Our Team

Students

PhD Candidate

Julia Henning

Julia Henning is a PhD candidate with a special interest in feline behaviour, animal affective states and human-cat dyads.
Her current PhD project focuses on play as an indicator and promotor of positive affective state and welfare in domestic cats.
Previously, Julia’s honours project looked at quality of life in cats with epilepsy and burden of care in their guardians.
Julia is passionate about science communication and enjoys using her background in film, composition and live performance to effectively communicate scientific findings.
Her journey from music into science is documented in her TEDx talk 'Actually, do give up'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dJAj3j7KnY

For more information see: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/julia.henning

PhD Candidate

Josh Zoanetti

Josh Zoanetti is completing a PhD investigating older adults and their dogs. His research is looking at how we can minimise the burdens of dog guardianship for older adults, and maximise their dog’s welfare. With a background in Finance, Josh has completed government funded research in risk analysis of allowing pets in aged care homes, as well as working for multinational companies in the financial sector.

PhD Candidate

Tracey Taylor

Tracey was part of the first cohort of students to complete the University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Science in Animal Behaviour in 2021. Having completed her honours, she is now undertaking her PhD research into dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction ('doggy dementia'). As a professional dog trainer, she hopes to go on to do further research into training interventions to modify behaviour and improve the welfare of senior and geriatric companion canines.

PhD Candidate

Ana Goncalves Costa

Ana came back to university because she had too many questions on animal behaviour, and not enough answers. She is particularly passionate about helping dogs and humans live together successfully, through education, understanding, and researching the human/canine experience.

In 2019 Ana published her honours research on sales of dogs on gumtree and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide. Her current research centers on understanding puppy owners and their experiences, as well as researching the recently discovered effect of the “puppy blues”.

Ana has a background working with dogs who suffer from anxiety disorders and is a graduate of the Delta Institute. She currently lives with a special needs little dog, “Nervous Nina”.

For more information see: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/ana.goncalvescosta

PhD Candidate

Jade Fountain

MAppBehAnalysis, MSc (Zoology), BSc. (Zoology/Psychology)

Jade is a PhD candidate undertaking research into training and enrichment to improve animal welfare, with an interest in how animal training might be applied across settings to help animals live a good life. She is investigating how scent work activities benefit companion dogs. Her previous academic research looked at aggressive behaviour in native noisy miner birds and disruption of neurobiological reward pathways during learning in laying hens.

Jade is a professional animal behaviour consultant and trainer who is passionate about improving behavioural welfare of animals in human care. She works with all species from dogs, cats, birds and horses, to exotics and native wildlife. Jade has a background in applied behaviour analysis, applied animal behaviour, zoology and conservation ecology which has led to work in endangered species recovery programs across Australia and South Africa, working with companion animals in the assistance sector (autism, mobility and PTSD), detection dogs for conservation, prison dog programs, film and tv industry and managing shelter animal behaviour programs.

Jade is keen to disseminate humane learning principles and bridge practical skillsets for animal caregivers through teaching workshops and seminars, and to improve animal training practices through research and education.

Supervisors

Associate Professor

Susan Hazel

Susan Hazel graduated last century as a veterinarian from the University of Sydney. Following graduation she worked in private practice before completing a PhD, postdoctoral positions in Sweden and Sydney, then working in medical research and public health. In 2006 Susan took up her current position teaching animal behaviour, welfare & ethics at the School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences. The focus of her research is in understanding animal behaviour and using this to enhance human-animal interactions and improve human and animal welfare. Susan developed the new BSc(Animal Behaviour) at the University of Adelaide, and is the current Program Coordinator. Susan is on the Dog & Cat Management Board of SA, on the board of RSPCA SA, a member of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee of SA and a Scientific Advisor for the Center for Companion Animal Welfare, University of Copenhagen Denmark.

More information: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/susan.hazel

Senior Lecturer

Torben Nielsen

With a background as a veterinarian and training in epidemiology and veterinary public health, I have broad research interests. These include health and welfare of production and companion animals as well as wildlife. Human-animal bonding are also included in the mix.

