He was born on September 25, 1950, in Altheim (Innviertel), studied veterinary medicine in Vienna (1971–1977), where he earned his doctorate in 1978 and completed his habilitation in biochemistry in 1988. The Institute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, was his primary place of work; from 1997 to 2006, he also served as Vice Rector for Resources and was an Honorary Senator of the university.

He authored more than 200 scientific articles and wrote the chapter on endocrinology for a widely used textbook on veterinary physiology. Erich possessed an enormous and broad knowledge of veterinary medicine, as well as a deep interest in the field. He was recognized and valued across borders as a speaker and discussion partner. He was a member of several national and international societies, in which he was also actively involved. Over the years, he also served as chairman of the University Teachers’ Association and president of the Austrian Society of Veterinarians, of which he was named an honorary member in 2022.

He was passionate about research and brimmed with new ideas—one of his special talents, paired with helpfulness and reliability. He was a team player par excellence and a networker who cared deeply about the well-being of the university, the institute, and the research group. 

With the unique enzyme immunoassays he developed, he made a significant contribution to the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna research group’s excellent reputation in the field of non-invasive monitoring of reproduction and stress in animals using fecal samples. Even after his retirement in 2014, he remained connected and took an interest in current projects and continued to contribute ideas and his “hobby”—synthesizing key reagents for enzyme immunoassays, including the ISWE010 (72T) EIA. Until the very end he never missed an opportunity to visit and support his colleagues.

When we look back on the progress the field of wildlife endocrinology has made in recent decades, it is impossible to overstate the impact of Prof. Dr. Erich Möstl. Many of us are most familiar with his work developing enzyme immunoassays to measure hormones and hormone metabolites in feces, and it was this new ability to use that non-invasive matrix that expanded our research horizons. Our field’s conversion from RIA to EIA, and even the availability of the latest Arbor Assays^TM mini-kit, the ISWE010 (72T) EIA, would not have been possible without Dr. Möstl’s research, reagent development, and support.

Dr. Möstl was also a cherished mentor, collaborator, thought-partner, and friend to many of our ISWE members. He touched many of our lives personally, as well as professionally. Although he has passed on from this world, his beloved memory lives on in each of us. We will celebrate him with every study we undertake that builds on the extraordinary scientific foundation that he built during his career.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Möstl’s family, friends and our entire community at this sorrowful time.

This Special Issue and all of the articles within are Open Access and are available to download and read now! Please visit the journal's website here