Dr. Alina S. Rusu, coordinator
Dr. Alina S. Rusu is a biologist and psychologist, and full Professor at the Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies at University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. She serves as Academic Coordinator of the MSc programme in “Ethology and Human-Animal Interaction” and leads the Human-Animal Interaction Research Lab. Her work focuses on human-animal bond. animal behavior and positive animal welfare, with additional expertise in humane education and evolutionary psychology. She holds a PhD in Natural Sciences (Animal Behavior) from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Rusu has led multiple nationally and internationally funded interdisciplinary research projects and has an extensive publication record spanning peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. She is also a PhD supervisor in Psychology, Education Sciences and Biology. From 2018 to 2024, she served as a Fulbright Ambassador for the Romanian academic community. She is considered one of the pioneers of the academic training programs in Romania in the field of education and research in animal-assisted services.
Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-simona-rusu-a4490b7/
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tg9mfv0AAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9554-4139
Learn more about Alina’s work here.
Contact: alina.rusu@usamvcluj.ro
Members:
Researcher Marco Gerardo Adda
Marco Adda is an independent researcher, founder and director of AEDC Anthrozoology Education Dogs Canines, PFAH Portugal Focus Animal Help, and INS Integral NeuroSoma. Member of the International Society of Anthrozoology, board member of the Anthrozoology Symposium, and Invited Professor at the University of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Medicine, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. Leading online educational programs about dogs, free-ranging dogs and wolves. Accredited Dognition evaluator at Duke Canine Cognition Center, Duke University. Accredited trainer by the European Commission’s SALTO Program. Somatic researcher and practitioner, actor, actor coach, and drama instructor. Trainer in martial arts, Qigong, and Yoga. His practice research includes disciplines such as ethology, anthrozoology, psychology, somatics, ecology, intercultural theatre, anthropology, philosophy, and neuroscience.
Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-adda/
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hbIovZYAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2752-1039
Learn more about Marco’s work here.
Contact: marcogerardoadda@gmail.com
Website: https://www.marcoadda.com/
Dr. Iulia Francesca Pop
Dr. Iulia Francesca Pop is a psychologist, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, biotechnology engineer and researcher whose work integrates psychology, anthrozoology, and evidence-based mental health interventions. She is currently a Senior Editor at QIAGEN, where she oversees the quality of scientific content and biomedical knowledge curation, and an associate lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, where she teaches Introduction to Psychology, Psychology Applied to Anthrozoology, and Organizational Psychology. Alongside her academic activities, she maintains a private clinical practice specializing in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for adults. Her research focuses on human–animal interaction, anthrozoology, and animal-assisted interventions, with particular interest in the psychological mechanisms underlying the human–animal bond and the application of animal-assisted approaches to promote mental health and well-being.
Linkedin profile:www.linkedin.com/in/iulia-francesca-pop-66228227
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Qb5NRnsAAAAJ
ORCID profile:https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6174-3811
Learn more about Iulia’s work here.
Contact: iulia-francesca.pop@usamvcluj.ro
Dr. Cristian Sitar
Dr. Cristian Sitar is a biologist and entomologist specializing in the taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera species. He is currently a senior curator at the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University. Since 2018, he has been an associate researcher at the Emil Racoviță Institute of Speleology in Cluj-Napoca, where he focuses on monitoring cave fauna and studying the taxonomy and biology of cave beetles. In 2023, he joined the Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca as an associate professor in the Ethology & Human-Animal Interaction master’s program, where he teaches Conservation Biology. His research interests include species conservation, biodiversity, and the ecological dynamics of insect populations.
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9WZxwgkAAAAJ&hl=ro
Contact: cristiansitar@yahoo.com
Dr. Geanina Iacob (Sitar)
Dr. Geanina Magdalena Sitar is a biologist and early-career researcher with expertise in entomology and environmental education. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and her Master’s degree in Ecology from Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She holds a PhD in Education Sciences from Babeș-Bolyai University, completed under a joint supervision agreement with the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Her research focuses on insects, particularly butterflies, as well as biodiversity conservation and ecological education. Her doctoral research adopted an interdisciplinary approach, integrating entomological knowledge with methodologies from the field of education sciences to investigate and promote ecological education in Romania. Through her work, she aims to contribute to biodiversity conservation by fostering environmental awareness and developing evidence-based educational strategies that strengthen ecological literacy.
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JKJfMx0AAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-5373-6738
Contact: giacob@yahoo.com
PhD candidate Florina Hica
Florina Hica is a PhD candidate at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where she researches anthropomorphism in companion animals and its implications for animal welfare and human social cognition. Her academic interest in human–animal interactions began with her Border Collie, Skye, who continues to inspire both her research and professional activities. She holds an MSc in Ethology and Human–Animal Interactions, and her research interests include companion animal behaviour, animal-assisted services, cooperative care in veterinary medicine, and the human–animal bond. Beyond academia, Florina volunteers with Skye in animal-assisted visiting programmes for seniors and people with disabilities and regularly delivers animal-assisted educational sessions for schoolchildren on responsible ownership and successful interactions with animals.
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uAKzhs8AAAAJ&hl=ro&oi=ao
ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7250-9790
Learn more about Florina’s work here.
Contact: florina-ileana.hica@student.usamvcluj.ro
Researcher Kinga Szabó
Kinga Szabó is an ethologist and early-career researcher with a master’s degree in Ethology and Human-Animal Interactions from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca. Her master’s dissertation, Investigation of Canine Object-Directed Behaviors in Varying Social Contexts – A Pilot Study, explored aspects of canine behavior and cognition, reflecting her research interests in canine cognition, human-animal interaction, and positive animal welfare. In February 2022, she founded Golden Moments Dog Training, where she applies her background in ethology to educate both dogs and their guardians, helping people better understand, communicate, and collaborate with their dogs through science-based, reward-based approaches. Her professional interests include canine behavior, canine enrichment, cooperative care, and promoting positive welfare through education.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinga-szab%C3%B3-41958934/
ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3503-1312
Website: www.goldenmomentsdogtraining.ro
Learn more about Kinga’s work here.
Contact: szabokinga.gm@gmail.com