Hello
Hi, I’m Raymond Vagell. I am a primatologist who studies how primates (especially lemurs) think, learn, and experience the world. My work sits at the intersection of cognition, behavior, and animal welfare, with a particular focus on how we can make life better for animals living in human care.
I earned my Ph.D. Applied Anthropology from Texas State University under the supervision of Dr. Jill Pruetz through research at the Duke Lemur Center, where I explored how cognitive testing can double as enrichment. My dissertation looks into giving animals meaningful mental challenges while also teaching us something about how their minds work. My previous research was on color vision in ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata and Varecia rubra) using touchscreen experiments (Vagell et al., 2019), which combined two things I love: behavioral science and technology.
More broadly, I’m interested in how agency and positive welfare can shape behavior in captive primates. I care deeply about noninvasive research, ethical science, and finding practical ways to turn knowledge into better outcomes for animals.
I currently serve on the board of Primarily Primates, a primate sanctuary in Texas, and am involved in several committees within the American Society of Primatologists (ASP).
Outside of academia, I am a Community Ambassador for Durham PoGO NC, a Pokemon GO community in Durham, North Carolina.
Also, I love cats. A lot.