Dr Victoria Sandilands

I am a poultry behaviour and welfare scientist and programme leader at SRUC, based in the Monogastric Science Research Centre. I studied Biology at the University of California (Santa Cruz), then did an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at University of Edinburgh, followed by a PhD in laying hen behaviour at University of Glasgow. I began working at SRUC in 2001.

I lead and manage research projects on how housing and management practices influence poultry welfare. My main emphasis is on laying hens, but I have also worked with broilers and broiler breeders. I am also the programme leader for the HNC/Advanced Certificate in Poultry Production Systems and the MSc in Applied Poultry Science. I supervise PhD students also.

My main interest is understanding how we can improve poultry welfare in a commercial context.

I am exploring what data exists with egg producers that could be used for disease/health surveillance.