From Puppy to Partner: Unlocking Canine Potential for Service Roles
When
Where
From Puppy to Partner: Unlocking Canine Potential for Service Roles with Dr. Emily Bray
Event Details:
- In Person Location: ENR2, S215
- Virtual: Zoom
About Dr. Emily Bray
Emily Bray is an Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Behavioral Research Across Years Lab. Dr. Bray earned her Bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Prior to starting her current position, she was a post-doctoral research associate at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center and Canine Companions, the nation's largest provider of service dogs for people with disabilities. Over the past decade, she has developed and implemented cognitive tasks in hundreds of dogs from both pet and working dog populations, forming the basis for projects ranging in scope from early maternal care to cognitive aging to understanding the contribution of genetics to behavioral traits. Since 2023, she is also credentialed by the Animal Behavior Society as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. By building a comprehensive understanding of dog behavioral and cognitive health, she aims to enhance both canine and human welfare.
Her work on how dogs solve problems and interact with their world over their life course has been funded by nonprofits, including the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, as well as government agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institute on Aging, the Office of Naval Research, and the Department of Defense. Coverage of her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including the Washington Post, National Public Radio, CNN, the BBC, and Netflix.