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Biography

After completing a PhD in Neurosciences in France (EPHE and University of Montpellier 2) and 9 years as a postdoc and associate lecturer in Germany (Institute of Zoology, Hannover), I joined the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology as a Marie Curie Research Fellow in October 2014.

I was the PI of the 2-year project ‘Macacognitum’ (2014-2016) where I investigated the differential influence of social style on cognitive skills in closely related monkey species. I conducted observations and cognitive experiments in several European facilities: on the Isle of Wight, in Italy (collaboration with Dr Arianna De Marco) and at the BPRC, The Netherlands (in collaboration with Prof ).

I was appointed lecturer in the department in September 2017. I got promoted to Senior Lecturer in January 2018 and to Associate Professor in Cognitive Ethology in September 2023. I have been the co-director of the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology since 2020.

Research interests

My research interests lie in the evolutionary dynamics of human and non-human primate behaviour and intelligence. I investigate the link between sociality and cognitive styles, socioecology and foraging decisions and movements as well as executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control)in different species of non-human primates and in humans. I conduct my research in collaboration with zoo institutions (e.g. Monkey Haven, Isle of Wight; CERZA zoo, France) but also in the field (e.g. Madagascar, Indonesia).

Current external collaborations include:

• (University of Newcastle, UK)
• (Nottingham Trent University)

I am part of the open science and collaborative projects and .

Research areas for MRes and PhD students:

• Cognition in the wild
• Primate ranging decisions and socioecology 
• Ecological complexity and evolution of cognition

with fieldwork in Indonesia or Madagascar

Teaching responsibilities

I am the coordinator of the 2nd year unit 'Individual Differences and Psychometrics'  where I teach most of the core lectures on Personality and Intelligence. This is a core unit for the Bsc (Hons) Psychology, BSc (Hons) Forensic Psycholoogy and the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology.

I also teach in the 3rd year 'Cultural Psychology' unit.

I am a tutor for the 1st year 'Exploring Psychology' unit and the 2nd year 'Professional Development and Employability' unit.

I supervised 3rd year students for their final year project.