MESSERLI RESEARCH INSTITUTE (VETMEDUNI)
PhD Candidate of Comparative Cognition
Project: Context, causes, and consequences of curiosity
HUNTER COLLEGE (CUNY): May 2020
MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation
Dissertation: "Presence and Degree of Contrafreeloading in Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus)."
BOSTON UNIVERSITY: Sep 2017
BA in Biology with a Specialization in Behavioral Biology, Minor in Italian
Smith, G.E., Lambert, M.L., Swindell, E., Engelmann, J.M., Völter, C.J. (2025). Epistemic curiosity in kea parrots and human children. Open Mind, 9, 1528-1542. https://doi.org/10.1162/OPMI.a.34
Bastos, A.P.M., Evenson, A., Wood, P.M., Houghton, Z.N., Naranjo, L., Smith G.E., Cairo-Evans, A., Korpos, L., Terwilliger, J., Raghunath, S., Paul, C., Hou, H., Rossano, F. (2024). How do soundboard-trained dogs respond to human button presses? An investigation into word comprehension. PLoS ONE, 19(8), e0307189. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307189
Smith, G.E., Bastos, A.P.M., Evenson, A., Trottier, L., & Rossano, F. (2023). Use of Augmentative Interspecies Communication Devices in animal language studies: A review. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Cogn. Sci., e1647. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.1647
Smith, G.E., Chouinard, P.A., Tsoi, K.T., Lin, I., Agrillo, C., Byosiere, S-E. (2022). Seeing things: A community science investigation into motion illusion susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Animals, 12(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243562
Smith, G.E.*, Bastos, A.P.M.*, Chodorow, M., Taylor, A.H.**, Pepperberg, I.M.** (2022). Contrafreeloading in kea (Nestor notabilis) in comparison to Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). Sci. Rep., 12(17415). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21370-6 *co-first author; **co-senior author
Smith, G.E., Greene, D., Hartsfield, L.A., & Pepperberg, I.M. (2021). Initial evidence for eliciting contrafreeloading in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) via the opportunity for playful foraging. J. Comp. Psych., 135(4). https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000295
Smith, G.E., Chouinard, P.A., & Byosiere, S-E. (2021). If I fits I sits: A citizen science investigation into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 240(105338). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105338
Smith, G.E. (2020). Presence and degree of contrafreeloading in African Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). [Master’s thesis, City University of New York]. CUNY Academic Works.
Maytin, A.K., Davies, S.W., Smith, G.E., Mullen, S.P., Buston, P.M. (2018). De novo transcriptome assembly of the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula): A new resource to study the evolution of fish color. Front. Mar. Sci., 5(284). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00284
Gallant, J.R., Imhoff, V.E., Martin, A., Savage, W.K., Chamberlain, N.L., Pote, B.L., Peterson, C., Smith, G.E., Evans, B., Reed, R.D., Kronforst, M.R., Mullen, S.P. (2014). Ancient homology underlies adaptive mimetic diversity across butterflies. Nature Comm., 5(4817). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5817
2022 - present
Lambert Lab of Avian Cognition, Messerli Research Institute (VetMedUni)
PhD student exploring cognitive underpinnings of curiosity, using kea parrots (Nestor notabilis) as a model.
Projects studying topics such as explanation seeking, violation of expectations, and functional exploration.
2023 - 2024
Seed Lab of Comparative Cognition, School of Psychology and Neuroscience (University of St Andrews)
Visiting scholar examining cognitive underpinnings of curiosity, using capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) as a model.
Projects studied topics such as violation of expectations and functional exploration.
2021 - 2022
How.TheyCanTalk Research Initiative (UCSD & FluentPet)
Designed studies to investigate the potential of Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) devices to augment non-human animal communication with humans.
Wrote up and published review of the Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) devices in the animal language studies.
2020 - 2022
Thinking Dog Center, Hunter College (CUNY)
Conducted and published citizen science project into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus).
Conducted and published citizen science project into motion illusion susceptibility in domestic cats and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).
2017 - 2022
Pepperberg Lab of Avian Cognition (The Alex Foundation)
Conducted and published Master’s thesis studying contrafreeloading behavior in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).
Conducted and published species comparison of contrafreeloading in kea parrots in collaboration with the University of Auckland and funded by the Templeton ECCE award.
As lab manager, created lab schedules, hired, trained, and supervised incoming research assistants, curated social media posts, and managed vet appointments.
2020 - 2021
Horowitz Lab of Dog Cognition, Barnard College (Columbia University)
Oversaw citizen science projects into sensory cognition, memory recall, nesting behaviors, and interspecific play in dogs.
As lab manager, trained and mentored undergraduates, directed weekly lab meetings, and curated social media posts.
Fall 2016
Tiputini Biodiversity Station and Galapagos Islands (Boston University)
Investigated social recognition in Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki), group calls of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix poeppigii), and trail-following behavior in ants.
Summer 2016
Fiorito Lab of Octopus Cognition (La Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn)
Investigated Octopus vulgaris numerosity and discriminatory learning with support of CephRes and Boston University’s Padua Research Scholarship.
Performed daily care of octopus specimens, including tank cleaning, feeding, and health status.
2013 - 2015
Buston Lab of Marine Evolutionary Ecology (Boston University)
Completed and presented Undergraduate Research Opportunities Project (UROP) in 2015 exploring genes responsible for the orange, white, and black epidermal phenotype in clownfish (Amphiprion percula).
Performed dissections, RNA extractions, and RNA library analysis using Trinity software. Coauthored Frontiers in Marine Science paper on the clownfish transcriptome.
