Tom Roth

Dr. Tom Roth is an Assistant Professor and Lecturer in the Animal Behaviour and Cognition group within the Biology department at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. He specializes in animal cognition and behavior research with a particular focus on primates. His work spans multiple research domains including social cognition, socio-ecology of primates, and comparative psychology between humans and non-human primates.

Dr. Roth completed his PhD research at Leiden University, where he investigated the cognitive processes underlying mate preferences of zoo-housed orangutans. His methodological approach combines behavioral experiments with both human and non-human primates to explore questions about attention, social cognition, and mate selection.

His research interests encompass animal cognition, primate behavior, social cognition, and socio-ecology, with particular emphasis on orangutans and other primates. Dr. Roth's experimental work often examines attentional mechanisms, mate preferences, and emotional processing across species. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on comparative approaches between humans and primates, particularly regarding attention to emotional stimuli, vocal communication, and social dynamics.

Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on comparative cognition between humans and primates, particularly orangutans. His work frequently employs experimental methodologies including eye-tracking, behavioral observations, and controlled experiments to investigate attentional biases, mate selection processes, and social cognition across species. The research spans multiple disciplines including cognitive science, evolutionary biology, and comparative psychology.

Dr. Roth actively contributes to teaching in the Biology bachelor programme and Environmental Biology master programme at Utrecht University. His educational role complements his research activities, creating an integrated approach to understanding animal behavior and cognition.

His laboratory work primarily focuses on primate behavior research, with particular attention to orangutans in zoo environments. Through collaborations with other researchers, particularly Dr. M.E. Kret and colleagues, he has developed a robust research program examining cross-species comparisons of social cognition and attentional processes.