New Caledonian crows can infer the weight of objects from their movements in a breeze.
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(Jelbert, Miller et al. 2019, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences)
Qualifications
March 2012-February 2016
PhD in Cognitive Biology
University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
September 2010-August 2011
MSc in Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology
University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
January - December 2023
​Fellowship of Advance Higher Education & PG Cert in Learning & Teaching
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
September 2008-June 2010
Advanced National Certificate in Zoo Animal Management
Sparsholt College, Sparsholt, UK
September 2004-August 2008
MA (Hons) in Psychology
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Professional Career
Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
Lecturer from December 2021 - May 2022 (50% FTE), June 2022 - Sept 2024 (60% FTE).
Promotion to Senior Lecturer (70% FTE) from August 2023 - Sept 2024. Affiliate from Sept 2024 to date.
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Research inc international Comparative Cognition Society ECR Award, 13 publications; Supervision (RAs, BSc, MSc, inc students receiving “A” grade theses, degree completion and graduate level outcomes).
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Teaching inc BSc Module Leader, MSc Course Leader, Tutor, Residential Field-trip Leader, with outstanding student evaluation scores and feedback.
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Funding inc Co-Applicant on $2.5 million Canadian Partnership Grant application (pending outcome 2025).
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Admin inc School Ethics Committee Deputy Chair, Open Days & Admissions, Viva Chair; Dissemination inc BBC Radio 4, Associated Press feature, invited keynote speaker, panel speaker, Primate Society Conference Organising Committee, UK Science Festivals. PLOS ONE Editorial role.
*Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Exeter, UK (*full affilation rights)
1 May 2025 - 1 May 2028
​​Honorary senior role in research, with NERC funded PhD co-supervision (2025-2029) for Chough Project and related collaborative research, including invited research talk at Department of Ecology & Conservation, Penryn campus, Cornwall (2025).
*Visiting Scholar and Invited Guest Lecturer, University of Cambridge, UK (*full affilation rights)
1 August 2021 - 30 May 2026
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Visiting Scholar - Honorary role in research, with PhD co-supervision completion inc 3 publications & ongoing collaborative research. External PhD interviewer. *Visiting Scholar retains full affiliation rights with Cambridge University.
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Guest Lecturer - Invited, paid role in teaching (lectures, practicals, exams) across three courses and two departments. Excellent student evaluation scores.
Independent Researcher, Rethink Priorities, USA
4 October 2021 - 31 December 2021 (27% FTE), 1 June 2022 - 31 August 2022 (13% FTE)
0.2 FTE, remote consultancy basis, “Moral Weight & Animal Sentience” Project (animal welfare research); 1 publication, 1 book chapter & 1 submitted; Income generation (£3,300) to ARU (2022). Role funding: Open Philanthropy.
Research Associate in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
22 November 2021 - 30 May 2022 (20% FTE)
0.2 FTE, PI: Prof Lucy Cheke, “Cognition & Covid-19” Project (human adults & child research); Lab Manager; 2 pubs in prep. Role funding: Leverhulme Trust, Cheke PI.
Research Associate/ Lab Manager in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
1 August 2019 - 31 July 2021 (50% FTE: maternity leave August 2019-July 2020)
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PI: Prof Nicola Clayton FRS
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Research inc 5 publications; Funding applications inc co-securing £50,000 facility funds & Co-Applicant grant awarded (Dr Nishant Kumar, Oxford University).
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Teaching (BSc); Supervision (RA, BSc, PhD inc co-supervision to PhD completion of Dr Ning Ding).
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Admin & Lab Manager inc co-managing 15+ members of diverse Lab, H&S Committee, Ethics Committee, staff recruitment panels & processes, resolution of student difficulties. Role funding: ERC Advanced Grant, Clayton PI.
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
1 March 2015 - 31 July 2019 (100% FTE then 70% FTE from Jan 2018: maternity leave Oct 2016-Sept 2017)
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“Tool use as a tool for understanding causal cognition in humans and corvids” Project. PI: Prof Nicky Clayton; Role Funding: ERC 2.1 million Euro grant.
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Research inc 10 publications & dissemination inc conference presentations.
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Teaching BSc level: Supervision (RAs, BSc, PhD inc final student awarded 1st Class for BSc thesis).
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Funding applications inc co-writing ERC Advanced Grant (named post-doc), shortlisted for Leverhulme ECR Fellowships, lead role in securing 1-year ERC extension supporting 5 staff.
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Admin & Lab Management inc 4 major ERC grant financial reports and budget management, Home Office Personal Licence, Animal Users Committee. Hand-reared & trained 16 Lab corvids.
