Dr Clare Ellis
Clare is a Senior Lecturer in Animal and Veterinary Sciences teaching across our Bioveterinary and BVMS courses. She is developing a research portfolio in the welfare of small companion animals and captive wild animals, and One Welfare topics.
Clare teaches on a range of modules across the Bioveterinary Sciences degree and supports animal handling sessions, focusing on small domestic species such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Clare is passionate about supporting learner development and developing learning resources that encourage student engagement and enjoyment during their studies. She works with the Digital Education Team to develop digital case studies as part of the BVMS asynchronous learning activities.
Clare started her career as a zookeeper, working with a range of mammalian and avian species, including bears, sea lions, small felids, tapirs, yak, penguins and display birds (e.g. parrots and birds of prey). After completing her BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, she worked for two years in an animal rescue and rehoming centre where she provided all aspects of care for domestic cats. Having commended teaching in 2007, Clare returned to education to complete her master's degree in Animal Behaviour, prior to starting her PhD.
During her doctoral studies, Clare continued to teach undergraduates and postgraduates in Animal Sciences, before returning to the zoo industry where she was manager for the Research, Education and Conservation teams at Twycross Zoo. In addition to leading her team at the zoo, Clare liaised with conservation and research partners within the UK and internationally, supporting over 60 research students annually and delivering on two WAZA Conservation Education grants in her time at Twycross Zoo. Clare also guided the education team to develop new processes for the development of interpretation resources, and the life sciences team in the integration of Qualitative Behavioural Assessments (QBA).
Following successful completion of her PhD, Clare completed a Post Doctoral Research Associate position, at the University of Nottingham working for the BIAZA Elephant Welfare Group (UK), to collate, analyse and disseminate the results of UK zoo elephant health and welfare data. Clare then returned to academia where she taught BSc Zoo Management and BVMS degrees, prior to joining our School at UCLan.
During her MSc, Clare conducted a behavioural-based husbandry project on captive brown bears and for her PhD, Clare studied methodologies for measuring personality in domestic rabbits, along with rabbit relinquishment and shelter data gathering processes in the UK. Clare continues to research topics linked to the welfare of small mammal species, the welfare of animals used in educational settings, and zoo management impacts on welfare. Here at the UCLan vet school, she is looking to research topics that encompass a One Welfare approach, working with experts across disciplines to address areas linked to human-animal-environment interactions.
- PhD in Animal Behaviour & Welfare University of Northampton, 2020
- MSc in Animal Behaviour, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2013
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (post 16) University of Central Lancashire, 2009
- BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour & Welfare Myerscough College and University of Central Lancashire, 2004
- Zoo Animal Management - City and Guilds, 2000
- Animal welfare assessments
- Evidence-based animal management
- Welfare of captive wild animals
- Welfare of domestic companion animals
- Human-animal interactions (domestic, captive and wild animals)
- One Welfare
- Environmental impacts of captive animals
- Member of the Animal Welfare Research Network
Clare has engaged with research within zoo and companion animal welfare and continues to work on research linked to animal welfare with a focus on the experiences of those who care for or work with animals. Clare is keen to work on inter-disciplinary projects linked to human-animal interactions, with an emphasis on a One Welfare approach.
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- Rabbit preventative healthcare practices in UK companion rabbit owners
- Impacts of handling animals in veterinary education
- International Society for Applied Ethology (Regional), 2020
- RSPCA/UFAW Rodent and Rabbit Welfare Group, 2018
- BIAZA Research Conference, 2018
- Postgraduate Researcher Conference, University of Northampton, 2017
- Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK), 2017
- International Society of Applied Ethology, 2016
- Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), 2016 British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) Research Conference, 2015
Telephone:+44 (0)1772 891524
Email: Email:Dr Clare Ellis
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