Research students
We’re proud to be helping to train the next generation of scientists. We collaborate with several universities across the country and support students during their Bachelors, Masters and PhD.
Dartmoor Zoo welcomes external researchers, including students, who wish to conduct research at the zoo. We prioritise research that will have a positive impact to our living world, either through the promotion of improved animal management or through the promotion of conservation through education.
We welcome collaborations with PhD students and professional researchers as well as welcoming masters students and offering placement year opportunities to students studying at undergraduate level.
Research Handbook
If you are interested in working with Dartmoor Zoo on a project, please read through and complete the zoo research handbook.
Our staff and students:
Louise Cox – Research Officer at DZS
Louise has completed a BSc in Animal Science which included a placement year spent conducting research in another UK zoo. She is currently working towards a Masters by Research with her research focussing on chimpanzee nutrition.
Previously, Louise has worked as a Lemur Warden and a Zoo Nutrition Assistant. Her current research interests include improving animal diets, investigating nocturnal behaviour, and understanding the impact of enrichment and training on animal welfare.
Louise wrote the nutrition chapter of the EAZA chimpanzee best practice guidelines which you can read here:
EAZA Best Practice Guidelines – Great Ape Taxon Advisory Group Chimpanzees
Martha Brown
BSc (Hons) Psychology at University of Plymouth
Her research will investigate how our animals respond to daily visitor talks, starting with the gelada.
Ben Hollands
BSc (Hons) Zoology at the University of Exeter
His research project will investigate the nocturnal feeding behaviour of our cloud rats.