Academic employment

2019 - University of Lausanne - Postdoctoral Researcher.

Researching social learning biases in humans, from a comparative perspective.

2017 - 2018 University of Birmingham - Research Associate.

Researching the impact of educational television on children's problem solving.

education

2013 - 2018 University of St Andrews – PhD, Psychology.

Supervisor: Professor Andrew Whiten

Thesis title: ‘Experimental studies of behavioural flexibility and cultural transmission in chimpanzees and children’.

2012 - 2013 University of St Andrews – MSc Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology, Classification: Distinction.

2008 - 2012 University of St Andrews - Psychology MA (Hons.) Classification: First Class.

conference presentations

2022 Harrison RA, Botting J, van de Waal E. Social trajectories following maternal loss in wild vervet monkeys. Oral presentation, Joint Conference of the European Federation for Primatology and the Gesellschaft für Primatologie, Arnhem, 2022.

2021 Harrison RA, Dongre P, van Schaik C, van de Waal E. The Natural History of Conformity. Oral presentation, Cultural Evolution Society Conference, Online, 2021.

2021 Harrison RA, van Leeuwen EJC, Whiten A. Chimpanzees' behavioral flexibility, social tolerance, and use of tool-composites in a progressively challenging foraging problem. Oral presentation, European Human Behaviour and Evolution Assocation Conference, Online, 2021.

2018 Harrison RA, Whiten A. The transmission of symbolic and non-symbolic images in transmission chains of four- to eight-year-old children. Oral presentation, Cultural Evolution Society Conference, Tempe Arizona, 2018.

2017 Harrison RA, van Leeuwen EJC, Whiten A. Innovative and flexible tool-based solutions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in response to a changing foraging task. Oral presentation, Inaugral Cultural Evolution Society Conference, Jena, 2017.

2016 Harrison RA, van Leeuwen EJC, Whiten A. Innovative and flexible tool-based solutions in sanctuary-housed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in response to a changing foraging task. Invited symposium presentation, American Society of Primatologists / International Primatological Society, Chicago, 2016.

2016 Harrison RA, van Leeuwen EJC, Whiten A. Innovative and flexible tool-based solutions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in response to a changing foraging task. Oral presentation, 24th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Philosophy and Psychology, St Andrews, 2016.

2016 Harrison RA, van Leeuwen EJC, Whiten A. Innovative and flexible tool-based solutions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in response to a changing foraging task. Pecha Kucha presentation, Birmingham Culture Conference 2016.

teaching

2022 Guest lecture, Behavioral Ecology, University of Neuchâtel.

2021 and 2022 Guest lecture and assistant examiner, Introduction to Primate Behaviour, Cognition and Culture, University of Lausanne

2019 - 2022 Assistant, Analyse de Données en Biologie (2nd year Biology Statistics), University of Lausanne

2016 Postgraduate Demonstrator, Third Year Developmental Psychology, University of St Andrews

2014 - 2016 Postgraduate Demonstrator, First Year Psychology Methods and Statistics, University of St Andrews

service

Co-organiser: ESLR Strategic Social Learning Meeting. 2-day multi-disciplinary online conference on social learning strategies.

Reviewer for Philosophical Transactions B, Animal Cognition, Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, PCI Registered Reports, Cognitive Development, American Journal of Primatology, iScience, Proceedings B

public outreach

2022 Les Mystères de l’UNIL - co-organised four days of workshops on vervet monkey behaviour and life history, University of Lausanne.

2021 Les Mystères de l’UNIL - six days of workshops in local schools on primate behaviour, comparative psychology and social learning, University of Lausanne, Lausanne

2019 - 2022 ‘Homo sapiens: un singe comme les autres?’ Designed a two-hour workshop for visiting school groups covering primate behaviour, comparative psychology and social learning. L’éprouvette public outreach lab, University of Lausanne, Lausanne.

2019 Les Mystères de l’UNIL - four days of workshops on vervet monkey behaviour and social learning, University of Lausanne, Lausanne.

2016 Baby and Child Lab Family Fun Day - Explorathon (European Researchers' Night), St Andrews.

2016 Innovation and problem solving science station - Science Night at the Zoo, Edinburgh International Science Festival.

2016 Harrison RA (2016, February 23). Chimps are cute. They’re funny. And viral videos can harm them. The Guardian.

2015 “The Trial of Chimpanzee Jack” – Research Live, St Andrews, as part of European Researchers’ Night 2015.

2014 “The Trial of Chimpanzee Jack” – Part of The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

2014 “Animal Cultures” – BBSRC Great British Bioscience Festival, London and Edinburgh.