I am interested in how animals think and feel. I am a comparative experimental psychologist who has studied and trained across a number of disciplines: zoology, biological anthropology and animal welfare. 

I study how animals feel and behave when they face challenges. At the beginning of my career, I was interested in how captive animals respond to broad environmental changes (environmental enrichment). Over time, I started to question whether these types of changes really make a difference, or just cover up larger deficits associated with captivity. Therefore, I began to design and evaluate specific challenges (cognitive enrichment, tasks, games) that allow animals to actively develop cognitive skills while enhancing their subjective experience (welfare).

A 'hybrid' career has allowed me to work within and alongside the zoological community (i.e., environmental charities). After eight consecutive years of zoo employment, I am now back in academia and collaborate with a number of zoos, sanctuaries and research centres on various research projects. 

Key research questions

• Challenge and affect: How do animals respond emotionally to their own progression and success/failure?
• Cognitive training: Can cognitive 'survival skills' be developed over time in captive endangered species?
• Game psychology: Can we 'gamify' traditional cognitive tasks to improve data quality and animal experience?

I established the Comparative Challenge Lab at the University of Bristol to undertake experimental psychology research with a comparative twist. We develop cognitive task apparatuses to test cognitive skills, and/or provide more challenge to impaired environments. I work with a number of facilities in the UK and USA, mainly on primates and marine mammals.