Principal Investigator
Lauren Guillette
2018 Assistant Professor of Comparative Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta
2018 Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2015 BBSRC Anniversary Future Leader Fellow, School of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2013 Royal Society Newton International Fellow, School of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2012 PhD, University of Alberta (Canada)
2007 MSc Mount Holyoke College (USA)
2002 BA Ripon College (USA)
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8777-6543
Scopus Author ID: 35237420800
ResearcherID: K-8154-2013
2018 Assistant Professor of Comparative Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta
2018 Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2015 BBSRC Anniversary Future Leader Fellow, School of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2013 Royal Society Newton International Fellow, School of Biology, University of St Andrews (UK)
2012 PhD, University of Alberta (Canada)
2007 MSc Mount Holyoke College (USA)
2002 BA Ripon College (USA)
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8777-6543
Scopus Author ID: 35237420800
ResearcherID: K-8154-2013
PhD Students:
Erfan Khalaji (2021-)
(2018) BS Software Engineering, Arak University (Arak, Iran)
(2021) MS Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus (Guzelyurt, Cyprus)
https://erfankhalaji.weebly.com
(2018) BS Software Engineering, Arak University (Arak, Iran)
(2021) MS Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus (Guzelyurt, Cyprus)
https://erfankhalaji.weebly.com
Connor Lambert (2018-)
(2014) BS Wildlife Conservation, Brigham Young University (Utah, USA)
(2018) MS Biology, Miami University (Ohio, USA)
https://ctlambert.weebly.com/
(2014) BS Wildlife Conservation, Brigham Young University (Utah, USA)
(2018) MS Biology, Miami University (Ohio, USA)
https://ctlambert.weebly.com/
Andrés Camacho-Alpizar (2018-)
(2010) BA Biology, University of Costa Rica (San José, Costa Rica)
(2015) MSc Biology, University of Costa Rica (San José, Costa Rica)
https://andrescamachoalpizar.weebly.com/
(2010) BA Biology, University of Costa Rica (San José, Costa Rica)
(2015) MSc Biology, University of Costa Rica (San José, Costa Rica)
https://andrescamachoalpizar.weebly.com/
MSc Students:
Sara Blunk (2021-)
(2021) BS Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Kansas State University (Kansas, USA)
Sara Blunk is joining the ACRG in Autumn 2021. Her prior research has focused on studying tallgrass prairie avian communities including greater prairie chickens and modelling American crow abundance across the continental United States.
(2021) BS Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Kansas State University (Kansas, USA)
Sara Blunk is joining the ACRG in Autumn 2021. Her prior research has focused on studying tallgrass prairie avian communities including greater prairie chickens and modelling American crow abundance across the continental United States.
Gopika Balasubramanian (2019-)
(2019) BS-MS Life Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (West Bengal, India)
https://gopikabalasubramanian.weebly.com/
(2019) BS-MS Life Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (West Bengal, India)
https://gopikabalasubramanian.weebly.com/
Tristan Eckersley (2018-)
(2017) BA Psychology, MacEwan University (Edmonton, Canada)
http://www.tristaneckersley.com
(2017) BA Psychology, MacEwan University (Edmonton, Canada)
http://www.tristaneckersley.com
Undergraduates:
Liam Noelt-Mulholland (Honours Thesis student, 2019-)
Liam is an undergraduate student currently completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Honours Psychology. His interests include learning and behaviour, with a special interest in how people interact and communicate with other animals.
Liam is an undergraduate student currently completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Honours Psychology. His interests include learning and behaviour, with a special interest in how people interact and communicate with other animals.
Shaunak Mistry (Independent studies student, 2019-)
Shaunak is a 4th-year student completing his BSc. Specialization in Psychology. He is interested in social cognition and behaviour, with a special interest in communication patterns within animal species.
Shaunak is a 4th-year student completing his BSc. Specialization in Psychology. He is interested in social cognition and behaviour, with a special interest in communication patterns within animal species.
Christine McManus (Independent studies Student, 2020-)
Christine is a 4th-year student completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is interested
in how learning develops over an organism’s lifespan, and how social learning influences
normal development.
Christine is a 4th-year student completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is interested
in how learning develops over an organism’s lifespan, and how social learning influences
normal development.