PhD in Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
March 2012-February 2016
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3-year Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) funded PhD position with Prof Thomas Bugnyar and Dr Christine Schwab of Vienna University, completed thesis on “The role of identity, social context & development on corvid behaviour”;
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6 publications;
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Hand-reared & trained 22 Lab corvids; Ringing 300+ wild corvids; Conference talks;
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Co-supervision & teaching (BSc);
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Awarded 1st Class for PhD Viva.
Research Assistant in Psychology, Auckland University, New Zealand
September-November 2011
3-month voluntary role with Prof Russell Gray & Prof Alex Taylor; 4 publications on wild and temporarily captive New Caledonian crow cognition in New Caledonia.
Avian Research Coordinator, Qualified Animal Keeper, Animal Trainer
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Edinburgh Zoo, UK
June 2004-August 2011 (part-time 2004-2008 during Undergraduate degree)
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Animal husbandry, breeding, care, enrichment & training.
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In & ex-situ conservation work inc at Budongo Conservation Field Station, Uganda and Munda Wanga Wildlife Preservation, Zambia.
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Facilitated creation of Avian Cognition Facility with Prof Richard Byrne & Prof Amanda Seed (St Andrews University).
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Co-supervisor (BSc, MSc); 1 publication with Dr Valerie Dufour (CNRS, France).
MSc in Psychology, University of St Andrews, UK
September 2009-August 2010
Under supervision of Prof Thomas Bugnyar of Vienna University and Prof Andrew Whiten of St Andrews University, completed thesis on: "Tolerance and social facilitation in the foraging behaviour of free-ranging crows”; Ringed 100+ wild crows to create field-site; 1 publication.
MA (Hons) in Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
September 2004-June 2008
Completed animal cognition study as part of Undergraduate Psychology degree - thesis on “Object permanence understanding in common ravens”, supervised by Prof Thomas Bugnyar of Vienna University, Dr Valerie Dufour of Strasbourg University and Dr Steve Draper of Glasgow University. Awarded 1st Class Distinction for Thesis.
Supervision/ co-supervision and Mentoring
Exeter University (2024-date): 1 Undergraduate student (ongoing), 1 new MSc student and 1 new PhD student starting Oct 2025 (with Prof Alex Thornton)
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Anglia Ruskin University (2021-2024): 5 Undergraduate students (complete), 1 MSc student (complete), 4 Research Assistants (complete)
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Cambridge University (2015-2022): 1 PhD (complete), 1 MSc (complete) & 2 Undergraduate students (complete); 5 Research Assistants (complete); Supporting all lab research and members as Lab Manager; Animal Behaviour Collective Mentor
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University of Vienna (2014): 1 MSc & 4 Undergraduate students (complete)
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Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (2011): 3 Undergraduate students (complete)
Teaching (lectures, practicals, assessments/ exams)
Anglia Ruskin University, UK
​2022-23 and 2023-24: Module Leader in Undergraduate Animal Physiology and Behaviour, including lectures, practicals, field trips and marking assignments, School of Life Sciences (2 academic years)
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2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24: Module Leader in Undergraduate Practical Skills in Animal Behaviour, including lectures, practicals, marking assignments and 1-week UK residential trip, School of Life Sciences (3 academic years)
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2022: Course Leader in MSc in Animal Behaviour, School of Life Sciences
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2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24: Moderator and Lecturer in Undergraduate Zoos and Zoo Animal Management, including moderating marks and international residential trip, School of Life Sciences (3 academic years)
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2023-24: Lecturer in Undergraduate Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, including lectures, School of Life Sciences (1 academic year)
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2022: Invited guest lecture at MSc Seminar on Avian Conservation, Manchester Metropolitan University (virtual)​
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University of Cambridge, UK
2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25: Undergraduate Comparative Cognition Lecture Series, including lectures, live discussion sessions and exams (online in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic), Psychology Department (5 academic years)
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2021: Undergraduate Methodology and Experimental Design Course - assisting with exam questions, Psychology Department
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2016-17, 2019-20, 2023-24, 2024-25: Undergraduate Evolution and Behaviour Practical Course, Zoology Department (2024 and 2023 as lecturer; 2019 as supervisor; 2016 as demonstrator) (4 academic years)
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2019: Undergraduate Animal Cognition Lecture Series and exams,
Zoology Department
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University of Vienna, Austria
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2014: Undergraduate Practicals, Cognitive Biology Department
Teaching online during Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020
Preparing for human testing for our study on the role of perceptual motor-feedback in water displacement tasks in young children.
(Miller et al. 2017, Peer J)
