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 in Psychology
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Professional Career
Lecturer from December 2021 - May 2022 (50% FTE), June 2022 - Sept 2024 (70% FTE).
Promotion to Senior Lecturer (70% FTE) from August 2023 - Sept 2024. Affiliate from Sept 2024 to date.
Senior Lecturer in Biology, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
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Research inc 9 publications; Expanding research programme in Comparative Psychology, Big-Team Open Science, Applications for conservation, education & welfare; new collaborations inc Co-Founder of ManyBirds Project, Dr Elias Garcia-Pelegrin (NUS), Dr Caglar Akcay & Dr Julia Mackenzie (ARU), ManyMany Consortium;
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Teaching inc MSc Course Leader; Module Leader, Tutor, Residential Field-trip Leader; Supervision (RAs, BSc, MSc, inc pubs in prep, BSc inc student’s receiving “A” grade theses); Funding applications inc Co-Applicant on Canadian Partnership Grant;
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Science dissemination inc invited BOU keynote speaker, Big-Team Science Conference panel speaker, Primate Society Conference Organiser, featured by BBC Radio 4 and the Associated Press;
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Admin inc School Ethics Committee Deputy Chair, Open Events, Viva Chair
1 August 2021 - 31 May 2025
*Visiting Scholar and Invited Guest Lecturer, University of Cambridge, UK (*full affilation rights)
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Visiting Scholar - Honorary role: Hosted by Prof Nicola Clayton FRS and Prof Lucy Cheke; PhD co-supervision completion inc 2 publications. *Visiting Scholar retains full affiliation rights with Cambridge University.
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Guest Lecturer - Invited, paid role; Teaching across three courses in the Psychology Department and Zoology Department
4 October 2021 - 31 December 2021 (27% FTE), 1 June 2022 - 31 August 2022 (13% FTE)
Independent Researcher, Rethink Priorities, USA
Animal Welfare Research: Remote position, paid consultancy basis; “Moral Weight & Animal Sentience” Project led by Dr Bob Fischer; 1 publication & 2 submitted; Income generation (£3,300) to ARU (‘22). Role funding: Open Philanthropy
22 November 2021 - 30 May 2022 (20% FTE)
Research Associate in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
With Prof Lucy Cheke; “Cognition & Covid-19” Project (human adults & children); Lab Manager;
2 co-author pubs in prep. Role funding: Leverhulme Trust (Cheke as PI)
1 August 2019 - 31 July 2021 (50% FTE: maternity leave August 2019-July 2020)
Research Associate/ Lab Manager in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
With Prof Nicola Clayton FRS; Research inc 5 publications; Teaching (BSc); Supervision (RA, BSc, PhD inc co-supervision to PhD completion of Dr Ning Ding; Funding applications inc co-securing £50,000 facility funds & Co-Applicant grant awarded (Dr Nishant Kumar, Oxford University); Admin & Lab Manager inc co-managing 15+ member diverse Lab, H&S Committee, Ethics Committee, Recruitment Panels, resolution of student difficulties. Role funding: European Research Council (ERC Advanced Grant, Clayton as PI)
1 March 2015 - 31 July 2019 (100% FTE then 70% FTE from Jan 2018: maternity leave Oct 2016-Sept 2017)
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
“Tool use as a tool for understanding causal cognition in humans and corvids” Project with Prof Nicola Clayton FRS; Research inc 10 publications & dissemination; Teaching; Supervision (RAs, BSc, PhD inc final student awarded 1st Class for BSc thesis); Funding applications inc ERC Advanced Grant (named Post-doc), shortlisted for Fellowships, lead role in securing 1-year ERC extension supporting 5 staff; Admin & Lab Management inc 4 ERC grant financial reports, Home Office Personal Licence, Animal Users Committee. Hand-reared & trained 16 Lab corvids. Role Funding: ERC
March 2012-February 2016
PhD in Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
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”; 6 publications; Hand-reared & trained 22 Lab corvids; Ringing 300+ wild corvids; Conference talks; Co-supervision & teaching (BSc); Awarded 1st Class for PhD Viva.
September-November 2011
Research Assistant in Psychology, Auckland University, New Zealand
3-month voluntary basis with Prof Russell Gray & Prof Alex Taylor; 4 publications on New Caledonian crow cognition.
June 2004-August 2011 (part-time 2004-2008 during Undergraduate degree)
Avian Research Coordinator, Qualified Animal Keeper, Animal Trainer
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Edinburgh Zoo, UK
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In collaboration with Prof. Amanda Seed and Prof. Richard Byrne (St Andrews University), facilitated the creation of an avian research facility within Edinburgh Zoo. Set up and participated in four avian research projects, including co-supervision of 3 B.Sc.-level students (St Andrews University, 2011) and one MSc-level student (Vienna University, 2014-2015). Created wild crow field study site, including training for a restricted C permit from the British Trust of Ornithology with Clive Walton (2011). Representative for avian behavioural research at RZSS Research Group (2011).
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Responsible for animal care within the Bird Section at Edinburgh Zoo (comprising 11 core staff and 50 avian species - 350 individuals). Additional specialist responsibilities included Bird Section Trainer and Enrichment Coordinator, member of RZSS Research Group (representing behavioural research) and RZSS Enrichment Group. 1 journal publication and 1 RATEL magazine article published.
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​Research Assistant (volunteer): Assisting Dr. Valerie Dufour of Strasbourg University and Prof. Bugnyar of Vienna University focusing on use of the exchange paradigm to investigate delay of gratification in common raven and carrion crow held at Edinburgh Zoo and Konrad Lorenz Research Station, Austria, leading to 1 publication.
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Budongo Conservation Field Station, Uganda: Funded by and working for RZSS experiencing field research procedures and learning about related conservation initiatives, conducting staff interviews and recording video footage. Main purpose contributing to the education interpretation for the Edinburgh Zoo “Budongo Trail”- a purpose built chimpanzee research facility, producing a full report of the trip and publication of an article in RATEL (Association of British Wild Animal Keepers magazine).
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Munda Wanga Wildlife Sanctuary (volunteer): Helping with daily animal care and designing a proposal for new avian enclosures. Participating in organisation and delivery of Summer School educational activities as well as the annual fundraising event ‘Run for Wildlife’.
September 2009-August 2010
MSc in Psychology, University of St Andrews, UK
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.
September 2004-June 2008
MA (Hons) in Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
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 (2024-2025): 1 Undergraduate student (with Prof Alex Thornton; ongoing)
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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): 2 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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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)
