My research has predominately investigated the hormonal and neural mechanisms that underpin complex behaviours in birds. I also have a particular interest in animal welfare and the promotion of the 3Rs for animals used in scientific research.

In early 2020, I began work as the Academic Liaison and Post-doctoral Scientist at The National Avian Research Facility (NARF), based at The Roslin Insitute, UK. 

My more recent projects have included, working on the implementation of non-aversive handling for welfare refinement in laboratory mice funded by the NC3Rs, and as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow exploring the neural and endocrine mechanisms that underpin hoarding behaviour in Passerine birds, both at Newcastle University, UK.

I received my PhD from The University of Glasgow where I studied Evolutionary Biology and Endocrinology in the blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus. After completing my PhD I moved to The University of California, Davis, where I investigated how the social environment influences male song production with captive house finches, Haemorhous mexicanus. 

Academic History

• Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Glasgow, UK, Supervisors: Dr Kathryn Arnold and Prof Neil Evans
• MRes in Ecology and Environmental Management, The University of York, UK
• BSc (Hons) Zoology, The University of Glasgow, UK

Collaborators

Tom Smulders – Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, UK

Timothy Boswell – School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, UK

Kathryn Arnold – Environment Department, University of York, UK

Neil Evans – Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, UK

Britt Heidinger – Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, ND

Katherine Herborn – School of Biomedical and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK

Thomas Hahn – College of Biological Sciences, UC Davis, CA

Hannah Rowland – Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK

Richard Broughton – Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK

Photography: Female blue tit and chick on the nest by Vicky Larcombe, Sunset at Loch Lomond and oak bud burst by Lindsay Henderson, Coal tit by Karen Summers.