2011 - 2015
Mullen Lab of Evolutionary Genomics (Boston University)
Completed and presented UROP in 2014 exploring gene coding of phenotypic expression among butterfly subspecies.
Performed dissections, DNA extractions, PCR, butterfly collection and husbandry to explore phenotypic speciation in butterflies. Coauthored Nature Communications paper.
September 2024
International Society for Behavioral Ecology (Melbourne, Australia)
Smith, G.E., Folkertsma, R., Duran, E., Shair Ali, E.G., Jacobs, I., Auersperg, A.M.I., Seed, A.M., Lambert, M. Susceptibility and physio-behavioral reactions to cognitive illusions in kea (Nestor notabilis) and Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana).
December 2023
Behaviour (Edinburgh, UK)
Smith, G.E., Folkertsma, R., Duran, E., Shair Ali, E.G., Jacobs, I., Auersperg, A.M.I., Seed, A.M., Lambert, M. Susceptibility and physio-behavioral reactions to cognitive illusions in kea (Nestor notabilis) and Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana).
August 2023
Behaviour (Bielefeld, Germany)
Smith, G.E., Shair Ali, E.G., Duran, E., Folkertsma, R., Jacobs, I., Auersperg, A.M.I., Seed, A.M., Lambert, M. Susceptibility and physio-behavioral reactions to cognitive illusions in kea (Nestor notabilis) and Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana).
May 2023
Play and the Evolution of Creative Societies (Erice, Sicily, Italy)
Smith, G.E., Auersperg, A.M.I., Jacobs, I., Seed, A.M., Lambert, M. Susceptibility and physio-behavioral reactions to cognitive illusions in kea (Nestor notabilis) and Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana): a methods proposal.
April 2023
Mechanisms of Learning Forum (Edinburgh, UK)
Smith, G.E., Swindell, E., Lambert, M.L., Engelmann, J.M., Vӧlter, C.J. Explanation-seeking in kea parrots (Nestor notabilis) and human children (Homo sapiens).
July 2022
International Society for Behavioral Ecology (Stockholm, Sweden)
Smith, G.E., Bastos, A.P.M., Chodorow, M., Taylor, A.H., Pepperberg, I.M. Comparing contrafreeloading in differentially playful species: Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and kea (Nestor notabilis).
July 2022
European Conference on Behavioural Biology (Groningen, Netherlands)
Smith, G.E., Lambert, M.L., Völter, C., Engelmann, J. Explanation seeking in kea parrots (Nestor notabilis): a methods proposal.
September 2021
APDT/CAPDT Virtual Conference (online)
Leifer, V., Baum, S., Cheng, K., Smith, G.E., & Horowitz, A. Memory for learned tricks: Do dogs (Canis familiaris) remember a learned behavior better after an overnight sleep? *Best poster award*
August 2021
Animal Behavior Society (online)
Smith, G.E., Greene, D., Hartsfield, L.A., & Pepperberg, I.M. Initial evidence for eliciting contrafreeloading in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) via the opportunity for playful foraging.
Bagwell, B., Leifer, V., Arellano, C., Smith, G.E., & Horowitz, A. The speed of senses: A citizen science study into dogs' alacrity to pursue olfactory and auditory cues.
April 2021
Comparative Cognition Conference (online)
Smith, G.E., Chouinard, P.A., & Byosiere, S-E. If I fits I sits: A citizen science investigation into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus).
January 2021
Global Animal Behaviour Twitter Conference (online)
Smith, G.E., Chouinard, P.A., & Byosiere, S-E. If I fits I sits: A citizen science investigation into illusory contour susceptibility in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus).
November 2020
Psychonomics 61st Annual Meeting (online)
Smith, G.E., Greene, D., & Pepperberg, I.M. Presence and degree of contrafreeloading in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).
May 2015
Boston University UROP Symposium (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Smith, G.E., Buston, P.M., & Mullen, S.P. The genomic basis of adaptive color pattern development in a charismatic coral anemone fish, Amphiprion percula.
May 2014
Boston University UROP Symposium (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Smith, G.E., & Mullen, S.P. Connecting tropical and temperate butterfly species’ genetic diversity along latitudinal gradients.
ISBE Travel Grant (2024)
The Marietta Blau Grant (2023)
Early Career Collaboration Enhancement (ECCE) Award from the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (2020)
Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute Fellowship: Templeton World Charity Foundation (2019 & 2020)
ABC CO3 Travel Grant (2020)
ABC Thesis Research Grant (2019)
Padua Research Scholarship (2016)
Alcoa Chuck McLane Scholarship Award (2013)
Special Award from National Park Service (2013)
Special Award from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (2013)
Award of Recognition from NASA (2013)
Certificate of Achievement from the United States Air Force (2013)
Recognition of Achievement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013)
Certificate of Recognition from the United States Postal Service (2013)
"‘Button dogs’ do understand words — and not just from their humans"
(August, 2024)
"The mystery of cats and their love of imaginary boxes"
(February, 2024)
"Why is your cat mad? Maybe it’s because you’re not listening"
(April, 2023)
"Surprising new research on cats will make you see yours in a new light"
(March, 2023)
"A 'talking' cat is giving scientists insight into how felines think"
(December, 2021)
"The 'If I fits, I sits' instinct: Cats will sit in a box even it’s an illusion (cat pics inside)"
(May, 2021)
"Cats Take 'If I Fits I Sits' Seriously, Even If The Space Is Just An Illusion"
(May, 2021)
"Pay No Attention to That Cat Inside a Box"
(May, 2021)