I’m a PhD researcher at the University of St Andrews, where I study communication and how human capacity for language emerged.

My work takes a biocultural approach, examining communication across three timescales: how it develops in childhood, how it evolved in our species, and how it changes as it is used and passed between people. 

To do this, I work with a wide range of communication systems, including homesign, primate gesture, and spoken and signed languages. My research is deeply interdisciplinary, drawing on developmental psychology, linguistics, primatology and evolutionary cognition.

I’m supervised by Cat Hobaiter (Wild Minds Lab, St Andrews) and Simon Kirby (Centre for Language Evolution, University of Edinburgh). 

Before my PhD, I spent four years as research manager of Susan Goldin-Meadow’s lab at the University of Chicago, and I continue to collaborate closely with Susan and her team. I originally trained as a speech and language therapist at Manchester Metropolitan University, and I have also led research and evaluation projects for children’s charities in the UK and internationally.

Alongside my research, I’m an Associate Lecturer in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at St Andrews, where I teach undergraduates and thoroughly enjoy it.

I’m always excited to hear from people with shared interests, so please do get in touch!