Exploring Dog Behavior and Cognition

About the Project:

In this project, we study how dogs think, solve problems, and interact with new challenges. Past projects have included dogs playing simple “video games” designed to test learning and memory, as well as experiments on problem-solving and social behavior. Students will gain hands-on experience working with dogs and will also collaborate with other student researchers on data collection, video coding, and analysis. This associateship is a great way to explore the growing field of animal cognition while developing transferable research skills.

Dr. Lauren Highfill joined the faculty at Eckerd in 2008. She led the creation and approval of the Animal Studies major in 2018. The courses she teaches include Introduction to Psychology, Biopsychology, Animal Cognition, Statistics, and Practicum in Animal Studies. Lauren’s research interests include animal personality, comparative cognition, and conservation psychology. Her studies include a variety of animal species, such as elephants, orangutans, and dogs. She especially enjoys talking with students about their own interests in animal cognition research.

The First-Year Research Associate Program at Eckerd College honors academically outstanding students with awards of up to $1,000. The program also provides the opportunity, during the freshman year, for the award winners to work closely with a sponsor (faculty or administrative personnel) on a project of mutual interest. Associates might assist with research for faculty publication or new courses, conduct scientific experiments, work with creative artists, or develop projects related to any phase of the academic, cultural, and social life of the college. Scholars are selected on the basis of achievement in high school and on the creativity and depth of responses to items on this application.​

Online submission due no later than February 2, 2026.