Staff Profile

I am the Elizabeth Creak Trust Associate Professor (Reader) in Animal Welfare and Innovation at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, with over ten years of professional experience in the field of animal behaviour and welfare in farming, industrial and laboratory environments. I joined Newcastle University in late 2022, previously I have worked at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, SRUC and the University of Glasgow. In 2022 I was awarded the “UFAW Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the year” by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.

Academic Leadership, Management and Citizenship

(*Retired posts / Term completed)

Internal:

• Chairperson of the Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB), Newcastle University (2023 - present)
• Member, Animal Welfare Committee (Subgroup to AWERB), Newcastle University (2022 - present)
• Member, Newcastle University Farms Board, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (2023 - present)
• Member, Newcastle University Research Ethics Committee (2023 - present)
• Member, Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University (2022 - present)

External:

• Member, BBSRC Follow-on Fund Grant Panel (2024 - present)
• Member, Dogs Trust  Canine Welfare Grants programme (2023 - present)
• Member, Working Group 9 (Poultry Welfare and Management), World Poultry Association Science Association Global (2023 - present)
• Member, BBSRC Pool of Experts (2023 - present)
• NU Representative, Agricultural Universities Council UK (2022 - present)
• Director, Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture UK (2022 - present)
• Member, BBSRC Working Group: Animal Welfare (2022 - present)
• Member, EFSA Working Group: high expansion foam for stunning and killing of pigs and poultry (2022 - 2024)*
• Member, NC3Rs Grant Assessment Panel (2020 - present)
• Member, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Ethics Review Panel (2019 - present)
• Vice President, World Poultry Association Science Association UK Branch (2022 - present)
• Section Editor, ‘Humane Killing’ in the Animal Welfare journal, UFAW (2021 - present)
• Editorial Board Member, Research Ethics journal (2021 - present)
• External Examiner, BSc Bioveterinary Science, University of Liverpool (2020 - 2024)*
• Associate member, The Houghton Trust (2019 - 2023)*

Professional Memberships

• Member of International Society of Applied Ethology (ISAE)
• Member of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
• Member of University Federation in Animal Welfare (UFAW)
• Member of Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN)
• Member of World Poultry Science Association (WPSA)
• Member of Humane Slaughter Association (HSA)
• Member of British Society of Animal Science (BSAS)

Research Interests

Animal welfare research is an ever-evolving process, as we learn more, the more questions are raised, and we are driven to continually refine standards of care and treatment of animals that we have moral duties towards. My main research areas focus around combining behaviour and physiology to deepen our understanding of animal welfare issues.

My work in animal welfare research involves the utilisation of novel approaches and problem-solving to develop effective and relevant advancements in animal welfare which strategically align with future ethical farming and the use of animals for research purposes. Working with industry and relevant stakeholders to inform animal welfare priorities and compliment promotion of sustainable and ethical use of animals.

Current Research Projects

• BBSRC Responsive Mode (2023 - 2026) 'Breathless Birds: Does air hunger impact the welfare of poultry at slaughter'
• NC3Rs (2022 - 2026) 'Ensuring humane deaths for laboratory birds'
• NC3Rs (2022 - 2024) 'Refinement of tickling protocols to improve positive animal welfare in laboratory rats'

Previous Research Projects (last 5 years)

• National Pork Board, United States (2020 - 2021) 'Depopulation of pigs: Welfare assessment of high expansion nitrogen-filled foam'
• BBSRC Responsive Mode (2019 - 2022) 'Decompression killing of laboratory rodents: a humane alternative to carbon dioxide'
• DEFRA (2018 - 2020) 'LAPS in pigs: a humane alternative to carbon dioxide?'
• DEFRA (2018 - 2019) 'A review of the evidence on welfare aspects of the transport of live animals'

Current PhD Students (*Viva passed, PhD awarded)

• Sophia Bullock (2023 - 2026), 'Improving end-of-life welfare for laboratory rodents', SNES funded, Newcastle University
• Michelle Reeves* (2020 - 2024), ' Development & validation of animal welfare indicators for a PLF approach to improve the welfare of small ruminants' EU Horizon 2020, University of Edinburgh

PhD Opportunities with me

• Project Title: PhD Studentship - Animal Welfare: Ensuring Humane Deaths for Laboratory Birds. Fully funded by NC3Rs. This research will delve into the current practices of euthanasia in laboratory birds, seeking to develop and validate more humane methods. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with leading experts in animal welfare and contribute to advancements that could shape future regulations and practices globally. Apply as soon as possible to secure your place. Start date is negotiable. https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/phd-studentship-animal-welfare-ensuring-humane-deaths-for-laboratory-birds/?p173679

Undergraduate Teaching

• NES1004 Introduction to Animal Physiology, Newcastle University
• NES1005 Natural Science Research Impact (Module Leader), Newcastle University
• NES2300 Field Identification Skills, Newcastle University

Postgraduate Teaching

• MMB8054 Theoretical Aspects of Animal Welfare, Newcastle University
• MMB8055 Practical Aspects of Animal Welfare (Deputy Module Leader), Newcastle University

