An illustration of my favorite chimpanzee at the Los Angeles Zoo (Yoshi) and I. Rosa Muñoz, a former undergraduate mentee and UCLA alumna, gifted the artwork!
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About Me
I am a comparative and evolutionary psychologist who conducts research on the properties of animal facial signals and their implications for the evolution of sociality, gestural communication, and human language. I am also an applied psychologist conducting research on human-animal interactions to develop training tools and materials that help zookeepers, veterinarians, pet owners, and others provide the best possible care for their animals. I work closely with numerous zoos, conservation centers, sanctuaries, shelters, and rescues to conduct non-invasive research through behavioral observation. I am currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lyon College and a Graduate Faculty Member in the Department of Pathobiology & Integrative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Missouri. I am also the Founder & Director of the Lyon College Animal Behavior & Cognition Lab. I earned my B.A. in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2014, my M.A. in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2016, and my Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California Los Angeles in 2022. For my M.A., I researched the relationship between pair bond strength and facial signaling within multiple species of gibbons (Hylobates spp., Hoolock spp., and Nomascus spp.). For my Ph.D., I examined how facial signaling compares to other modes of communication (such as manual gesturing) in a captive troop of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). |
Collaborators & Research Partners
I frequently collaborate with zoos, conservation centers, sanctuaries, shelters, and rescue organizations. Below, you can find examples of the ones I am currently working with, as well as those I have collaborated with in the past:
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My work would not be possible without the extensive support of my collaborators. Below are some of the organizations and associated researchers/staff I partner with for my work on animal facial signaling:
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