Tessa Smith

Professor Tessa Smith is a Professor of Behavioural Endocrinology at the University of Chester, affiliated with the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise. She specializes in developing non-invasive methods to study glucocorticoids and reproductive hormones in animals across diverse environments, integrating behavioral and physiological approaches to address conservation physiology, animal welfare, and ecological questions. Her research spans over 42 species, including amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals.

Education: PhD from University College London (1990), BSc Zoology & Psychology from University of Bristol (1988). She has held academic positions at Queen's University Belfast, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Her teaching emphasizes critical analysis using primary research literature in Animal Behaviour, Conservation Physiology, and Wildlife Conservation.

Research highlights include pioneering waterborne corticosterone measurement in amphibians, validating enclosure use analysis for captive bats, and developing welfare protocols for laboratory animals. She has secured funding from the Royal Society, UK research councils, and private entities like Disney. Her work impacts captive animal management, wildlife disease control (e.g., TB in badgers), and aquaculture practices.

Key grants funded include projects on Xenopus laevis husbandry protocols (National Centre for the 3Rs, 2013–2016) and double ovulation protocols to reduce animal use (National Centre for the 3Rs, 2019–2022).

Her lab (BatmanLab) focuses on translational research bridging basic and applied conservation challenges, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based management strategies for endangered species.