In the Westrick Lab, our research is driven by a desire to understand why and how animals behave as they do. We explore individual variation in behavior; how it develops early in life, how it changes across lifespans and environments, and what role it plays in evolution. We investigate these topics through an ecological lens, using integrative approaches to explore underlying mechanisms beyond traditional model systems. We work collaboratively to combine techniques in our journey toward uncovering the mechanisms that drive behavior across different timescales.

We prioritize open science, reproducibility, and collaboration, and doing ethically informed, high-quality science. We strongly believe there is enormous value in diversity and team science and are dedicated to improving equity and inclusion in academia.