Daniella Chusyd

Dr. Daniella Chusyd is an Assistant Professor and elephantologist whose research bridges field studies across Africa with laboratory-based approaches to understand how long-lived species, particularly elephants, maintain health and cognitive function as they age. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Florida, her from the M.A. (cum laude) in Government from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel, and her Ph.D. in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by postdoctoral training in epidemiology and biostatistics at Indiana University-Bloomington. Dr. Chusyd has led several competitive grants from the NIH, the Smithsonian, and multiple foundations, establishing pioneering elephant field sites throughout Africa. Her work focuses on how early-life adversity, genetics, and ecological stressors influence physiology, behavior, and aging, using elephants as a comparative species to reveal mechanisms of resilience and healthy aging relevant to human health. She emphasizes a “One Health” perspective that connects ecology, conservation, and public health, and is committed to broadening participation and scientific mentorship both locally and internationally.