Recent projects include cat management in collaboration with local councils and research into dog bite victim risks (watch this space for papers) and trade of wildlife.

Currently, I am an adjunct senior lecturer in veterinary public health at the University of Adelaide and a diplomate in population medicine with the European College of Veterinary Public Health. In addition to training veterinary students, I have been involved in developing postgraduate veterinary online training modules on subjects including antimicrobial resistance, emergency animal diseases and on-plant veterinarian education.

For more information see: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/torben.nielsen

Senior Lecturer

Eduardo J Fernandez

Eduardo J. Fernandez received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo, aquarium, and companion animals. He is currently a Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). His past positions include a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Professorship in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and the Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo. He currently runs the Operant Welfare Lab (OWL), which is dedicated to the use of learning principles to improve the lives of animals across many settings, including exotic animals in zoos, companion animals in homes, and agricultural animals in farms. Many of his past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile.

ResearchGate - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo-Fernandez-27

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ejfernandez/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/EduardoJFernandez

Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/DrEddieFern

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dreddiefern/

Senior Lecturer

Stephan T Leu

My research focuses on animal tracking, and I ask fundamental questions about the emergence and consequences of spatial and social structure in animal populations. My questions sit at the interface of three exciting research areas, and specifically address the complex interconnection between them:

1) Animal social networks. Which factors drive animal social structure, and collective behaviour? What are the consequences for health and fitness?

2) Movement ecology. Social structure can emerge as a consequence of animal movement and space use. I investigate how movement decisions at the individual and group level affect the probability of interacting with other conspecifics and how this ultimately leads to the emergence of social structure.

3) Disease ecology. How do spatial and social interactions predict pathogen transmission through populations?

My current research uses lizards and mammals to investigate those research themes. You can find out more on my research page

For more information see: https://stephanleu-ecology.com/
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=AV_IpjEAAAAJ&hl=en
https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/stephan.leu

Associates

Associate (PhD Candidate - University of Adelaide; Clinical Psychology)

Natalie Worth

Natalie Worth is a Clinical Psychologist of 30 years’ experience, a fellow of the Australian Psychology Society and currently a PhD student at University of Adelaide.

Her research is focussed on Veterinary Professionals’ Experiences of Trauma at Work. Natalie has provided evidence-based, trauma-informed psychology services to a wide range of clients throughout her career as a clinical psychologist.

She currently works part time in her own practice ‘Worth Psychology’ offering psychology in an equine environment to families within the AHAA Psychology (Adelaide Hills Animal Assisted Psychology) arm of her business. She also works part time at Better Self Psychology working with many adults who have trauma in their history.

Natalie trained in internationally recognised frameworks for delivering psychology in an equine environment 8 yrs ago and has presented on her work in this area. She has a love of animals and the outdoors and has kept horses for over 35 years’ including assisting traumatized horses to learn to remain calm and to gain more trust.

Natalie networks with academics researching Human-Animal Interactions and Animal Assisted Therapies at Universities around Australia and beyond. She is committed to increasing the recognition for Psychology in an Equine Environment as an evidence-based, ethical, and effective psychological practice for clients, therapists, and horses alike.

Natalie is also passionate about her research into Veterinary Professionals’ experiences. She networks with academics working in this area and is committed to raising awareness about what happens psychologically for this professional population and how they can be successfully supported to thrive psychologically.

Associate (PhD Candidate - Latrobe)

Sonya McDowall

Sonya McDowall is a PhD candidate at La Trobe University in partnership with the University of Adelaide. She is also completing her MBA at the University of Adelaide. She has an interest in animal welfare and the role humans influence outcomes for companion animals, assistance animals and animal assisted therapies, with a primary focus on dogs. Her current PhD aims to explore whether the Social Determinants of Health in humans influence companion animal welfare outcomes. Sonya brings extensive experience in human health, combined with her research in animal welfare, provides a well rounded and unique scope to this profession. Sonya also provides academic support to both the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Veterinary Technology programs at the University of Adelaide.

Committee Member of The Australian Veterinary Association (SA Branch)
Member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)