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My PhD research focused on improving the welfare of laboratory rodents through changes in their environments, which I evaluated using measures of natural behaviour and emotional states. I am also more broadly interested in the topics of environmental 'enrichment', animal agency and welfare in captivity, the 3 Rs, validity and reproducibility of research involving animals, and policy surrounding animal use.
Photo by Lexis Ly
I am currently working in the Garner lab at Stanford. I am involved in a wide variety of research topics, with a general focus on managing projects related to the 3 Rs and laboratory mouse welfare. Check out the Beyond3Rs site to see some of the extension work I've been doing behind the scenes at Stanford!
I have extensive experience working with rats and mice as an animal husbandry technician and as an animal welfare researcher. Prior to my PhD, I was involved in research on refining euthanasia methods for laboratory rats (particularly focused on rat aversion to carbon dioxide) in collaboration with Dr. Lucia Améndola and Professor Dan Weary.
Peer-reviewed publications
Peer-reviewed publications
Ratuski, A.S., Theil, J.H., Ahloy-Dallaire, J., Gaskill, B.N., Pritchett-Corning, K.R., Felt, S.A., & Garner, J.P. (2025). Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 7456. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91687-5
Ratuski, A.S., Améndola, L., Makowska, I.J., Weary, D.M. (2024). Effects of temporary access to environmental enrichment on measures of laboratory mouse welfare. Scientific Reports, 14(15143). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65480-9
Byrd K.A., Theil J.H., Geronimo J.T., Ahloy-Dallaire J., Gutierrez M.F., Hui E.I., Felt T.K., Coden K.M., Ratuski A.S., Felt S.A., Chu D.K., Garner J.P. (2024). Pebble to the metal: A boulder approach to enrichment for Danio rerio. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298657
Bodnar, M., Ratuski, A.S., & Weary, D.M. (2023). Mouse isoflurane anesthesia using the drop method. Laboratory Animals. 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00236772231169550
Ratuski, A.S., & Weary, D.M. (2022). Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview. Animals, 12(4), 414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040414
Ratuski, A.S., Makowska, I.J., Dvorack, K.R., Weary, D.M. (2021). Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice. Scientific Reports, 11(18683). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3
Ratuski, A.S., & Weary, D.M. (2021). A break from the pups: The effects of loft access on the welfare of lactating laboratory rats. PLoS One, 16(6), e0253020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253020
Améndola, L., Ratuski, A.S., & Weary, D.M. (2021). Individual differences in rat sensitivity to CO2. PLoS One, 16(1), e0245347. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245347
Améndola, L., Ratuski, A.S., & Weary, D.M. (2019). Variation in the onset of CO2-induced anxiety in female Sprague Dawley rats. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55493-0
Projects in progress
Effects of social isolation and exogenous oxytocin on wound healing in mice (manuscript under review)
Systematic review of laboratory mouse breeding schemes - see protocol here.
Effects of resource distribution on aggression between male mice in laboratory cages (ongoing)
Stakeholder perspectives surrounding barriers to implementing refinements for laboratory animals (ongoing)
Stay tuned for upcoming publications!
Other publications or media features
Other publications or media features
Ratuski, A.S., Makowska, I.J., & Weary, D.M. (2024). Elevating the Welfare of Mouse Dams: A Pilot Study on Elevated Tunnels for Breeding Mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional, 12(5): 52-55.
During life in lockdown, even rat moms need a break
3 Minute 3 Rs podcast - January 2022 episode
3 Minute 3 Rs podcast - April 2022 episode
Bonus: This does not feature my research, but as a fun fact... while visiting the University of Bern during my PhD, I appeared in an episode of the Swiss TV series Einstein, handling chickens during flock health assessments!
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