Robyn A Grant

Dr. Robyn A Grant is a Reader in Comparative Physiology & Behaviour at Manchester Metropolitan University and Editor-in-Chief of Mammal Review. Her research investigates facial touch sensing mechanisms (whiskers in mammals, rictal bristles in birds) across four domains: behavioral associations, anatomical diversity, evolutionary origins, neurodegeneration impacts, and bio-robotic applications.

She directs multiple funded projects including 'Walk on the Wild Side: Canid Gait' (Evolution Education Trust), 'MMMMammalWhiskers' (Royal Society APEX), and 'Whisker TacTip' (EPSRC). She mentors postdoctoral researchers like Dr. Alyx Milne (BBSRC Fellow) and leads public engagement initiatives such as the Royal Academy of Engineering's 'Bedtime Stories for Young Engineers'.

Grant teaches comparative anatomy and behavior across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, leads the MSc Zoos & Conservation unit with Chester Zoo, and directs the MSc Zoo Conservation Biology program. As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she emphasizes experiential learning in courses like 'Fieldtrip', 'Brain and Behaviour', and 'Comparative Anatomy, Physiology & Behaviour'.

Honors include Pew and Joan Mitchell Fellowships, dual Pennsylvania Arts Council grants, and Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship. She frequently contributes to scientific media (BBC Springwatch, Discovery Channel) and serves on review panels for BBSRC, BES, MRC, and NIH.