Assistant Professor
Animal Behavior and Well-Being
Research Interests
The overall goal of the Garner Lab's research is to integrate non-invasive
methods more typically used in human health and psychiatry with traditional
methods in ethology (animal behavior) and experimental psychology, in order to
provide novel solutions to existing problems in animal behavior and welfare,
animal behavior and production, and behavioral animal models. To meet this goal
our research is currently focused on three subject areas, applied to two
species.
The theoretical and methodological side of our research involves the
interplay of three subject areas:
Developing non-invasive human research methods, such as neuropsychology,
epidemiology, and consumer demand theory, for use with animals. Using these methods, along with traditional ethological methods, to study
Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors in captive animals in terms of animal wellbeing,
and modeling human mental disorder, particularly Trichotillomania. Investigating the impact of housing and husbandry (and additionally
experimental design and methodology in the case of laboratory animals) on the
wellbeing of farm and laboratory animals, primarily by the use of computer
simulation.
Due to our focus on technique, members of the lab have worked with a wide
variety of animal species – including conventional laboratory species (e.g.
rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs); farm animals, including pigs, and especially
poultry (e.g. broilers, layers, quail, ducks and turkeys); and exotic or wild
species (e.g. marine mammals, song birds, exotic rodents). Currently work in the
lab is focused on exploring the topics described above in poultry and mice:
Poultry. Past research includes work on the behavior and husbandry of
broilers, scoring lameness in broilers, fear and enrichment in quail, and beak
trimming in ducks. Current work includes assessment of the effects of feeder
space and cage design in laying hens, using conventional and epidemiological
methods. Mice. Past work has focused on Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors in mice,
their implications for mouse wellbeing, and their development as an animal model
of behaviors in human mental disorder, especially Trichotillomania. Current work
continues these themes, and also involves all of the subject areas described
above, as well as more traditional work on mouse housing and wellbeing.
Lab philosophy and culture
The lab emphasizes scientific philosophy; intellectual synthesis;
interdisciplinary and collaborative research; the logical, empirical and
statistical dissection of research questions; ethics and integrity; and the
pursuit of questions with ethical and societal need and impact.
Members of the lab are encouraged to pursue their interests; to engage in the
joy and excitement of discovery; and to foster these values in an open,
collaborative and diverse environment. As such the lab is actively involved in
providing research opportunities to undergraduate students, and especially to
minority or underrepresented students through Purdue's MARC/AIM program, and
Purdue's SACNAS chapter. Service to peers, the academic community, and
stakeholders (such as producers, or patient groups) is highly valued.
Links
Trichotillomania Learning Center:
www.trich.org
International Society for Applied ethology:
www.applied-ethology.org
Purdue's MARC/AIM program:
www.gradschool.purdue.edu/diversity/srop-marcaim.cfm
Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science:
www.sacnas.org
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