Former lab members:
Briana Kroeker (Honours Thesis student, 2019-2020)
Briana is an undergraduate student who is currently completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Honours Psychology. Her research interests involve learning and behaviour, with a special interest in how behaviours are acquired.
Briana is an undergraduate student who is currently completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Honours Psychology. Her research interests involve learning and behaviour, with a special interest in how behaviours are acquired.
Maks Taghizda (Independent studies student, 2019-2020)
Maks is an undergraduate student completing a bachelor of science degree with a specialization in psychology. His research interests lie around behavior and cognition. Specifically looking at the interaction between behavior and cognition in children and adolescents.
Maks is an undergraduate student completing a bachelor of science degree with a specialization in psychology. His research interests lie around behavior and cognition. Specifically looking at the interaction between behavior and cognition in children and adolescents.
Harsimran Khinda (2019-2020)
Sim is an undergraduate student at the university currently doing a bachelor of science degree with a specialization in psychology. His research interests lie around the topics of behaviour and learning, with an interest in early learning in children and adolescents. In the lab, I currently assist with experimental setup, preparation, and animal husbandry.
Sim is an undergraduate student at the university currently doing a bachelor of science degree with a specialization in psychology. His research interests lie around the topics of behaviour and learning, with an interest in early learning in children and adolescents. In the lab, I currently assist with experimental setup, preparation, and animal husbandry.
Maneet Sidhu (2019-2020)
Maneet is an undergraduate studying for s Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a Biology minor. Her interests lie in the topics of cognition and behaviour in relation to learning. She loves to learn about a broad spectrum of psychology topics especially those related to mental health.
Maneet is an undergraduate studying for s Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a Biology minor. Her interests lie in the topics of cognition and behaviour in relation to learning. She loves to learn about a broad spectrum of psychology topics especially those related to mental health.
Chelsea Hanson (2019-2020)
Chelsea is an undergraduate student completing a Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Psychology. She is interested in behaviour and learning, particularly in social learning as well as the elimination and shaping of behaviours, and how these topics can be applied to the treatment of mental illness.
Chelsea is an undergraduate student completing a Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Psychology. She is interested in behaviour and learning, particularly in social learning as well as the elimination and shaping of behaviours, and how these topics can be applied to the treatment of mental illness.
Brittany Perkins (Summer 2019)
Brittany is a high school student from Northern Alberta (Fairview). She is interested in a career in biology, especially zoology and environmental conservation. She was accepted for the University of Alberta WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology) Summer Research Program and will assist in running experiments with nest-building zebra finches this summer. Brittany is supervised by Tristan Eckersley.
Brittany is a high school student from Northern Alberta (Fairview). She is interested in a career in biology, especially zoology and environmental conservation. She was accepted for the University of Alberta WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology) Summer Research Program and will assist in running experiments with nest-building zebra finches this summer. Brittany is supervised by Tristan Eckersley.
Cora-Lee Kashuba (Summer 2019)
Coral-Lee is a high school student from Slave Lake, Alberta. She is interested in biology and chemistry and plans to pursue a career within the field of psychology or neurology. She was accepted for the University of Alberta WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology) Summer Research Program and will assist in running experiments with nest-building zebra finches this summer. Cora-Lee is supervised by Tristan Eckersley.
Coral-Lee is a high school student from Slave Lake, Alberta. She is interested in biology and chemistry and plans to pursue a career within the field of psychology or neurology. She was accepted for the University of Alberta WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology) Summer Research Program and will assist in running experiments with nest-building zebra finches this summer. Cora-Lee is supervised by Tristan Eckersley.
Dr. Alexis Breen (2015-2018)
PhD November 2018
Physical cognition in nest-building birds
Funded PhD Studentship, School of Biology
St Leonard's College Scholarship, University of St Andrews
Lauren Guillette: Primary Supervisor
Sue Healy: Secondary Supervisor
PhD November 2018
Physical cognition in nest-building birds
Funded PhD Studentship, School of Biology
St Leonard's College Scholarship, University of St Andrews
Lauren Guillette: Primary Supervisor
Sue Healy: Secondary Supervisor
Kirsten Laurenson
2017-2018 Undergraduate Honours Student
Biology, University of St Andrews
I am an undergrad studying Ecology and Conservation at the University of St Andrews. Although my main interest lies in conservation, I am also interested in animal cognition, particularly in birds. For my undergraduate honours project I am investigating mate provisioning in zebra finches across different stage in the breeding cycle.