• Articles

  • EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW), Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin MS, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Winckler C, Viltrop A, Martin JE, Raj M, Vyssotski A, Van der Stede Y, Vitali M, Manakidou A, Michel V. The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry. EFSA Journal 2024, 22(7), e8855.
  • Reeves MC, Booth N, Fox NJ, Donbavand J, Jack M, Kenyon F, Martin JE, Baxter EM, Dwyer CM. The impact of gastrointestinal parasitism on the behaviour and welfare of weaned housed lambs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2024, 276, 106323.
  • Gray HE, Malcolm EL, Herborn K, Armstrong D, Martin JE, Asher L. Can eggshells indicate stressor exposure in free-range laying hens?. Animal Welfare 2024, 33, e53.
  • Reyes-Illg G, Martin J, Mani I, Reynolds J, Kipperman B. The Rise of Heatstroke as a Method of Depopulating Pigs and Poultry: Implications for the US Veterinary Profession. Animals 2023, 13(1), 140.
  • Clarkson J, Leach MC, McKeegan DEF, Martin JE. The perspectives of UK personnel towards current killing practices for laboratory rodents. Scientific Reports 2023, 13, 4808.
  • Clarkson JM, Martin JE, Sparrey J, Leach MC, McKeegan DEF. Striving for humane deaths for laboratory mice: hypobaric hypoxia provides a potential alternative to carbon dioxide exposure. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2023, 290(1997), 20222446.
  • Elte Y, Acton K, Martin JE, Nielen M, Weeren R, Wolframm I. Engage and enjoy–investigating predictors of employee engagement and work satisfaction in equine veterinary professionals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023, 10, 1036388.
  • Clarkson JM, Paraskevopoulou A, Martin JE. A decade on: Where is the UK poultry industry for emergency on-farm killing?. Poultry Science 2023, 102(5), 102604.
  • Bombail V, Brown SM, Martin JE, Meddle SL, Mendl M, Robinson ESJ, Hammond TJ, Nielsen BL, LaFollette MR, Vinuela-Fernandez I, Tivey EKL, Lawrence AB. Stage 1 Registered Report: Refinement of tickling protocols to improve positive animal welfare in laboratory rats. F1000Research 2022, 11, 1053.
  • Tivey EKL, Martin JE, Brown SM, Bombail V, Lawrence AB, Meddle SL. Sex differences in 50 kHz call sub-types emitted during tickling induced playful behaviour in rats. Scientific Reports 2022, 12, 15323.
  • Machadoa NAF, Barbosa-Filhoa JAD, Martin JE, Da Silva I, Pandorfi H, Gadelha C, Souza-Junior JBF, Parente M, Marques J. Effect of distance and daily periods in swine stressed by heat and pre-slaughter losses in a semiarid region. International Journal of Biometeorology 2022, 66, 1853–1864.
  • Baxter EM, McKeegan DEF, Farish M, Thomson JR, Clutton RE, Greenhalgh S, Gregson R, Martin JE. Characterizing candidate decompression rates for hypobaric hypoxic stunning of pigs. Part 2: Pathological consequences. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2022, 9, 1027883.
  • Martin JE, Baxter EM, Clarkson JM, Farish M, Clutton RE, Greenhalgh SN, Gregson R, McKeegan DEF. Characterizing candidate decompression rates for hypobaric hypoxic stunning of pigs. Part 1: Reflexive behavior and physiological responses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2022, 9, 1027878.
  • Clarkson JM, Baxter EM, Martin JE. Who Plays With Whom: Farrowing Environment Influences Isolation of Foster Piglets in Play. Frontiers in Animal Science 2021, 2, 724080.
  • Caravaggi A, Amado TF, Brook RK, Cuiti S, Darimont CT, Drouilly M, English HM, Field KA, Iossa G, Martin JE, McElligott AG, Mohammadi A, Nayeri D, O'Neill HKM, Paquet PC, Periquet S, Proulx G, Rabaiotti D, Recio RM, Soulsbury CD, Tadich T, Wynn-Grant R. On the need for rigorous welfare and methodological reporting for the live-capture of large carnivores: a response to de Araujo et al. (2020). Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2021, 12(10), 1793-1799.
  • Machadoa NAF, Martin JE, Barbosa-Filhoa JAD, Diasb CTS, Pinheiroa DG, de Oliveira KPL, Souza-Junior JBF. Heat zones in the load and their relation to the heat stress of piglets during transport in tropical climate. Journal of Thermal Biology 2021, 97, 102882.

• Book Chapters

  • Beausoleil NJ, McKeegan DEF, Martin JE. Avian Welfare: Fundamental concepts and scientific assessment. In: Scanes C, ed. Sturkie's Avian Physiology. Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc, 2022.
  • McKeegan DEF, Martin JE. Improving welfare in poultry slaughter. In: Nicol,C, ed. Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of chickens. 2020.

• Review

  • Clarkson JM, Martin JE, McKeegan DEF. A review of methods used to kill laboratory rodents: issues and opportunities. Laboratory Animals 2022, 56(5), 419-436.