Olivia Britton Email & Phone Number

I am a PhD student studying the wellbeing of assistance dogs, novel research that deserves a great deal of attention. This research is ongoing but hopefully the results will shed some much-needed light on this gap of knowledge. I work closely with my supervisors, experts in animal science and psychology to achieve robust and reliable data to make real-life impact.I left school with 12 GCSE's, 2 A-levels (Philosophy and Ethics and Math’s), and a Level 3 Forensic Science A-level equivalent. From there, I went on to study Animal Science and received a first-class BSc (hons). During my undergraduate thesis I investigated the wellbeing of big cats in captivity.During my undergraduate I carried out multiple studies for modules including an animal behavioural study which analysed seal hauling out behaviour patterns and a bioinformatical study which investigated the phylogeny of big cats. This included analysing behaviour and historical information, collecting samples and quantifying cortisol, and finally statistically processing all the data. This was disseminated in a scientific paper graded by module lecturers and a poster presentation to 3rd year students and staff.I achieved mainly first class grades for all my modules during my undergraduate, some of which included: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular biology, Diversity of life, Animal health and husbandry, Cancer immunology, Bioinformatics, Data handling, Evolution and genetics, and my honours project.After I finished my undergraduate, I embarked on a 3 month (May-July) internship with CCCU and Kent wildlife working in Blean woods, an ongoing rewilding project. We collected soil samples from the whole site to create baseline data for future analysis, which should reveal the affects of rewilding on the biodiversity of the woodland. Throughout my studies I have developed personal skills in many areas, I’m a team player but I can confidently take on leadership roles. I can communicate effectively with my peers and superiors, I eagerly take on new opportunities, I love working both in the field and in the lab. My studies have allowed my passion for animals and the natural world to flourish, now I intend to take everything I’ve learned out into the real world to make a difference.