UFAW Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the year
2025 Award Winner
The UFAW Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the Year Award recognises the achievements of early career scientists who have made significant contributions to improving the welfare of animals.
The recipient of the UFAW Early Career Researcher of the Year Award 2025 is Dr Benjamin Lecorps, a lecturer in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Bristol. He holds a PhD in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia.
Dr Lecorps is dedicated to using robust scientific methods to improve the welfare of captive animals. His research primarily focuses on better understanding the affective (emotional) experiences of animals, particularly dairy cattle, when subjected to routine farm procedures such as disbudding and feed restrictions.
Additionally, Dr Lecorps is interested in exploring how policymakers regulate farm practices to meet public demands for higher welfare standards. He believes that improving animal welfare is a necessary step toward achieving more sustainable agricultural practices. To this end, his research also considers broader sustainability challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and explores strategies for improving animal welfare while simultaneously addressing these global issues through win-win solutions.
In response to receiving the award, Dr Lecorps said:
“I am truly honoured to receive this year’s UFAW Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the Year Award! The journey to my current role required some perseverance, but every challenge along the way was absolutely worth it. Working to improve the lives of captive animals is both a humbling and deeply rewarding responsibility—one that constantly inspires me. I feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with amazing students and colleagues and to have had the guidance of exceptional mentors, including Profs Marina von Keyserlingk, Dan Weary, Mike Mendl, and Christophe Féron. Their support has shaped my path, and I’m excited for what’s ahead in the pursuit of better animal welfare!”
Dr Huw Golledge concluded:
“I’m delighted that Ben has been awarded this year’s Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the Year award. In just a few years Ben has established himself as an emerging leader in the field. His dedication to employing rigorous and innovative approaches to understand and ultimately improve the affective states of farmed animals embodies the use of Science in the Service of Animal Welfare which UFAW seeks to support. I look forward to hearing both Professor Beausoleil and Dr Lecorps present their work at the UFAW International Animal Welfare Conference 2025 in June.”
