Meet The Team

We are an international team of scientists from several different institutions, but largely based in Cambridge in the UK. We currently carry out research in the UK, Jersey, Austria, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, the USA and Japan.

Our team consists of established researchers, postdoc fellows, PhD students, MSc students, undergrad dissertation students, and occasional visitors and interns. We also collaborate with some fantastic researchers from many other countries around the world.

Director of PEER Group

Dr Jacob C. Dunn

Reader in Evolutionary Biology

Jake Dunn is the Principle Investigator of the Primate Evolution and Ecology Research (PEER) Group and the Director of the Behavioural Ecology Research Group at Anglia Ruskin University.

He is also an Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge and a Senior Research Fellow in Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna. Jacob joined the School of Life Sciences at ARU as a Senior Lecturer in July 2016 and was promoted to Reader in 2020. From 2012–2016, he was a Lecturer in Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge.

Jake is a behavioural ecologist, broadly interested in the biology and evolution of communication systems in humans and other animals (mostly primates). He originally trained in Zoology at the University of Edinburgh. He then went on to study for an MSc and PhD in Anthropology and Primatology at the University of Barcelona. From 2010–2012, he carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge.

Over the last few years, Jake has been carrying out research into primate vocal communication and the evolution of language. His research takes a broad comparative perspective, ranging from detailed descriptions of vocal anatomy, through to recording animal sounds, carrying out playback experiments, and using macroevolutionary analyses to test evolutionary hypotheses.

He collaborates closely with the Fitch lab in the Department of Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna.

What I study in one sentence: Primate communication and the evolution of language

Current Postdocs

Dr Fay Clark

Postdoc Fellow

Fay is a zoologist and experimental psychologist. She mainly works with animals housed in zoos and sanctuaries, particularly primates and cetaceans. Fay joined ARU in August 2021. She is helping to develop a new research programme on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on animal welfare and conservation, in partnership with Jersey Zoo. Fay has spent 20 years working within or alongside the zoological industry, investigating the cognition, behaviour and welfare of many exotic species. Her PhD from the Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London developed ‘cognitive enrichment’ puzzles for chimpanzees and dolphins. Before joining ARU, she was a lecturer and researcher at Bristol Zoological Society. As a visiting research associate at the University of Bristol, she continues to collaborate on primate cognition and welfare research. Fay is also an editor for the journal Animal Welfare.

What I study in one sentence: the connections between animal cognition, behaviour and welfare.

Dr Tainara Sobroza

Visiting Postdoc Fellow

Tainara is a Brazilian biologist specializing in using sound as a tool to access ecological information about species, interactions, and habitats. Currently, Tainara is based in Manaus, one of the largest cities in the Brazilian Amazon, where she studies the impact of noise on a critically endangered primate species, the pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor). Many species are capable of surviving in dense cities, but how do these species deal with anthropogenic disturbances such as habitat change and noise? Tainara aims to answer such questions and especially to add a behavioural perspective to the ongoing conservation actions for the survivorship of urban fauna and associated ecological processes. She is also interested in using sounds to inform people about conservation issues.

What I study in one sentence:bioacoustics for primate behaviour, ecology and conservation

Current PHD Students

Fiene Steinbrecher

PhD student @ ARU

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main drivers of species extinction. However, urbanization and anthropogenic pressures create an acoustic environment that is much noisier, and markedly different to that of undisturbed areas. Therefore, noise represents a potential stressor that should be considered in animal welfare and conservation planning, not only for wildlife, but also for captive animals that permanently live within anthropogenic settings. Fiene studies the effects of the acoustic environment in captive animal settings, particularly focusing on pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) as a model species. The pied tamarin is a very sensitive primate species, which is critically endangered in the wild.

What I study in one sentence: The effects of the acoustic environment on captive pied tamarins.

