Simon Gadbois, PhD

Simon Gadbois is a researcher in animal behaviour at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Early in his academic career, he integrated behavioural biology (ethology), experimental animal psychology (mostly learning/conditioning principles and psychophysics, the study of sensory processing) and neuroscience perspectives. A generalist, he has studied olfaction, learning, and social behaviour in fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. He has studied wild canids for over 20 years (studying the behavioural endocrinology of social behaviour in wolves and behaviour patterns in foraging behaviours comparatively in foxes, coyotes and wolves) and established the Wildlife Ethology and Canine Olfaction Laboratory at Dalhousie in 2006. Since 2007, his lab has been engaged mostly in research on biomedical detection and alert dogs as well as the tracking and trailing of species-at-risk with his wildlife conservation canines.

Kathryn Lord, phd

Kathryn Lord is a research specialist in the Karlsson lab at The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, with Dr. Raymond Coppinger. As a postdoctoral associate at UMass Chan Medical School, she incorporated genomics into her interest in the evolution and development of animal behavior. Kathryn’s work is centered around finding a deeper understanding of how genes and environment interact to allow for rapid evolution, particularly to human environments. Her work mainly focuses on members of the genus Canis. She has published on topics including the evolution of seasonality in the genus Canis, the function of barking in birds and mammals, the primary critical period of socialization in dogs and wolves, the lack of scientific support for the concept of the domestication syndrome and the behavioral genetics of pet dogs.

monique A.R. udell, phd, CAAB

Dr. Monique Udell is an Associate Professor of Animal Sciences at Oregon State University, where she directs the Human-Animal Interactions Lab and teaches courses on Animal Behavior, Cognition and Learning. She is passionate about harnessing science to learn, understand and communicate ways to deepen and improve the relationships people share with animals. Consequently, much of her work focuses on the development of cross-species bonds in both wild and domesticated animals, and the impact that these bonds can have on the behavior and success of both species. This includes research on human-animal attachment, the influence of social enrichment and training on welfare, and mutually beneficial approaches to animal-assisted activities. She has a special interest in the social development and behavior of dogs, cats and wolves, however she has studied the behavior of a variety of other animals including horses, pigs, sheep, and bats. In her free time, you will find her exploring the beauty of Oregon with her family.

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erica feuerbacher, phd, bcba-d, CAAB, cpdt-ka

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor of Companion Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab in the School of Animal Science. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida in the UF Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab and her Masters in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas in the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was an Assistant Professor at Carroll College in Helena, MT, where she led the canine program in which students trained foster dogs during the academic year. She has worked as a shelter behavior consultant, offered group dog training classes and private behavior consultations, and is co-founder of the Institute for Shelter Dogs. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her research at Virginia Tech focuses on understanding dog behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied behavior analysis to solve behavioral issues, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has earned several awards for her behavior analytic research and her dedication to the theoretical foundations of behavior analysis. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals through behavior analysis.

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LINDSAY MEHRKAM, PHD, BCBA-D

Dr. Lindsay Mehrkam is an applied animal behaviorist, animal welfare scientist, and doctoral-level Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her primary research interests focus on the benefits of human-animal interaction, enrichment, and training for improving the welfare of both animals and people in society. As the director of the Human & Animal Welfare Collaboratory (HAWC) and the faculty representative for the Six Flags Field Experience Program, her teaching and research programs in applied animal behavior, learning, and well-being have led to grants, publications, workshops, internships, and service learning opportunities in animal shelters, zoos, aquariums, animal sanctuaries, among others. Dr. Mehrkam’s research has published widely in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. She has been recognized through popular media outlets, grants, and scholarly and industry awards, including the Association for Professional Dog Trainers, Maddie’s Fund, and the Animal Behavior Management Alliance.

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alexandra protopopova, PHD, CAAB

Dr. Alexandra (Sasha) Protopopova is an assistant professor in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. Sasha’s research aims are to improve animal shelter practices, improve companion animal welfare in shelters, pet homes, and in assistance roles. Sasha earned an MS and a PhD in Behavior Analysis from the University of Florida. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and is a frequent presenter in scientific and professional conferences. Sasha spends her days conducting behavioral research, teaching university classes in Animal Learning, going on hiking trails, and cuddling dogs.

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LIsa gunter, phd, CAAB, cbcc-ka

Dr. Lisa Gunter is an Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech in the School of Animal Sciences and directs the Center for Applied Animal Behavior & Education (CAARE). Before beginning her graduate studies, she worked for nearly a decade in animal shelters and with pet dogs and their owners. Her research focuses on the behavior and welfare of companion animals with a special focus on our interactions with them. The goal of Lisa’s research and extension is to better the lives of people and their pets. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Coastal Carolina University and the Maddie’s Fund Research Fellow at Arizona State University. Lisa earned her PhD and MA degrees in the behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology program at Arizona State University in the Canine Science Collaboratory.

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nathan hall, phd

Dr. Nathan Hall is an Associate Professor of Companion Animal Science at Texas Tech University and the Director of the Canine Olfaction Research and Education Laboratory in the Department of Animal Science. Dr. Hall earned his PhD at the University of Florida, specializing in the study of Behavior Analysis and canine olfaction. As a post-doc, he continued his studies at Arizona State University investigating the optimization of training to enhance canine’s detection of Homemade Explosives. At Texas Tech, his work continues to explore canine olfactory perception and how experience influences odor perception.His lab also investigates predictors and correlates of problem behavior, behavioral predictors of working aptitude, and the relationship between behavior and health using advanced statistical models. Throughout his career, Dr. Hall has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters.

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