Daniela Meisel began her study of biology at the University of Vienna in 1995. In 2002 she graduated with a masters thesis on Circadian Rhythms in Octopus vulgaris. During her studies she participated in projects concerning coral reef ecology in Jordania, fish behavior in the Mediterranean Sea around Elba and marine ecology in California. She also worked as an intern in the laboratory of Ronald Schusterman at the University of Santa Cruz, California. Daniela Meisel´s PhD research is funded by a grant of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.