Melissa Bateson

Professor Melissa Bateson at Newcastle University is a leading researcher in animal behavior, welfare, and evolutionary biology, with a focus on telomere dynamics, food insecurity, and cognitive biases in avian and mammalian species. Her work bridges ecological, physiological, and behavioral domains to understand how environmental stressors shape adaptive responses.

• Research Themes:
  • Impact of food insecurity on energy regulation and health.
  • Animal welfare indicators through cognitive bias and stereotypic behaviors.
  • Developmental and genetic factors in stress response and aging.
• Key Publications:
  • 2025: Defining positive animal welfare (Current Biology).
  • 2025: Genomic adaptation in invasive European starlings.
  • 2024: Automated welfare monitoring in rhesus macaques.
• Collaborations:
  • Co-authoring with Professor Daniel Nettle on telomere studies.
  • Working with veterinary and behavioral scientists on dairy cow welfare.