I am interested in using multi-disciplinary approaches to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie complex patterns of animal behaviour. Currently this involves integrating behavioural, physiological, endocrine and neuroendocrine approaches using avian species in both the field and laboratory.

I am involved in several projects to determine the influence of developmental conditions on later life, focussing on the potential programming of phenotypic traits both with and across generations. Currently I hold a BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellowship investigating the influence of elevated stress hormones during pre- and post-natal development on neural and behavioural traits. I am also interested in how rearing environments can have long term effects on animal learning and cognition and how this may have shaped the evolution of complex acoustic signals, such as bird song.