Our researchers
Meet the team
Our Research Team's expertise spans a variety of traditional fields as well as innovative approaches to understanding the welfare of wild animals. Click through to each researcher's profile page for more details on their education, work, and publications.
Senior researcherMichaël’s research focuses on formulating recommendations for how to measure wild animal welfare most appropriately and efficiently. His current projects include examining the use of potential welfare indicators and wildlife monitoring methods to assess wild animal welfare, and encouraging various scientific communities to engage in wild animal welfare science. He has expertise in physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare.
Learn more about Michaël’s background and expertise.
Outreach managerJanire’s research focuses on the validation of welfare indicators and the need for integrating welfare into behavioral research. Her current projects include assessing the suitability of welfare indicators for wild animals and testing the validity of several welfare indicators in house sparrows.
Learn more about Janire’s background and expertise.
researcherSimon’s research at Wild Animal Initiative has focused on population dynamics, wild animal welfare interventions like wildlife contraception, and the welfare effects of injuries. His current projects include modeling the welfare impact of wildlife fertility control in populations regulated by density-dependent processes, researching the effects of the New World screwworm on wild animal welfare, and injuries and welfare in wild fish. He has expertise in areas like phylogenetic comparative methods, behavioral ecology and biostatistics.
Learn more about Simon’s background and expertise.
physiology & Behavior Researcher Bonnie’s research focuses on identifying and validating behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare, using welfare indicators to assess wild animal welfare, and determining factors that influence wild animal welfare. Her current projects include testing the validity of several welfare indicators in house sparrows and assessing the suitability of welfare indicators for wild animals. She has expertise in welfare indicators, behavioral ecology, physiological ecology, and stress physiology.
Learn more about Bonnie’s background and expertise.
Grants Manager & researcherLuke’s research uses population-level data and metrics to inform efforts to understand and improve wild animal welfare at the individual level. His current project involves modeling the welfare impact of wildlife fertility control in populations regulated by density-dependent processes. He also has expertise in cause-specific mortality, welfare expectancy, and wild animals’ early life experiences.
Learn more about Luke’s background and expertise.