Emily J. E. Messer

Dr. Emily J. E. Messer is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, specializing in primatology and developmental psychology. She holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Dundee and a PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of St Andrews, focusing on social learning in capuchin and squirrel monkeys. Her research explores how social and cultural contexts shape innovation, learning, and information transmission in primates, including studies with children, apes, and monkeys across diverse global populations.

Key research interests include social learning, prosociality, cultural evolution, and comparative psychology. She has conducted fieldwork in locations such as Trinidad and Vanuatu, collaborating with institutions like the National Museum of Scotland and zoos in Edinburgh. Dr. Messer teaches Developmental Psychology (C98HD) and leads the Developmental Interest Group (DIG) at Heriot-Watt.

Her recent articles (2022–2025) highlight work on self-regulation in cultural contexts, school quality impacts on child achievement, and primate social dynamics. Awards include Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2025) and the Jonathon Glover Award in Biology (2007). She actively engages in public outreach, including documentaries and science festivals, promoting science communication and education.

Advising includes co-supervising Enzo Martinez’s PhD on human innovation. She contributes to the Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences and the Cultural and Social Interaction Research Group, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration.