Melissa Truelove

Biography

Melissa A. Truelove currently serves as the Senior Socialization Specialist for the Behavioral Management Unit at the Emory National Primate Research Center. Of her more than 14 years of primate experience, 12 have been spent working with laboratory primates with the majority of this time focusing on the socialization of monkeys and the application of behavioral management techniques to laboratory primates. Melissa has extensive experience in the introduction and reintroduction of caged macaques (rhesus, cynomolgus and pigtail) as well as squirrel monkeys and sooty mangabeys, and in the management of established dyads. Her research interests include monkey social introduction and separation techniques, and measuring changes in behavioral dynamics to monitor the social health of established pairs. Currently, she is investigating behavioral predictors of successful monkey introductions.