The objective of my thesis is to investigate the ultimate drivers and proximate mechanisms behind sociality in the unique social system of Cape ground squirrels, a promiscuous, egalitarian South African rodent species. Using a top-down approach, my thesis will be partitioned into the following chapters:

1) Environmental buffering: the adaptive capacity of sociality for buffering adverse climatic conditions.
2) Social structure of family groups: kinship discrimination and sex-biased dispersal.
3) Social cognition: male vs female cognitive capacity.
4) the role of Oxytocin in Cape ground squirrel sociality.

By consolidating these distinct perspectives on sociality, I work towards a comprehensive framework integrating environmental drivers, social network structures and underlying mechanisms of a system characterized by features that are underrespresented in previous research on sociality. With this framework, I aim to further our understanding of the role of promiscuity, sex-biased dispersal and social hierarchies in the evolution of flexible social systems. 

Through my PhD research project, I have learned a wealth of new techniques, including behavioural observation, social network analysis, RFID indentifiers, various experimental setups,  genetic analysis, hormone analysis, non-invasive technologies (GPS & proximity collars). I am learning what it means to finish a research project from conception to publication. By being in charge when the PI is not on location, I am learning about the responsibilities of running a field site, supervising undergraduate students (as a teacher’s assistant) and what it means to manage a research lab (and improve on the workflow in the lab). In addition, learning to communicate effictively with collaborators/co-authors) and professors from other diciplines has broadened my scope on the field of animal behaviour.  

To learn more about the work that comes out of Dr. Waterman’s research lab, you can visit the lab website here!

During the Covid pandemic, I worked in a specially designed Covid lab for the company Saltro. My role here was to process Covid samples. Since the lab had to scale up at an exceptional rate due to the unprecedented increasing demand for test analyses, the workflow and tools used in the lab were changing continuously.

This experience has allowed me to update my lab skills, work in a dynamic team that operated in a constant state of change, and learn from the workflow of a high-throughput commercial lab. More importantly, it has given me a behind the scenes perspective on the Covid pandemic. It gave me a more nuanced outlook on this important societal event. I believe it is important for scientists to have a comprehensive understanding of the society we live in so that we can accurately assess how our research may impact and inform that society.  

I worked at the Good Fish Foundation during the Covid Pandemic. The Good Fish foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to improve sustainability of the seafood industry. The major tool Good Fish employs is the ‘VISWIJZER’, a comprehensive list of fish (and other seafood) that have been thoroughly assessed for sustainability based on the latest scientifically obtained information. This list is used to inform both consumers and industry with up-to-date information that is, since Good Fish does not have a stake in the market, completely independent. On top of actively campaigning to bring attention to the VISWIJZER, Good Fish partners with industry to actively indentify alternatives for parties that currently rely on the unsustainable fish trade for their livelihoods.

My role in this organization was varied but included research on fish-related topics, which could be very diverse, ranging from viability of novel sources of fish oil to the current state of a population of a specific species. For this work I had to be in contact with a variety of players, ranging from fishermen to CEOs of companies. I also contributed to the online presence (website & social media), facilitating discussions, and attending events to spread the Good Fish message. My work at Good Fish has taught me a lot about the distinct perspectives associated with different players in a product chain and what it takes to affect a market. It has made me more well-rounded as a researcher, as it has given me a more applied perspective of the usage and utility and scientifically generated information. I has also fortified my intuitions that primary scientific research best fits my personal interests and competences.

Find out more about the Good Fish foundation here!

After falling seriously ill during my work in Ivory Coast, I was not in the right physical condition to pursue a PhD. During my long recovery process, due to my affinity with wine, I gradually started working with a friend that had started a wine festival a year prior. Initially, I started out organizing wine tastings and facilitating online communication but as time progressed I got more and more involved with the different levels of the organization. As the popularity of the festivals increased, we expanded over time and added different festival to our repertoire. This led to us starting the company ‘Vester Events’ together. Under this company name, we organized 5 different events yearly. 

Doing this work has taught me an inmense amount about working in large teams. Due to the periodic nature of the events, we predominantly worked with freelance employees (up to 50 per event). Since I owned the company, I was involved in every aspect of the business, such as finance, marketing, city permits, management, concept development, purchasing decisions, sound and stage management and much more… More importantly, it has taught me what it means to take ownership of  a process. A process that, in my opinion, is similar to taking charge of your own research project. This experience has prepared me for the indepence that is required to be an independent researcher. It has given me the management skills required for leading a research team, and the emotional fortitude and clarity needed to forge my own path in the world of science. 

I left the company while it was at its peak to pursue my original passion. I hope this shows my commitment, passion and drive for pursuing a career in the Biological Sciences. I have left the comfort of financial security to pursue the adventure that I know is made for me. I’m ecstatic to be back on the right path and get validated in my decisions daily. However, I also see the value in my previous experiences, as I believe they set me apart from other academics. They have made me aware of how lucky I am to be where I am and have given me a skillset that allows me to navigate the world of science with confidence!

Under the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, I worked in the Tai National forest (Ivory Coast) as a research assistant and camp manager for the Tai Chimpanzee Project. As a camp manager, I was responsible for maintaining the scientific integrity of the most remote research camp. This camp was situated deep in the forest and was only accessible by foot. After being trained in, this meant that I functioned in a local team of assistants, collecting behavioural data in the forest. Since the locals only spoke french, this helped me rediscover the French language after only sporadic use after high school. It has also taught me to interact in a professional capacity with cultures vastly different from my own. A lesson that has created an awareness around anothers’ perception, in a uniquely intense manner, since the major part of my social interactions (outside of forest hours) consisted of chatting to the locals.

Other than camp management, I spent long days (4am-6pm) in the forest collecting data on chimpanzee behaviour. This entailed navigation to the nest site using GPS, traversing challenging terrain (dense jungle, swamps and jungle rivers), following my focal group (or subgroup) all day until they nested. After nesting, I dropped a waypoint and navigated my way back to camp. In the forest I collected as much focal data as possible (following chimpanzees through dense jungle is more difficult than it may seem). The social deprivation and weather conditions added to the difficulty, as a tropical storm could render a previously benign hillside into a thundering river in a moments time. Needless to say, these were extremely challenging mental and physical conditions. It took time for me to trust my decision making in this environment and to ’tune in’  to the rythm of the forest. Throughout this process, I have grounded myself in a way I would have never been able to in my western life. It solidified my connection to the natural world, which has become an essential requirement for my emotional wellbeing.

By spending so much time alone with the chimpanzees, I have deepened my intuition of animal behaviour. I have spent many hours contemplating social constructs, culture, environmental pressures, and various behaviours that make up the chimpanzees behavioural repertoire. I was meant to transition into a PhD after my position as a research assistant. Unfortunately, I fell seriously ill during my work in the forest and had return to my home country. The recovery from the illness took a long time during which I could not pursue my career in the sciences. This has taken an emotional toll on me but looking back after all these years, I think it has strengthened me and after finding my way back to my passion, the experience will serve as an asset to my future career.

Learn more about the Tai Chimpanzee Project here.

For the major research project of my masters program: Environmental Biology – Behavioural Ecology, I studied Barbary macaques, a primate species that inhabits the mountainous regions of northern africa. I compared a zoo-reared population that was housed at the Apenheul with rescued groups (composed by humans) housed at the exotic animal rehabilitation center Stichting AAP. The zoo-reared population lived in a relatively stable social group and had space to display their natural behaviour, whereas the rescued population live in fragmented small groups and were confined to smaller cages. In addition, individuals had varied backgrounds where they may have been subjected to maternal/social deprivation and various kinds of abuse. Using behavioural observation, I compared the occurence of abnormal and stress-related behaviour in the zoo-reared and rescued population.

My experience during this research project has taught me a lot about the construction of an ethogram, various kinds of observational techniques and the challenges associated with keeping animals in captivity. It also taught me to be flexible in your efforts, since (after considerable time invested) my initital research questions could not be answered due to a lack of available information. 

Besides rescuing exotic animals from illegal ownership, Stichting Aap works to improve European legislation on animal welfare. Want to know more about Stichting Aap, click on the logo below for more information.

For two months of the summer holiday of my undergraduate studies, I volunteered in Inti Wara Yassi, Ambue Ari, a rehabilitation center in Bolivia. During this time, I helped with the maintenance of the center and helped feeding, and providing enrichment for, a myriad of animals, such as monkeys, birds, tapirs, pumas and jaguars. However, my main responsibility was to provide care and monitor the health of a jaguar named Jaguarupi. This entailed long walks (or runs should there be monkeys around) through the Amazonian forest to provide Jaguarupi with the physical activity and behavioural stimulation required to live the most fulfilling life possible. This experience has taught me an intuitive understanding of animal behaviour, and the importance of trust and patience when working with animals.

Unfortunately, Jaguarupi was separated from his mother at an early age due to poaching. Since he was raised in the center, rewilding was not viable. Another problem with rewilding big cats in the region is restricted habitat availability due to human encroachment. Follow the link below to see how you can help Communidad Inti Wara Yassi in their mission to save this gorgeous ecosystem and its incredibly diverse array of inhabitants.

Follow this link to learn more about Communidad Inti Wara Yassi!