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my Current adventure:

Concordia University, Montreal, QC

In my element collecting data at the Awajishima Monkey Centre on Awaji Island, Japan.

In my element collecting data at the Awajishima Monkey Centre on Awaji Island, Japan.

My start. I fell in love with primates a number of years ago, as a naive linguistic's student at Glendon College, York University. Having begun volunteering for two incredible professors, before I knew it I was being shipped off to Des Moines, IA to volunteer as a summer intern, working with Kanzi and his bonobo family. 

The experience changed my life. Subsequently, I spent three summers working with the apes, care staff and researchers in what is perhaps the best Midwestern city (that is my completely biased opinion). I have been fortunate to interact with another species in ways that many only dream about.

I have studied Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and participated in a number of international conferences, presenting linguistic analyses for ape-human discourse. I have spent multiple summers in the field, participating in research and data collection within ecological, behavioural and conservation contexts.  

Rudy, an adult male Japanese macaque, defends resources against a Sika deer during a trial in my multi-destination foraging experiment.

Rudy, an adult male Japanese macaque, defends resources against a Sika deer during a trial in my multi-destination foraging experiment.

About me

Welcome! I'm so happy you stumbled onto my site. I am currently working on my PhD under the supervision of Dr. Sarah E. Turner at Concordia University and Pierre-Olivier Montiglio at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

I am excited to further pursue a career in Primatology. I am interested in primate ecology, particularly in social relationships and behavioural adaptations.

My research will focus on decision-making strategies in foraging by a large group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on Awaji Island, Japan. I am curious to learn which social and non-social variables most influence the decision-making patterns observed.

 
Nyota eating an ice surprise (ice with hidden berries!)

Nyota eating an ice surprise (ice with hidden berries!)

I recently returned from Japan, where I spent the summer collecting field data that will be used for the analysis in my Master’s degree. I was lucky to spend three months among the Japanese macaques, observing their behaviour as they voluntarily participated in my multi-destination route foraging experiment.