Joseph (Yossi) Terkel is studying the reciprocal relationship between humans and other animals.  He publishes the interdisciplinary journal Animals and Society (the only such journal in the field in Hebrew), dealing with a wide variety of aspects pertaining to this relationship.  He is also engaged with examining the applicability of various animals for the performance of security-related tasks.

Specific research interests are:

• Animal behavior: studies in communication and navigation in subterranean rodents; cultural transmission of acquired behavior.
• Neuroendocrinology: hormonal control of maternal behavior
• Human-Animal interaction in education and therapy