Sarah Benson-Amram

Sarah Benson-Amram is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Zoology (Faculty of Science) and Forest & Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She directs the Animal Cognition Lab investigating behavioral and cognitive adaptations of urban carnivores including raccoons, skunks, and coyotes.

Her research integrates approaches from behavioral ecology, cognitive science, and conservation biology to understand how cognition enables species persistence in human-dominated environments. Current projects examine connections between cognitive performance, neurobiology, personality traits, and social learning in wildlife.

Dr. Benson-Amram's publications demonstrate recurring themes: urban adaptation mechanisms, cognitive flexibility across species, technological innovations in field research, and applications for human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Her lab employs zebrafish models, neurobiological analyses, and field experiments across multiple continents.

She mentors graduate students including E. Babbitt, N. Lewis, and Y. Li. Benson-Amram holds a B.A. from Cornell University and Ph.D. from Michigan State University, with postdoctoral training at University of St. Andrews.