Dr Zoe Davies
BSc.(hons) PhD PGDipVetPhys PGCHE SFHEALecturer in Veterinary Sciences
Biography
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.
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 91Pro, specialising in veterinary musculoskeletal rehabilitation and gait analysis. Zoe moved over to HKVS at the beginning of 2024 but still works collaboratively across the departments in a research capacity.
Research Interests
Zoe's main research interests are in anatomy and biomechanics with a particular focus on canines and equines.
- Locomotor Biomechanics
- Gait Analysis
- Athletic Performance
- Functional Anatomy
- Veterinary Physiotherpy
Current PhD Students
- Katherine Hart - An investigation into the impact of canine obesity on health and welfare and the efficacy of one-to-one and group weight management programmes. Director of Studies.
- Stephanie Whittall - Efficacy of Rehabilitative Exercise and Environment Modification in Canine Physiotherapy. Director of Studies.
Teaching
- Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology VET-10001 (Module Lead)
- Comparative Anatomy & Physiology VET-20001
Professional Memberships
- RAMP registered (Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners)
- CCBW (Certificate in Canine Bodywork)
- SFHEA (Senior Fellowship of Advance HE)
Academic Department:
Research: Companion Animal Health Sciences Research Group
Office: VF26
Research profile:
Publications
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Other publications
- Self Davies, Z.T. and Huntington, L. (2025) Enhancing The Anatomy Curriculum: Bridging Science And Art. VetEd Bristol UK
- Self Davies, Z.T. & Usherwood, J.R. (2025) Kinematics and kinetics of tripedal locomotion in canine amputees. Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting. Antwerp
- 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) Ground reaction forces of overground galloping in ridden Thoroughbred racehorses. Journal of Experimental Biology 222(16)
- Self Davies, Z.T., Spence, A. J. and Wilson, A. M. (2019) External mechanical work in the galloping racehorse. Biology Letters 15(2)
- Usherwood, J. R., Hubel, T. Y., Smith, B. J. H., Self Davies, Z. T., & Sobota, G. (2018) The scaling or ontogeny of human gait kinetics and walk-run transition: The implications of work vs. peak power minimization. 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) Work minimization accounts for footfall phasing in slow quadrupedal gaits. 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) Speed and incline during thoroughbred horse racing: racehorse speed supports a metabolic power constraint to incline running but not to decline running. Journal of Applied Physiology 113(4)
- Self, Z.T. (2012) Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches? Outside JEB J Exp Biol
- Self, Z.T. (2012) Helium breathing shows Dolphins don’t whistle. 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