Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab
The University of Puget Sound's Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab focuses on a variety of psychological research questions which can be investigated through the study of nonhuman animals. The lab studies behavior from social, comparative, developmental, and animal welfare perspectives.
Due to the pandemic, Dr. Colbert-White will not be taking any research students for the 2020-2021 school year.
Due to the pandemic, Dr. Colbert-White will not be taking any research students for the 2020-2021 school year.
Lab Members
Due to the global pandemic, all active research projects are on pause.
Current and Recent Projects
- The effects of reward on dogs' choice behavior (collaboration with Dr. Alexa Tullis, Biology, and Maxx King, '19)
- Comparative cognition literature review (Anna Marchand, '19; Dylan Richmond, '15)
- Standardizing methods for assessing the uncanny valley (André Zamani, '19)
- The effects of animal presence on feelings of social exclusion (Alissa Charvonia, '17)
- Dogs' use of intonation as a social referencing cue (collaboration with Dr. Alexa Tullis, Biology)
- The effects of predator stress on empathy-like helping behavior by Norway rats (Eden Ehrmann, '17)
- Assessment of the role of previous experience as a motivator of empathy-like helping behavior by Norway rats (Dylan Richmond '15)
- Assessment of validity and reliability of temperament (i.e., behavioral syndromes) measurements in Norway rats (Jennifer Onaga '15)
- Paired sleeping behavior and its correlates to exploratory behavior in Norway rats (Allison Winzenried, '16)
Lab Alumni
- Andee Rorabaugh ('20)
- Gordon Zhang ('20)
- Anna Marchand ('19)
- André Zamani ('19)
- Lilly Bengtson ('18)
- Erin Cummiskey ('18)
- Eden Ehrmann ('17)
- Kaylana Patterson ('17)
- Kiona Parker ('17)
- Alissa Charvonia ('17)
- Allison Winzenried ('16)
- Jennifer Onaga ('15)
- Dylan Richmond ('15)
Research Assistant Application
Students who are interested in joining the lab as a research assistant are encouraged to email Dr. Colbert-White first to express their interest prior to filling out an application.
| Research Assistant Application.doc |