Research
Broadly, I’m interested in the study of animal behaviour through the lenses of neuroscience and ecology. I’m fascinated by questions about how cognitive processes shape social behaviour and communication, and how these answers can shape how we think about ecology and conservation. I can’t help but be especially drawn to the social adaptations that have evolved under the unique constraints of aquatic and marine environments, which is why I tend gravitate towards research involving fishes or marine mammals.
Some interests keywords: social behaviour, learning and memory, neuroethology, animal communication, bioacoustics, social networks, behavioural neuroscience
Neural mechanisms underpinning the learning of novel dangers
I am currently exploring the ways in which animals learn about novel dangers in their environment, and comparing the neural substrates of learning from different types of social signals. I work with a tropical freshwater fish called the Trinidadian guppy, and use immunohistochemical techniques to correlate neural activation with behaviour.
I’m completing this project as a student in the Reader Lab and Sakata Lab in the Department of Biology at McGill University.
Songbird communication
Songbirds such as zebra finches are incredible models for studying vocal communication. I used video stimuli to study the relationship between the motivation and performance of courtship song, under the supervision of of Dr. Sakata at McGill University.
Cetacean cognition
A long-term fascination with cetacean behaviour inspired me to pursue science! I was fortunate to have assisted in research exploring bottlenose dolphin cognition, sensory processing and social interactions during an internship at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.
Fisheries science
The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has conducted an annual trawling survey in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence since 1974. I worked with DFO scientists aboard the CCGS Teleost to collect biodiversity and population data during the 2017 field season.
Aquatic invasion biology
The spinycheek crayfish and round goby are two highly invasive species that have negatively impacted native populations in the Saint Lawrence River. I studied inter-invader foraging relationships under the supervision of Dr. Ricciardi at McGill University.
Publications
James, L. S*., R Fan*, & JT Sakata (2019). Behavioural responses to video and live presentations of females reveal a dissociation between performance and motivational aspects of birdsong. The Journal of Experimental Biology 222.
*co-first authorship
Muanza, T. M., X Wu, G Kasymjanova, S Zhang, R Fan, H Mekouar, & K Sultanem (2013). Does the Breast Cancer Molecular Subtype Affect the Post-Radiation Therapy Pattern of Recurrence? International Journal of Radiation Oncology, 87(2), S218.
Presentations
Fan R., JT Sakata & SM Reader. Using fear conditioning to explore learning mechanisms in the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Société Québécoise pour l’Étude Biologique de Comportement (SQEBC) 44th Annual Conference, McGill University, Montréal, Québec. 2 November 2019.
Fan, R., SM Reader & JT Sakata. Using fear conditioning to explore learning mechanisms in the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Behaviour, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. 27 July 2019.
Fan, R., JT Sakata & SM Reader. Temporal considerations in the associative learning of fear by the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Société Québécoise pour l’Étude Biologique de Comportement (SQEBC) 43rd Annual Conference, Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec. 17-18 November 2018.
Fan, R., JT Sakata & SM Reader. Are social and individual learning mediated by similar neural mechanisms? Neurobiology and Behaviour Annual Retreat, McGill University, Montréal, Québec. 26 April 2018.
Fan, R., LS James & JT Sakata. Dissociating motivational and performance aspects of courtship singing using video playbacks. Center for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology (CSBN) Scientific Symposium, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec. 22-23 March 2018.
James, L. S., R Fan & JT Sakata. Video playbacks reveal a dissociation of motivation and performance aspects of courtship song. Société Québécoise pour l’Étude Biologique de Comportement (SQEBC) 42nd Annual Conference. uOttawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 3 - 5 November 2017.