Hi there. Thanks for visiting my website.
My name is Raymond Vagell. I am a primatologist and received my Ph.D. from Texas State University in the Anthropology Department.
I am also on the Board of Trustees at Primarily Primates, a primate sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas.
I am currently based in Durham, NC and my research site is at Duke Lemur Center.
My broad research interests include primate cognition, welfare, and enrichment.
Also, I love cats. A lot.
I am also a Community Ambassador for Pokemon GO in Durham, North Carolina. Check out our Discord server!
Avatar by Ethan Kocak
Education
2020 - 2025
Texas State University
PhD in Applied Anthropology
Committee: Dr. Jill Pruetz (advisor), Dr. Beth Erhart, Dr. Elaine Chu, Dr. Erin Ehmke, & Meg Dye.
Dissertation: Touchscreen-based Cognitive Testing As Enrichment in Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia spp.): SMARTA2 Apparatus Design, Welfare Implications, and Contrafreeloading.
2017
Hunter College of The City University of New York
MA in Animal Behavior & Conservation (Biopsychology)
Committee: Dr. Andrea L. Baden (advisor) & Dr. James Gordon
Thesis: Does Genotype Correlate With Phenotype? Evaluating Ruffed Lemur (Varecia spp.) Color Vision Using Subject Mediated Automatic Remote Testing Apparatus (SMARTA).
2009
Queens College of The City University of New York
BA in Anthropology
Adviser: Dr. Larissa Swedell
Senior Honors Thesis: A Cross-Species Comparative Study: Grooming Patterns in Captive Populations of Hamadryas Baboons and Geladas.
2004
LaGuardia Community College of The City University of New York
AA in Liberal Arts