Sarah Dalesman is a Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University, where she also serves as the Scheme Coordinator for the Marine and Freshwater Biology degree and Student Experience Lead. She holds a PhD in behavioural ecology from the University of Plymouth and has held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Calgary and the University of Exeter, funded by Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions and the Leverhulme Trust, respectively. PhD, University of Plymouth – Behavioural ecology of pond snails Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Calgary – Neurobiology of stress and memory Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship, University of Exeter Dr. Dalesman’s research focuses on animal cognition, particularly in invertebrates such as pond snails ( Lymnaea stagnalis ), where she investigates individual differences in cognition, memory formation, and the effects of environmental stressors. She also explores sentience in gastropods and extends her work to canine cognition, driven by her interest in dog training and behaviour. Her interdisciplinary research bridges neuroethology, ecology, and conservation, with implications for understanding cognitive evolution and environmental impacts on learning. Her recent publications highlight trends in cognitive ecology, microbiome-brain interactions, and bio-inspired robotics, showing a strong integration of molecular, behavioural, and ecological approaches. She has led externally funded projects on cognitive complexity in gastropods and memory formation under environmental change. Scientific Awards and Recognition Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship Postdoctoral Fellowship from Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions Dr. Dalesman has supervised research students and is open to MRes and PhD candidates in animal cognition and behaviour. She has served on the editorial boards of Animal Behaviour and Animal journals. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life on land, clean water, and responsible consumption. She is actively involved in public engagement, with her research featured in major media outlets, blogs, and social platforms. She is a member of the Athena Swan committee at Aberystwyth University, promoting gender equality in STEM.
