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    Dr Zoe Davies

    BSc.(hons) PhD PGDipVetPhys PGCHE FHEA

    Lecturer in Veterinary Sciences

    Photograph of Zoe

    Zoe is a Lecturer in Veterinary Sciences within the Harper & Keele Vet School and lead of the Companion Animal Health Sciences Research Group. While leading the first year Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology module in her teaching, Zoe's research focuses on locomotor biomechanics and functional anatomy.

    Graduating from Bristol University in 2007, with a BSc(Hons) in Equine Science (Anatomical Sciences with Veterinary Anatomy), Zoe spent her undergraduate focussing on units in biomechanics and exercise physiology, writing her dissertation on ‘The characterisation of abnormal respiratory sounds in exercising horses’. Following her degree, Zoe undertook her PhD in the Structure & Motion Lab at the Royal Veterinary College, funded by BBSRC and Turftrax Ltd. Zoe successfully defended her thesis entitled ‘Biomechanical factors limiting athletic performance in racehorses’ in December 2012.

    Taking a break from research, Zoe took time to pursue her interests in teaching, working as a Lecturer in biomechanics at Middlesex University and then as a Senior Lecturer in functional anatomy and biomechanics at Writtle College (HE). Through her teaching experience, Zoe gained a Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and achieved the status of Fellow of The Higher Education Academy.

    Returning to the RVC's Structure and Motion Lab from 2015-2021, Zoe worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate focussing on gait analysis in dogs, humans and horses, including a project investigating the tripedal locomotion of canine amputees.

    Zoe qualified as a Veterinary Physiotherapist in 2021 and took up the role of Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Physiotherapy at ÎÞÂ붯»­,  specialising in veterinary musculoskeletal rehabilitation and gait analysis. Zoe moved over to the Veterinary School at the beginning of 2024 but still works collaboratively across the departments in a research capacity.

    Professional Memberships

    • RAMP registered (Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners)
    • CCBW (Certificate in Canine Bodywork)
    • FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy)

    Academic Department:

    Research: Companion Animal Health Sciences Research Group

    Office: VF26 Veterinary Services Centre

    Research profile:

    Publications

    Other publications

    • Usherwood, J.R. and Self Davies, Z.T. (2024) The Tripedal Gaits of Tripawds Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Seattle, USA
    • Self Davies, Z. T., Spence, A. J., & Wilson, A. M. (2019) Journal of Experimental Biology 222(16)
    • Self Davies, Z.T., Spence, A. J. and Wilson, A. M. (2019) Biology Letters 15(2)
    • Usherwood, J. R., Hubel, T. Y., Smith, B. J. H., Self Davies, Z. T., & Sobota, G. (2018) Journal of Biomechanics 81
    • Zoe Self Davies (2018) Human walking: Mechanics and muscles. Biological Sciences Review 30(4)
    • Self Davies, Z.T. and Usherwood, J.R. (2017) Stepping into Science: engagement doesn't have to be a selfless act. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology New Orleans USA
    • Usherwood, J.R. and Self Davies, Z.T. (2017) eLife 14(6)
    • Self Davies, Z.T. and Usherwood, J.R. (2017) Are crawling humans more like horses or hippos? Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting Gothenburg
    • Self, Z.T., Spence, A.J. and Wilson, A.M. (2013) Ground reaction forces in racehorses. Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting Valencia
    • Self, Z.T., Spence, .A.J. and Wilson, A.M. (2012) Jump Racing: do horses slow down due to a force limit? Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Charleston USA
    • Self, Z.T., Spence, A.J. and Wilson, A.M. (2012) Journal of Applied Physiology 113(4)
    • Self, Z.T. (2012) Outside JEB J Exp Biol
    • Self, Z.T. (2012) Outside JEB J Exp Biol
    • Self, Z.T., Spence, .A.J. and Wilson, A.M. (2010) Horse racing: what's the limit? Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting Prague

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