Jen Muir

PhD student @ ARU

Jen is a primatologist and bio-acoustician researching nonlinear phenomena (NLP) in animal vocalisations. Jen is particularly interested in how NLP are used in animal calls, and whether they relate to identity, emotional arousal, or are used to gain others attention. Jen uses titi monkeys (Callicebinae) as a model system, working with captive populations in the UK. Jen will also investigate how vocal anatomy may relate to the production of NLP in animal calls, and if this is related to socio-ecological factors. Additionally, Jen will compare the use of NLP among mammal species with varying body sizes and social structure.

What I study in one sentence: The role of non-linear phenomena in mammalian vocalisations

Nora Kopsch

PhD student @ ARU

Nora is a primatologist and PhD student at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. She aims to develop new methods to increase captive primate welfare. Her research aims to understand the impacts of anthropogenic noise on captive ape welfare and behaviour. For her data collection, Nora is working currently working in collaboration with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey, Channel Islands, and Twycross Zoo, England, both of which are currently undertaking large scale building projects. Nora’s research will provide insight into the effects of construction on captive primates – an important contribution to zoo welfare.

What I study in one sentence: the impacts of construction noise on zoo ape welfare

Sophie Orme

PhD student @ ARU

Using a combination of Geometric Morphometrics and Finite Element Analysis, Sophie will be investigating the functional morphology and biomechanics of the primate patellofemoral joint. In particular, the evolution of locomotion in primates will be looked at more broadly to determine how and why the primate knee has evolved for different modes of locomotion. Sophie also aims to reveal the evolutionary trajectory and selection pressures that have influenced variation in knee morphology, both within and between primate species.

What I study in one sentence: morphology and biomechanics of the primate knee

Sam Reynolds

PhD student @ ARU

Corvids, which are the family of birds containing all species of crows, jackdaws, ravens, magpies, and their allies, are socially complex and have a high cognitive ability. They are well studied, well regarded in research, and have been both revered and loathed from ancient cultures and mythology to the modern day. Despite this, we know very little about the sounds they make. Through original data collection and collaborating with people worldwide, Sam is using cutting edge statistical analysis to investigate the complexity of their vocalisations, comparing them to other species within the family, and quantifying the way that they use their different vocalisations in terms of their structure and sequence.

What I study in one sentence: vocal complexity in corvids

Ryan Rothman

PhD student @ ARU

Ryan is a PhD Candidate at Stony Brook University, USA. He completed his MSc in Tropical Forest Ecology at Imperial College in 2017, and his BSc in Zoology at the University of St Andrews in 2016. His research interests are broad and include evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, biological anthropology, and statistical computing with R. Ryan is currently working on his dissertation research, which aims to better understand how the size of the brain and organization of the lateral cerebellum have coevolved with ecology and behaviour (i.e., habitat/ environment, diet, life history, sociality) in primates and other mammals.

Previous Members of PEER Group

Dr Robin Morrison

Postdoc Fellow @ The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

Robin completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2019 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn and Peter Walsh. Robin is a behavioural ecologist studying the evolution of social behaviour. Her research is on great ape social behaviour with a particular focus on mountain gorillas and western lowland gorillas. She uses long-term data and camera trapping to investigate gorilla society, modelling relationships within and between gorilla groups and how this influences their movement patterns. Robin is currently based at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund‘s Karisoke Research Centre in Rwanda and within Dr Lauren Brent‘s research group at the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter.

Dr Max Kerney

Postdoc Fellow

Max completed his PhD at ARU in 2021, under the supervision of Jacob Dunn, Claudia Wascher (ARU) and Jeroen Smaers (Stonybrook University). Max is interested in why some primate species (such as humans) have evolved comparatively large brains while others have evolved comparatively small brains. He uses Phylogenetic Comparative Methods, large sets of primate trait data, and systematic hypothesis testing to try to determine what factors may have caused this diversity in brain size.

Dr Denise Hebesberger

Postdoc Fellow @ University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

Denise completed her PhD at ARU in 2021 under the supervision of Claudia Wascher (ARU) Jacob Dunn and Dawn Hawkins (ARU). Denise is a behavioural biologist with interests in animal welfare, including equine welfare, housing & social behaviour. Her PhD project investigated the benefits of social bonds in horses. Denise is currently working as a postdoc at the University of Verterinary Medicine in Vienna.

