Dr Faye Thompson

About me:

In nature, conflict and cooperation arise at every level of biological complexity, among teams of genes, cells and individuals. Using experiments and theoretical modelling, I seek to explain the evolution of these patterns, focusing on the conflicts inherent in the formation and dynamics of cooperative animal societies. I test how conflict arises and is resolved in social groups, and the impact of aggressive intergroup interactions on cooperative behaviour and life history. My overall aim is to establish the general rules that shape aggression and social behaviour in animal societies, and to advance our understanding of evolutionary transitions to cooperation.

My research investigates how conflict arises and is resolved in cooperative species using a combination of field and lab-based studies, and theoretical modelling. My interests include:

• The evolution and maintenance of intergroup cooperation.
• The causes and consequences of intergroup conflict.
• Group identity, recognition and discrimination.
• Aggression and affiliation in animal groups.

2017 PhD Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus
2011 MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus
2007 BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science, City University London

2021 - present NERC Independent Research Fellow, University of Exeter: The evolution of war and peace in animal societies
2018 - 2021 Associate Research Fellow, University of Exeter: The ecology and evolution of intergroup conflict in animal societies
2017 - 2018 Associate Research Fellow, University of Exeter: Transgenerational costs of reproduction and the evolution of life histories
2016 - 2017 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Exeter: Early life influences on the development of cooperation in wild mammals