Primatology & Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies lab (PIES)

Current Research Projects

Sarah works on three main research projects under the umbrella of primate behavioural plasticity and anthropogenic environmental change:

1. Disability, physical impairment and behavioural plasticity in free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Field site at the Awajishima Monkey Center, Awaji Island, Japan, in collaboration with the Toshikazu and Hisami Nobuhara, and Dr. Kazunori Yamada and Dr. Masayuki Nakamichi at Osaka University.
2. Linking behavioural plasticity, personality and welfare in rehabilitation and release of bearded capuchins monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus). Field sites in northeastern Brazil, in collaboration with Dr. Renata Ferreira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.
3. Behavioural plasticity, use of space, and habitat in a fragmented environment among Blond capuchins (Sapajus flavius). Field site in the Atlantic Forest region of northeastern Brazil, in collaboration with Dr. Renata Ferreira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.

Sarah is also a co-investigator in the Leadership in Environmental and Digital Sustainability (LEADS) program, supported by NSERC-CREATE (PI Damon Matthews). This program provides additional training and funding for many of her students. LEADS sits at the intersection of Digital technologies and sustainability sciences, and involves training in advanced digital tools, leadership and communications skills building, and networking opportunities: https://sustainabilitydigitalage.org/leads/

Yisa Ginath Yuh

Degree: Postdoc
Research Area: Habitat fragmentation and climate change in the Congo Basin: Mapping and quantifying effects on single and multi-species distribution and behavioral diversity within Congo Basin landscapes and protected areas
Co-supervisor: Damon Matthews
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Megan Joyce

Degree: PhD
Research Area: Foraging route-choice decisions in free-ranging Japanese macaques: Implications for heuristics, behavioural plasticity, and selection
Co-supervisor: Pierre-Olivier Montiglio UQAM
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Mikaela Gerwing

Degree: PhD
Research Area: Rehabilitation of captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus): Animal personality and reintroduction success
Co-supervisor: Renata Ferreira UFRN
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Stephanie Eccles

Degree: PhD
Research Area: Making animal waste essential: ‘Renewing’ animal agriculture through the fraught politics of renewable natural gas development
Co-supervisor: Elisabeth Stoddard WPI
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Brogan Stewart, Concordia Public Scholar

Degree: PhD
Research Area: Movement complexity of physically impaired Japanese macaques Present Position: PhD Student, Concordia University
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Ariana Moin Kenary

Degree: MSc
Research Area: Foraging route choice decisions among urban squirrels
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Ariane Peroni

Degree: MSc
Research Area: Fallback food foraging skills for survival among Endangered blond capuchins (Sapajus flavius) in an Atlantic Forest fragment
Co-supervisor: Renata Ferreira UFRN
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Jack Creeggan

Degree: MSc
Research Area: Behavioural flexibility and conservation in endangered blond capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius) in an urban forest fragment, Brazil
Co-supervisor: Renata Ferreira UFRN
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Italo Pereira

Degree: MITACS Globalink Visiting Scholar
Research Area: Habitat suitability and home range in blond capuchins (Sapajus flavius)
Co-supervisor: Renata Ferreira UFRN

Cristina Sciortino

Degree: Honours (Geog 491)
Research Area: Influence of dog parks on dog behaviour and welfare
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Ines Soares

Degree: MITACS Globalink Visiting Scholar
Research Area: Moving home: Improving reintroduction outcomes and human-capuchin monkey coexistence in Brazilian caatinga and forest fragments
Co-supervisor: Renata Ferreira UFRN

Current Opportunities in the PIES Lab

Graduate Studies

I am looking for enthusiastic graduate students who are interested in primate behavioural ecology and conservation. In particular, I am looking for graduate students who want to conduct field research in primate behavioural ecology in Japan or Brazil. I will be accepting one or two graduate students a year. Students with quantitative skills, fieldwork and animal behaviour experience are encouraged to apply. Previous training in Geography, Biology, Biological Anthropology or Environmental Science are all appropriate undergraduate backgrounds for research in my lab group. Applicants for graduate studies go through a competitive application process through the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University. If you are interested in the MSc or PhD programs here, and are interested in working with me, please contact me prior to submitting your application to the university.

Undergraduate Honours

I am looking for one undergraduate honours student each year (GEOG 491). Honours student projects can either involve analysis of previously collected video data on Japanese macaques, research using existing primate datasets (e.g. IUCN data), research projects related to local urban ecology, animal behaviour, environmental science, environmental studies, biodiversity and sustainability science, or collaborative interdisciplinary projects co-supervised with other GPE faculty. Undergraduate students interested in pursuing honours research should contact me directly for an appointment.

Undergraduate volunteers

Sometimes we have opportunities for undergraduates to gain research experience by volunteering on graduate and honours projects. Volunteer opportunities include data processing, trail camera photo and video analysis, and social media and science communication opportunities.