Profile Details

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Hire Dr. Tayla H.

United Kingdom

USD 40 /hr

Animal Welfare Consultant | Expert in Data-Driven Strategies & Evidence-Based Solutions to Improve Animal Welfare

Profile Summary

As a dedicated animal welfare scientist with a PhD in Developmental Biology, I specialise in developing data-driven, evidence-based solutions to promote positive animal welfare globally. My expertise lies in identifying neglected welfare challenges and creating scalable, actionable strategies that have a measurable impact. With a proven track record of successfully leading strategic projects, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and translating complex research into clear recommendations, I help organisations make meaningful progress toward improving animal welfare standards. I have extensive experience in conducting high-quality welfare assessments, designing impactful research methodologies, and presenting findings to key decision-makers in both the public and private sectors. I thrive in roles that require strong leadership, strategic vision, and the ability to engage with a variety of stakeholders, from NGOs and academic researchers to policymakers and industry leaders. My commitment to advancing animal welfare is coupled with a passion for continuous learning and a deep understanding of animal behaviour. Whether you are looking to improve welfare standards, navigate complex animal-related issues, or need expert consultancy for a specific project, I can deliver insightful, evidence-backed solutions tailored to your needs. Let me help you make informed decisions and drive real, positive change for animals through practical and sustainable welfare improvements.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Animal Behavior/Ethology
• ★ Animal Welfare
• ☆ Evolutionary Biology
• ☆ Zoology
• ☆ Animal Science
• ☆ Animal Communications
• ☆ Neuroscience
• ☆ Behavioral Neuroscience
• ☆ Cognitive Neuroscience
• ☆ Developmental Neuroscience
• ☆ Animal Husbandry
• ☆ Scientific Animation & Illustration
• ☆ Medical Illustration
• ☆ Scientific Proofreading & Editing

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Technical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, Newswriting, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Meta-Research, Feasibility Study, Fact Checking, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Image Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Cleaning, Data Processing, Data Insights

Work Experience

Scientific Researcher

OneKind

July 2023 - Present

External Examiner and Lecturer

The University of Edinburgh

September 2021 - Present

Welfare Outcome Officer

RSPCA Assured

July 2022 - March 2025

Doctoral Student

SRUC/The University of Edinburgh

July 2018 - January 2023

Research scientist - Applied Animal Welfare

Roslin Institute

September 2017 - July 2018

Education

PhD Development Biology

The University of Edinburgh

July 2018 - January 2023

Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare

The University of Edinburgh

August 2016 - June 2017

Zoology BSc (Hons)

The University of Aberdeen

September 2012 - June 2016

Countryside and Environmental Management HNC

SRUC

September 2011 - June 2012

Certifications

• Business Management:Project Management

  The Open University

  January 2024 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Hammond, T.J., Brown, S.M., Meddle, S.L., Nielsen, B.L., Lawrence, A.B., Bombail, V.(2024). Feel-good songs: application of a novel playback paradigm to induce a positive affective state in juvenile male Wistar rats . Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 275.

Bombail, V., Lawrence, A.B., Brown, S.M., Martin, J.E., Meddle, S.L., Mendl, M., Robinson, E.S.J., Hammond, T.J., Nielsen, B.L., LaFollette, M.R., et al.(2022). Stage 1 Registered Report: Refinement of tickling protocols to improve positive animal welfare in laboratory rats . F1000Research. 11.

Bombail, V., Brown, S.M., Martin, J.E., Meddle, S.L., Mendl, M., Robinson, E.S.J., Hammond, T.J., Nielsen, B.L., LaFollette, M.R., Vinuela-Fernandez, I., et al.(2022). Stage 1 Registered Report: Refinement of tickling protocols to improve positive animal welfare in laboratory rats . F1000Research. 11. p. 1053.

Bombail, V., Brown, S.M., Hammond, T.J., Meddle, S.L., Nielsen, B.L., Tivey, E.K.L., Lawrence, A.B.(2021). Crying With Laughter: Adapting the Tickling Protocol to Address Individual Differences Among Rats in Their Response to Playful Handling . Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 8.

Tayla Hammond, Vincent Bombail, Birte L. Nielsen, Simone L. Meddle, Alistair B. Lawrence, Sarah M. Brown(2019). Relationships between play and responses to tickling in male juvenile rats . Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 221. p. 104879. Elsevier {BV}

Hammond, T., Bombail, V., Nielsen, B.L., Meddle, S.L., Lawrence, A.B., Brown, S.M.(2019). Relationships between play and responses to tickling in male juvenile rats . Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 221.