Dr Thomas O’Mahoney

Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences @ ARU

Tom joined ARU in February 2019 after completing his PhD on morphometrics at the University of Manchester. He joined PEER Group as a Postdoc Fellow to work on the project “The evolution of language: insights from laryngeal anatomy”. He oversees the 3D work packages for this and as part of this project has developed new machine-learning based workflows. He also helps to look after the Harrison Mammalian larynx collection, which is curated at the Duckworth Collection, University of Cambridge. Tom has since taken a lectureship at ARU in Biomedical Science, but continues to collaborate closely over several projects.

Dr Alice Poirier

Postdoc Fellow @ University of Calgary

Alice completed her PhD at ARU in 2019 under the supervision of Andrew Smith (ARU), Jacob Dunn and John Waterhouse (ARU). Her PhD investigated olfactory communication in callitrichid primates. Alice is a behavioral ecologist with an extensive interest in primate sensory ecology. She is interested in how animals, in particular primates, use their sense of smell in social interactions and foraging activities. Her research integrates diverse fields including animal behavior, biochemistry and evolution. Alice is currently a postdoctoral scholar in Amanda Melin’s lab at the University of Calgary.

Dr Mónica Alcocer-Rodríguez

Veterinary Scientist, Spain

Monica completed her PhD at the University of Barcelona in 2016 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn and Joaquim Vea (UB). Her project investigated the demographic evolution of a population of critically endangered howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. She surveyed 55 forest fragments and evaluated the demographic characteristics of howler monkey groups. In 2014 she came to Cambridge as a visitor to Leslie Knapp’s molecular ecology lab and analysed faecal samples from howler monkeys to examine migratory patterns among fragments. Monica is currently working as a vet in Spain.

Dr Jenna Dittmar

Research Fellow @ University of Aberdeen

Jenna Dittmar completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2016 under the supervision of Piers Mitchell (Cambridge). As a specialist in bioarchaeology and palaeopathology, her research utilises a multidisciplinary approach to examine questions about health, disease and medical intervention in past populations. She was previously employed (2016-2020) as a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge on the Wellcome funded project entitled, ‘After the Plague: Heath and History of Medieval Cambridge’. Jenna is now a Research Fellow in Osteoarchaeology at the University of Aberdeen.

James (Jim) Harris

PhD student @ ARU

Jim completed his undergraduate degree in Zoology at ARU and was awarded a BSc (Hons) First Class qualification. He then went on to complete an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at Cambridge University in 2022 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. Jim’s interests lie within osteology and primate evolution, specifically vocal anatomy, whilst also having a keen focus on museum collections. He has worked in several museum collections, including the Cambridge Museum of Zoology. He is currently a Trainee Field Archaeologist with Oxford Archaeology.

Kirsten Sutherland

PhD Student @ Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Kirsten completed an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2020 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. She carried out research into secondary sexual development in howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.), including relationships between testosterone, coat colour, hyoid volume and canine length. She is now a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig. Her research focuses on how great apes resolve conflicts of interest in group-level social dilemmas.

Miguel Duarte

Fulbright PhD studentship @ University of Texas

Miguel completed an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2020 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. He is an interdisciplinary anthropologist with a background in Sociocultural and Biological Anthropology. Miguel was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study for his PhD in the USA. At The University of Texas at San Antonio, Miguel intends to promote new methods which can join ethnographic fieldwork with experimental psychology while simultaneously contributing to cross-cultural comparisons in general.

Luis de Oliviera-Paes Leme

PhD student @ University of Sao Paulo

Luis completed his MSc in Animal Behaviour Applications for Conservation at ARU in 2019 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. Luis was interested in the socioecological correlates of brain evolution in hominins. He is now carrying out ongoing research on the distribution and conservation of tropical vipers under the supervision of Dr. Marcio Martins at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Rachel Palkovitz

PhD student @ Penn State

Rachel completed a MPhil degree in Biological Anthropology at University of Cambridge in 2019 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. Her research focused on geometric morphometrics of the larynx complex and the evolution of vocalization in non-human primates. She is now a student in the Anthropology Ph.D. program in the HEnDy lab at Penn State. Her research focuses on the evolution of seed dispersal mutualisms in the anthropogenic landscapes of Appalachia.