Kirsty is currently in an MSc Program at the University of Exeter, UK
2017-2018 Undergraduate Honours Student
Biology, University of St Andrews
I am an undergrad studying Ecology and Conservation at the University of St Andrews. Although my main interest lies in conservation, I am also interested in animal cognition, particularly in birds. For my undergraduate honours project I am investigating mate provisioning in zebra finches across different stage in the breeding cycle.
Kirsty is currently in an MSc Program at the University of Exeter, UK
Peter Stewart
2017-2018 Undergraduate Honours Student
Biology, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate studying Zoology at the University of St Andrews. My main interests lie in the behaviour and ecology of predators and their prey, and in applying this research to conservation. For my undergraduate honours project, I am investigating associative learning and memory in pit-building antlion larvae.
Peter is currently in an MSc Program at Imperial College, London, UK
2017-2018 Undergraduate Honours Student
Biology, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate studying Zoology at the University of St Andrews. My main interests lie in the behaviour and ecology of predators and their prey, and in applying this research to conservation. For my undergraduate honours project, I am investigating associative learning and memory in pit-building antlion larvae.
Peter is currently in an MSc Program at Imperial College, London, UK
Alba McClinton
Summer 2017
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate student at the university of St Andrews studying Zoology. My main passion is in the field of ecology and conservation, as well as having a strong interest for studying animal behavior. During the summer months I am assisting in a project related to cognition in Zebra Finches and how it affects their nest-building behavior.
Summer 2017
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate student at the university of St Andrews studying Zoology. My main passion is in the field of ecology and conservation, as well as having a strong interest for studying animal behavior. During the summer months I am assisting in a project related to cognition in Zebra Finches and how it affects their nest-building behavior.
Keren Lovie
Summer 2017
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am studying zoology at the University of St Andrews. I am particularly interested in social behavior in animals and how this can affect learning. During my internship I will be assisting in research of how early life experience in zebra finches can affect their decisions when building their first nest.
Keren received funding from the Undergraduate Research Assistant Scheme from the University of St Andrews
Summer 2017
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am studying zoology at the University of St Andrews. I am particularly interested in social behavior in animals and how this can affect learning. During my internship I will be assisting in research of how early life experience in zebra finches can affect their decisions when building their first nest.
Keren received funding from the Undergraduate Research Assistant Scheme from the University of St Andrews
Clémence Bonneaud
Summer 2017
Masters in Ethology Student, Université de Paris 13 (France)
I am studying ethology in France. I have a particular interest in cognition and I am very curious about learning and decision making. During my two-month internship I will participate in laboratory research on social learning in nest-building birds.
Summer 2017
Masters in Ethology Student, Université de Paris 13 (France)
I am studying ethology in France. I have a particular interest in cognition and I am very curious about learning and decision making. During my two-month internship I will participate in laboratory research on social learning in nest-building birds.
Tas Vamos
Summer 2016
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate studying behavioural biology. Specifically, I am interested in bird behaviour, ecology, and evolution. As a summer intern, I am assisting with research into social learning in zebra finches.
Tas received funding from the Undergraduate Research Assistant Scheme from the University of St Andrews.
Summer 2016
Undergraduate, University of St Andrews
I am an undergraduate studying behavioural biology. Specifically, I am interested in bird behaviour, ecology, and evolution. As a summer intern, I am assisting with research into social learning in zebra finches.
Tas received funding from the Undergraduate Research Assistant Scheme from the University of St Andrews.
Chloe Guerard
Summer 2016
Undergraduate, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (France)
I am a vet student from France and I am particularly interested in animal behaviour. During my 8-week internship I will participate in research on bird behaviour. More specifically, I am working on nest-building behaviour, with a focus on how early-life experience might influence this behaviour.
Summer 2016
Undergraduate, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (France)
I am a vet student from France and I am particularly interested in animal behaviour. During my 8-week internship I will participate in research on bird behaviour. More specifically, I am working on nest-building behaviour, with a focus on how early-life experience might influence this behaviour.
