. |
Selected Publications
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Pholcus phalangioides cellar spiders solve a prey capture problem differently across repeated trialsBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2026 -
Instinct to insight: a variation-based framework to test hypotheses about how animals solve problemsBiology Letters, 2025 -
Heuristic test reveals little effect of learning and maturation on early prey capture experiences in a web-building spiderScientific Reports, 2024