Regular biography
Sarah Benson-Amram is an Associate Professor in Ecology, Evolution at The University of British Columbia, Department of BIO. Her research focuses on Ecology, Evolution. Her lab investigates the behavior, ecology, and cognition of urban carnivores to understand how cognition facilitates adaptation to urban environments. The research group examines cognitive performance in relation to diet, health, social behavior, and space use patterns of urban mesocarnivores such as raccoons, skunks, and coyotes. She also collaborates with neuroscientists to explore the connection between cognitive performance and neurobiological characteristics. Additionally, she applies her research on urban carnivores to reduce human-wildlife conflict and incorporates modern technological advances into wildlife studies.
Scholar-generated biography
Sarah Benson-Amram is a researcher at the University of British Columbia specializing in Animal Behavior, Behavioral Ecology, and Animal Cognition. Her work focuses on understanding cognitive abilities in wild carnivores, particularly through innovative problem-solving and numerical assessment. She investigates how factors like sociality, environment, and individual traits influence cognitive performance in species such as spotted hyenas and raccoons. Her research explores the evolution of intelligence in mammals and the fitness consequences of innovation in natural settings. Benson-Amram's studies contribute to the broader understanding of animal cognition and its ecological and evolutionary significance.