Cat Hobaiter

Prof Cat Hobaiter is a Professor at the University of St Andrews' School of Psychology and Neuroscience, leading the Wild Minds Lab. Her research focuses on the evolution of communication and cognition in wild African apes, particularly chimpanzees. She earned her PhD from the University of St Andrews in 2011 and has conducted fieldwork in Uganda and Guinea for over 15 years. Her work integrates studies of calls, gestures, and facial expressions to understand primate communication. She established the Bugoma Primate Conservation Project and the Moyen Bafing Chimpanzee Project. Teaching includes courses on evolutionary psychology and the origins of mind.

Educations

• PhD in Psychology, University of St Andrews (2011)

Research Interests

Her research explores how apes combine multiple communication modalities (gestures, vocalizations, facial expressions) to convey complex messages. Key areas include:

• Gesture systems in wild chimpanzees
• Cultural transmission of behaviors
• Conservation strategies for chimpanzee populations
• Evolutionary origins of language

Grants & Awards

• ERC Starting Grant (€1.2M), 2018
• Newton International Fellowship, 2022
• Vice President, International Primatological Society (2016–2024)

Labs & Teams

She directs the Wild Minds Lab, focusing on long-term field studies in Uganda and Guinea. Collaborations include conservation projects and interdisciplinary studies with AI and ecology.