Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour, School of Biological Sciences
Stephanie has consistently been there for us and is deeply committed to nurturing us as researchers, not only providing us with the necessary skills but also igniting a genuine passion for research. Stephanie encourages independence while also being available to offer guidance and support whenever needed (her door is always open). Instead of just giving us answers and instructions, she challenges us to think critically and explore new ideas in our field.
Stephanie’s approach to studying animal behaviour combines a love for observing animals through a natural history point of view combined with state of the art technologies. This unique approach inspires enthusiasm for both traditional observation methods and cutting-edge research techniques, driving forward our understanding of animal behaviour. When we conduct fieldwork, Stephanie is always accessible and supportive, ensuring we have the resources and guidance needed to tackle the challenges that fieldwork often brings, fostering resilience and adaptability. In summary, Stephanie not only nurtures curiosity, persistence, and a love of learning but also fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth. Stephanie’s mentorship extends beyond traditional roles, empowering us to excel as researchers and embrace learning as a lifelong pursuit.
Stephanie helps create a stimulating research environment by encouraging her group members to collaborate, exchange ideas, and support each other on a daily basis. While she is an incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring scientist herself, she values everyone’s thoughts, and provides a safe space to share them where there are no “stupid” questions. She is also not afraid to admit when she does not have the answer, but will support us in getting in contact with someone who might. Even more so she will, regardless of our career level, treat us as equals and colleagues, from whom she can ask for advice and get inspiration from, helping us develop and build confidence.
Stephanie’s great work as a research supervisor extends not just to the lab but to her broader academic communities as well. She leads by example in this area as she serves not only her university (as Graduate Director of the Faculty), but several societies and journals (as a board member and Associate Editor). Her commitment to serving her scholarly community is an inspiration to all of her lab members and Stephanie always ensures we have the support to serve our academic communities ourselves as well.
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