Professor of Behavioural Science
School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London
2025–present
Current leadership roles
Research Lead, School of Human and Social Sciences, 2026–present
Strategy Lead, School of Human and Social Sciences, 2025–present
Previously Postgraduate Research Student Lead, 2025–2026.
Academic appointments
University of West London
Professor of Behavioural Science, 2025–present
Middlesex University
Professor of Behavioural Science, 2012–2024
London School of Economics and Political Science
Research Associate, Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (honorary), 2005–2024
University of East London
Reader in Evolutionary Psychology, 2008–2012
Principal Lecturer in Psychology, 2004–2008
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, 2003–2004
Open University
Associate Lecturer, Cognitive Psychology, 2006–2010
Nottingham Trent University
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, 2001–2003
London Guildhall University
Lecturer in Psychology, 1999–2001
University of Greenwich
Lecturer in Psychology, 1998–1999
Earlier teaching and research appointments included positions at Nottingham Trent University and Liverpool Institute of Higher Education.
Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques, University of Oxford, 2016
PhD, University of Sheffield, 2000
Signal to Symbol: The First Stage in the Evolution of Language
MSc History and Philosophy of Science, University of London, 1992
BSc (Hons) Psychological Sciences, Polytechnic of East London, 1991
At the University of West London I currently lead research and strategy within the School of Human and Social Sciences. I previously led postgraduate research within the School.
At Middlesex University my leadership roles included Deputy Head of Department, Director of Research, Chair of the University Professors' Group and membership of the Departmental Leadership Team. I also contributed to the University's REF2021 submission in Psychology, with principal responsibility for the Environment Statement.
Co-founder of the European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association (EHBEA) and former Treasurer.
Fellow, British Trust for Ornithology
Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Current editorial roles include membership of the editorial board of Springer's Evolutionary Biology: New Perspectives on its Development series and Associate Editor of the APA Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology.
Previous editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Evolutionary Psychology (now Culture and Evolution), 2007–2014; book reviews editor for History and Philosophy of Psychology; and co-editor of a special issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B on evolution and human behavioural diversity.
I have reviewed research for journals and academic publishers across psychology, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology and philosophy of science, and for funding bodies including the British Academy, European Research Council, Irish Research Council, Royal Society and UKRI.
Research funding and consultancy
My funded research has included projects supported by EU LIFE+, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (Japan), HM Government and other organisations.
Recent applied work includes research and consultancy concerning seabird conservation and offshore wind infrastructure.
I supervise doctoral and Master's research across behavioural science, psychology and behavioural ecology.
Previous doctoral supervision has included work on language evolution, sexual orientation, health and social care, kleptoparasitic behaviour and avian communication. I have also acted as an external examiner for doctoral research at institutions including LSE, Newcastle University, UCL, King's College London, Nottingham Trent University and Brunel University.
For research outputs, see Publications and Books.
ORCID: 0000-0002-5788-0948
ResearcherID: L-3016-2016