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A brief background (for teaching purposes):
Social attention in chimpanzees
I began studying social attention in chimpanzees in 1997 when I conducted an observational study of social and human-directed vigilance in free-ranging chimpanzees at the Budongo Forest Project, Uganda (now Budongo Conservation Field Station). This research formed my final year dissertation project and I was awarded my BSc in Zoology from University College, London in 1998. I thank Professor Vernon Reynolds, Dr Guy Cowlishaw and Professor Andy Whiten for their assistance and encouragement. I published some of my observations during this time in a specialist primate journal Primate Report.
After a spell working as a wildlife researcher at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, and Independent TV companies in Bristol and London, I went on to complete a MSc in Evolutionary Psychology (Professor Robin Dunbar, Liverpool University) and then in Psychological Research Methods (Professor Kim Bard, Portsmouth University), studying patterns of eye-gaze in chimpanzees at Chester Zoo, UK. During my time as a Masters student I gave my first research seminar presentation, talking about my research in Budongo, and used this as a practice run for my first conference presentation (Primate Society of Great Britain Easter meeting, 2003). I also wrote up some observations from my research on chimpanzees at Chester Zoo for publication in two primate journals: American Journal of Primatology and Folia Primatologica, and presented a poster at the International Primatological Society conference in Turin.
After a spell working as a wildlife researcher at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, and Independent TV companies in Bristol and London, I went on to complete a MSc in Evolutionary Psychology (Professor Robin Dunbar, Liverpool University) and then in Psychological Research Methods (Professor Kim Bard, Portsmouth University), studying patterns of eye-gaze in chimpanzees at Chester Zoo, UK. During my time as a Masters student I gave my first research seminar presentation, talking about my research in Budongo, and used this as a practice run for my first conference presentation (Primate Society of Great Britain Easter meeting, 2003). I also wrote up some observations from my research on chimpanzees at Chester Zoo for publication in two primate journals: American Journal of Primatology and Folia Primatologica, and presented a poster at the International Primatological Society conference in Turin.
Attention and cognitive bias in rhesus macaques
During a time working as a Research Assistant on a range of projects I applied for funding to do a PhD. After two years and multiple grant submissions (and rejections) I finally secured funding to conduct research into cognitive and attentional biases in rhesus macaques (supervisors: Dr Stuart Semple, Dr Amanda Holmes and Professor Ann MacLarnon, Roehampton University; with field work based at the Caribbean Primate Research Centre in Puerto Rico). This was a great project that allowed me to set up and run my own lab, work with a species of primate I hadn't worked with previously, learn to programme in EPrime, and experience living in another culture. For this project I recorded cognitive (computer touchscreen responses), behavioural and physiological (faecal cortisol, blood leukocyte) measures to assess the impact of positive versus stressful husbandry procedures (eg environmental enrichment versus a visit from the vet) on cognitive processes that, in humans, are associated with psychological wellbeing.
During my PhD I presented my initial ideas and the emerging patterns in my data at a number of conferences and departmental seminars. The feedback I received from these talks was invaluable in shaping the project and my understanding of the emerging trends in the data. I continued to present my work at conferences whilst subsequently working as a Research Assistant at Birkbeck College, London (Professor Anne Richards, Dr Mandy Holmes), on a project measuring human brain wave (Event Related Potential: ERP) correlates of emotional face processing in anxious and nonanxious humans. This was a great opportunity to increase my understanding of human cognitive bias and the face-processing literature as well as develop a new skill using electroencaphalogram (EEG) equipment. I was also lucky enough during my PhD to be part of a PhD writing workshop group led by Kate Williams from Oxford Brookes University. The result of our combined experiences and input was two Palgrave Study Guide books written by Post-doctoral researchers for PhD students with practical advice on planning and completing a PhD.
During my PhD I presented my initial ideas and the emerging patterns in my data at a number of conferences and departmental seminars. The feedback I received from these talks was invaluable in shaping the project and my understanding of the emerging trends in the data. I continued to present my work at conferences whilst subsequently working as a Research Assistant at Birkbeck College, London (Professor Anne Richards, Dr Mandy Holmes), on a project measuring human brain wave (Event Related Potential: ERP) correlates of emotional face processing in anxious and nonanxious humans. This was a great opportunity to increase my understanding of human cognitive bias and the face-processing literature as well as develop a new skill using electroencaphalogram (EEG) equipment. I was also lucky enough during my PhD to be part of a PhD writing workshop group led by Kate Williams from Oxford Brookes University. The result of our combined experiences and input was two Palgrave Study Guide books written by Post-doctoral researchers for PhD students with practical advice on planning and completing a PhD.
Lectureship in Primatology and Animal Behaviour
During and after my PhD I worked as a Visiting Lecturer giving lectures and workshops on Undergraduate and Masters level modules in primate cognition, emotion and welfare in Psychology and Biology departments at Roehampton University and Birkbeck College. This led to a fixed-term Teaching Fellowship in the Department of Anthropology at University College London, providing sabbatical cover for Professor Volker Sommer teaching Biological Anthropology and Primate Socio-Ecology. I then went on to gain a lectureship in Primatology and Animal Behaviour providing sabbatical cover for Professor Filippo Aureli at Liverpool John Moores University where I am currently based.
Photo credit: Juvenile rhesus macaques, Cayo Santiago 2012, Rebecca Smith
