Jenna V. Congdon

Dr. Jenna V. Congdon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) since August 2022. She holds a BSc (honours, cum laude) from Algoma University, followed by an MSc and PhD from the University of Alberta under Dr. Christopher B. Sturdy. Her postdoctoral work at York University and the Toronto Zoo involved developing AI systems to monitor animal behavior and improve welfare.

Her research focuses on comparative cognition, studying perceptual abilities and decision-making across species. Key areas include avian communication (e.g., black-capped chickadees), desert ant navigation, and AI applications in zoology. She collaborates with the Edmonton Valley Zoo and international institutes like the Toronto Zoo. Dr. Congdon has supervised 23 undergraduate students and actively participates in academic committees such as the International Conference on Comparative Cognition (CO3 2024-2026).

Her research has been featured in media outlets like Phys.org, ScienceDaily, and podcasts such as Wild Enrichment. She is a member of the Comparative Cognition Society and holds awards including NSERC scholarships and Mitacs fellowships.