Kat Finch

I developed my passion for animals, particularly their behaviour through completing a BSc Zoology with Industrial Experience degree at the University of Manchester. It was during my Zoology degree in 2015/16 that I completed a one year placement here at Chester Zoo within the Behaviour and Welfare team. My placement year was a career-defining experience, opening my eyes to the world of applied zoo research and I haven’t looked back since. I then went on in 2017 to complete an MRes at the University of Liverpool in Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology in which I investigated the factors influencing female reproductive suppression, using the wild house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) as a model species. Prior to gaining my current role, I worked at ZSL – Whipsnade Zoo as the elephant research intern. This position involved me working closely with the keeping team in order to establish and develop a long term behavioural monitoring programme for their group of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). My role at here at Chester involves using animal behaviour as a tool to help curators and animal teams make evidence-based management decisions. I am extremely passionate about working with my colleagues to conduct multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional projects in order to have the most positive impact possible on the well-being of the animals in our collection. No day is ever the same and I am absolutely delighted to be working back in the Science Team at Chester Zoo. ‘An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it, is a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfillment’ –  David Attenborough