Epameinondas Megapanos

Destination unknown!

Epameinondas completed an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2018 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. His research interests include the behavioural neurobiology of cultural transmission in great apes and the genetic basis of the development of cognitive faculties underlying social and physical cognition. Prior to his MPhil, Epameinondas completed a BSc in Zoology at ARU.

Megan Beardmore-Herd

PhD student @ Oxford

Megan completed an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2017 under the supervision of Jacob Dunn. Her project focused on the evolution of language and the recognition of informative intentions. She is currently a PhD student in Susana Carvalho’s lab at the University of Oxford. Her project investigates vervet monkey vocal repertoire in an impacted environment at Gorongosa National Park and its implications for the evolution of human language.

Peer Group Collaborators

Prof. W. Tecumseh Fitch

Professor of Cognitive Biology @ University of Vienna

Tecumseh Fitch is trained as a biologist and cognitive scientist and is an expert in acoustic communication in vertebrates. He performs experimental work with species including humans, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, and works in both the lab and the field.

Prof. Takeshi Nishimura

Associate Professor @ Kyoto University

Takeshi Nishimura’s research focuses on primate voice anatomy and physiology, the evolution of human speech, comparative anatomy and paleontology.

Prof. Jeroen Smaers

Associate Professor @ Stony Brook University

Jeroen investigates comparative differences in neural structure, and draw information from recent advances in molecular phylogenetic inference to estimate how traits have changed across millions of years of evolution.

Prof. Stuart Semple

Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology @ Roehampton

Stuart Semple carries out research in primate behaviour, conservation and welfare. He has a particular interest in primate communication. Stuart is currently the President of the Primate Society of Great Britain (PSGB).

Dr Daniel Bowling

Instructor @ Stanford University

Dan Bowling is an interdisciplinary neuroscientist focused on auditory-vocal function in human social cognition and behavior. His expertise covers psychological neuroscientific, biological, and acoustic perspectives on music and language, and their evolutionary origins in animal vocal communication.

Dr Christian Herbst

Christian Herbst is an Austrian voice scientist. His key areas of research include singing voice physiology and the physics of voice production in mammals.

Dr Maxime Garcia

Postdoc Fellow @ University of Zurich

Maxime Garcia specializes in bioacoustics, with a strong interest in the evolution of vocal signals in mammals and birds, vocal learning abilities, and application of bioacoustics tools to animal conservation.

Dr Jurgi Cristóbal-Azkárate

Professor @ Universidad del País Basco

Jurgi Cristóbal-Azkárate studies the strategies that primates (including humans) use to face the challenges imposed by their social and ecological environments, from a comparative perspective.

Dr Norberto Asensio

Professor @ Universidad del País Basco

Norberto Asensio is interested in the behavioural ecology of wild animals, including competition, sociality, cognition, habitat fragmentation, conservation and movement ecology.

Prof. Victor Arroyo-Rodríguez

Professor @ Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

Victor Arroyo investigates the factors that determine the maintenance of biodiversity in fragmented tropical landscapes and is aimed at generating knowledge and theories that serve as a basis for designing species conservation strategies in these landscapes.

Prof. Pedro Dias

Professor @ Universidad Veracruzana

Pedro Dias studies the behavioural ecology of howler monkeys that live in Mexico. Specifically, he is interested in studying variation in the behaviour, physiology, and demography of these primates associated with the attributes of their environment.

Dr Claudia Wascher

Associate Professor of Behavioural Biology @ ARU

Claudia Wascher is a behavioural ecologist experienced in social cognition and physiology, interested in the evolution of cooperation as well as costs and benefits of social behaviour.