Xavier Manteca Vilanova received his BVSc degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the University of Edinburgh. He also has a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Currently, he is professor at the School of Veterinary Science in Barcelona, where he teaches animal behaviour and animal welfare.

His main areas of research include welfare assessment in farm, companion and zoo animals, and behavioural problems in companion animals. He has published several books and more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Xavier is diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine.