Professor Simone Meddle
Personal Chair of Behavioural Neuroendocrinology
Contact details
Address
- Street
-
The Roslin Institute
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian - City
- Post code
- EH25 9RG
Availability
Willingness to take Ph.D. students: Yes
Behavioural Neuroendocrinology Animal Welfare
Background
Simone graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Bristol in 1991. Under the supervision of Prof. Sir Brian Follett she researched photoperiodic time measurement in birds and was awarded a PhD from The University of Bristol in 1995. She then undertook a post-doctoral research project with Prof. Gareth Leng and Prof. John Russell in the Department of Physiology, Medical School at The University of Edinburgh where she investigated the neural pathways controlling parturition. In 1996 she went to work in the laboratory of Prof. John Wingfield at the University of Washington, USA, to study hormone, brain-behaviour interactions in wild song birds, including in those breeding in the Arctic. Simone returned to the UK in 1999 to take up research positions back at The University of Edinburgh, School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences where her research focused on topics that included stress physiology, maternal behaviour and learning and memory.
Simone became a Lecturer in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 and was promoted to Senior lecturer in 2008, Reader in 2011 and in 2016 was awarded a Personal Chair in Behavioural Neuroendocrinology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine. Simone is also a Group Leader at the Roslin Institute and is the Lead of the BBSRC Institute Strategic program Improving Animal Production and Welfare. She leads a research group funded by the BBSRC, NSF, The Leverhulme trust and The Royal Society that investigates how environmental and social cues can trigger functionally important behaviours such as response to stress, food intake, reproduction, photoperiodism and aggression by examining the neuroendocrine system. She is also investigating the neurobiology of positive welfare (environmental enrichment) and behaviour. Simone served on BBSRC committee A member as a Chair and as a core member. Simone teaches extensively on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She is Second Year Director, Director for Intercalated Degrees, Course Organiser and a Personal Tutor for BVM&S students.
Collaborative Activity
Current external collaborators include:
Professor John Wingfield (UC Davis, USA)
Professor Kazuyoshi Tsutsui (Waseda University Japan)
Professor Sue Healy (University of St Andrews)
Professor Karen Spencer (University of St Andrews)
Professor Alistair Lawrence (Scotland's Rural College)
Professor Oliver Bosch (Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Universität Regensburg Germany)
Dr Tyler Stevenson (University of Glasgow, UK)
Area of Expertise
Research expertise: Behavioural Neuroendocrinology
Qualifications
1992 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Bristol
1991 Bachelor of Science, University of Bristol
Responsibilities & affiliations
BVM&S Committees:
Learning and Teaching Committee
Curriculum Review Committee
Assessment Research and Development Group
Intercalated Degree Executive Committee
Research Track Committee
Postgraduate Studies
SPGSC Masters
Board of Studies School of Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate teaching
2020-present: Director for Second Year BVM&S.
2005-2020: Director for First Year BVM&S.
2007-present: Director for intercalated degrees for BVM&S.
2010-2014: Exam Board Chair for BVM&S Animal Body 1 & AB3 spot exam organiser.
2018-present: BVM&S Board of Studies
2004-2011: Course Organiser for Hormones Emotionality and Behaviour, Medical Biology BSc. (Hons). I designed, developed and gave all lectures on the course.
2005-present: Section Organiser for BVM&S Animal Body 3.
2005-present: Personal Tutor for BVM&S students.
2005-present: Exam Board Member for the following BVM&S courses: Animal Body 1, Animal Body 3 and Graduate entry.
2004-2011: Exam Board Member Medical Biology BSc. (Hons).
2006-2011: Staff / Student Liaison Officer for Medical Biology BSc. (Hons).
Currently teach on the following courses:
BVM&S: Animal Body 1, Animal Body 3, Animal Body 4, professional & clinical skills and graduate entry. MSc. / Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. MSc. Research Animal Biosciences. Reproductive Biology (BSc. Hons).
Previously taught: Medical Biology (BSc. Hons) Neuroendocrinology module, Physiology (BSc. Hons) and Neuroscience (BSc. Hons) and Medical Biology first year.
1995-present: Supervisor for Physiology Hons BSc. and Neuroscience Hons BSc. Research Projects. Supervised laboratory research projects at undergraduate level.
2005-present: Supervisor of BVM&S undergraduate Student Research Component Projects.
1995-current: Supervisor of Undergraduate Vacation Research Projects.
1995-current: Supervised field based and laboratory projects for visiting undergraduate and postgraduate students from the UK, Japan, USA, Malaysia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Thailand, Germany, France and Greece.
2016: Designed and delivered training for East Bio DTP Students.
Information correct as of 2020
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
Adaptations of the neuroendocrine system: hormonal and neural regulation of reproduction and behaviour. Animal Welfare: Neurobiology of positive welfare and behaviour.