Post Doctoral Researchers

 

Mallory T. DeChant, PhD, CCFT

Mallory was awarded her BS in Animal Science from The University of Findlay in 2016 and her MS in Animal Science from Southern Illinois University in 2018 where she studied the physiological impact of simulated search work in search and rescue canines. In 2019 Mallory completed her certificate in canine fitness and conditioning from The University of Tennessee. 

Mallory completed her PhD in Animal Science at Texas Tech University in 2021 where she studied various training and experience factors that impact detection dog performance. Currently, Mallory is a Postdoctoral research associate at Texas Tech University where she is studying various training methods to enhance search vigilance in detection dogs. In addition, Mallory is also researching nutritional solutions for reduced core body temperature in sporting dogs. 

Connor Lambert, Ph.D.

Connor is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the CORE lab investigating canine olfaction of explosives materials, with the goal of helping to improve training for explosive-detecting dogs.  He is a zoologist with interests in animal behavior, cognition, and sensory systems from both an ecological-evolutionary lens as well as considering their implications in conservation and other applied domains. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Conservation from Brigham Young University, a Master's in Biology from Miami University examining the evolution of monogamy in prairie voles, and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Alberta investigating cognition and learning in zebra finch nest-building behaviors.

 

Sarah A. Kane, PhD

Sarah A. Kane is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Texas Tech University. Her academic interests include canine olfaction, specifically in odor generalization and discrimination. Prior to her studies at Texas Tech, Sarah worked as a research assistant at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. At the Working Dog Center, she helped on projects studying canine detection of invasive species, ovarian cancer, and wildlife diseases. She also collaborated on a projected in Bristol, England in 2015 studying the efficacy of diabetic alert dogs.  

 

 

PhD Students

 

Liza Rothkoff is a second year PhD student in the Animal Sciences program at Texas Tech University. She is interested in all things canine cognition and olfaction. Prior to joining the CORE lab, Liza earned her MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College in 2023. Her master’s research focused on contrafreeloading in pet dogs. At Hunter College, Liza also worked as lab manager of the Thinking Dog Center, where she ran studies on dog play and canine pointing comprehension.

Glenna Cupp is a third-year PhD student in Companion Animal Science. She earned her master's degree in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare from Virginia Tech, where her research investigated the influence of nature walks on the welfare of companion dogs. Previously, Glenna served as a research assistant at the PennVet Working Dog Center and worked as a professional dog trainer. At the CORE lab, her research focuses on how soil characteristics affect dogs' abilities to detect buried odors, aiming to enhance the understanding of the tasks performed by human remains detection dogs in locating clandestine graves.

 

Arieli Daieny Da Fonseca is a second-year PhD student in the Animal Sciences program at Texas Tech University. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Sao Paulo State University in Brazil, where she conducted research in swine production and applied statistics. At the CORE Lab, her research focuses on canine behavior and welfare, with an emphasis on how dogs make choices and express preferences in different environments. She also contributes to projects on canine olfaction, and her long-term goal is to advance knowledge that benefits both animal welfare science and the performance of working dogs.

 

Masters Students

All Graduated!

Alumni

Astrid Concha DVM, MSc, PhD

Dr. Concha is a Postdoctoral research associate at the US Army Research Office and Texas Tech University.  She has 20 years of experience that encompasses working in veterinary clinical animal behavior, working as a dog trainer, and working as a researcher. She has a Master in Animal Behavior (Spain) and earned her PhD in animal behavior and welfare from the University of Lincoln (UK) focused on olfactory detection performance in dogs. She has worked with Medical Detection Dogs (UK), and has worked with Police and Military Working Dogs across the world. Her primary research area is the study of canine detection and patrol performance, as well as developing novel technologies to measure alert responses in detection dogs

Dr. Concha is currently working with Military Working Dogs to identify cognitive, sensory, and morphological markers associated with key performance metrics in dual- purpose DoD Military Working Dogs at Lackland Air Force Base (USA).

Dr. Aviles-Rosa is a Postdoctoral research associate at the Texas Tech University Canine Research and Education lab. He earned his PhD in animal welfare and behavior from Texas Tech University in 2019 and since then he has been conducting research in olfaction and detection dog performance. As a researcher, he is interested in improving detection dog capability and understand dogs’ olfactory limitations. Although he is interested in a variety of topics, he aspires to conduct research to better understand olfactory generalization in detection dogs. His goal is that his research will provide scientific evidence that can lead to the development of training methods that will produce robust generalization in detection dogs without compromising specificity.

 

 

Graduates

 

Aaron Teixeira

Eddie Cordova

 

Rachel Wyant

 

Stephanie Soto