EMMA P. CHERESKIN, M.Sc.

51A City Rd Bristol, UK BS2 8TU | +44 07547154650 | emmachereskin@gmail.com

US Citizen

B.A.: 2018. M.Sc.(R): 2022. Ph.D.: Est. 2026. Total publications: 3. Grants: $3,250.
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=BTq3ebgAAAAJ
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emma_Chereskin2
Website: https://emmachereskin.weebly.com/

EDUCATION
2022 – pres. Ph.D., School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
University of Bristol International PhD Scholarship
Thesis title: Vocal Communication and the Cooperative Mind: Investigating the
facilitation of polyadic acts through communicative signals in free-ranging bottlenose
dolphins
Advisor: Dr. Stephanie King.
2020 - 2022 M.Sc.(R), School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
Faculty Prize for Best M.Sc.(R) Dissertation
Thesis title: Communication is Key: Testing the social bonding hypothesis in male
bottlenose dolphin alliances
Advisor: Dr. Stephanie King.
2015 - 2018 B.A., Zoology, University of Vermont, USA; GPA: 3.52; Honours College Scholar
Dean’s List: Fall 2015; Fall 2017; Spring 2018
Thesis title: Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whale Song in Pacific Central America
Advisor: Dr. Laura May-Collado.

PUBLICATIONS
3. Chereskin, E., Allen, S. J., Connor, R. C., Krützen. M., King, S. L. In Pop Pursuit: Social bond
strength predicts vocal synchrony during cooperative mate guarding in bottlenose dolphins.
Accepted with minor revisions. Phil Trans B.
2. Chereskin, E., Connor, R., Friedman, W. F., Jensen, F. H., Allen, S. J., Sørensen, P. M., Krützen,
M. and S. L. King (2022). Allied male dolphins use vocal exchanges to ‘bond-at-a-distance’.
Current Biology. 32, 1657-1663.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.019
Altmetric score: 956
1. Chereskin, E., Beck, L., Gamboa-Poveda, M., Palacios-Alfaro, J. D., Monge-Arias, R., Chase,
A. R., Coven, B. M., Guzman, A., McManus, N., O’Halloran, R. A., Neuhauss, A. P., Rosen, S.
G., and L. J. May-Collado (2019). Song structure and singing activity of two separate humpback
whale populations wintering off the coast of Caño Island in Costa Rica. JASA Express Letters.
146, EL509–EL515. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5139205
Altmetric score: 46
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2022 - 2026 Chereskin, E. University of Bristol International PhD Scholarship – GBP 18,500 per
annum stipend plus 7,500 per annum research fees.
2016 Chereskin, E. Oppenheimer Award – USD 2,250.
2016 Chereskin, E. Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Mini Award – USD 500.
2016 Chereskin, E. APLE Semester Grant – USD 500.
2015 – 2018 Chereskin, E. Presidential Scholarship – USD ~64,000

PUBLIC OUTREACH
My research has received international news coverage in the form of magazine articles, news articles and
radio shows, as follows: Science, NPR, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Science Times, The
Independent, The Guardian, PA Media, Daily Mail, Cosmos Magazine, Yahoo News, Today UK News,
Science Daily, among many others. My research has also been featured on several podcasts, as follows:
The Society for Marine Mammalogy, Scientific American, Marine Conservation Happy Hour.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND EMPLOYMENT

Jun – Dec 2020 Conservation and Education Associate – St. Louis Aquarium
Developed and presented ocean science curriculum for local middle and high
schools. Educated guests on ocean conservation and local ecosystems.
Coordinated volunteer staff to best meet the needs of the Conservation Centre.
Dec 2019 – Aug 2020 Research Associate – BIOSEAN Whale Watching + Marine Science
Led whale watches in Tenerife, Spain. Recorded behavioural observations,
assisted with photo ID, and recorded acoustics on board. Analysed data collected
in the field, maintained corresponding data sets and assisted with grant proposals
and manuscript preparations. Educated passengers and answered questions
relating to marine life.
Jun – Dec 2019 Research Coordinator – Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation
Implemented acoustic data collection and analysis protocols in Tenerife, focusing
on resident populations of short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins.
Developed and conducted training seminars for volunteers and interns on
acoustic data analysis.
Jan – Mar 2019 Research Assistant – New England Aquarium
Assisted the Right Whale research team at the Anderson Cabot Centre for Ocean
Life under Dr. Ester Quintana. Analysed photos taken during aerial surveys for
marine species prevalence. Recorded and maintained data sets pertaining to these
aerial surveys to best meet the current needs of the project.
May – Sep 2018 Marine Mammal Research and Education Intern – New England Aquarium
Recorded behavioural data on the megafauna of the Stellwagen Bank. Digitized
 and maintained these data to comply with Centre for Coastal Studies standards.
Engaged with passengers to educate them about the ecology of the region and
how they may better protect their marine environment.
Aug 2017 Field Assistant – Panacetacea
Assisted Kristin Rasmussen, M.S., in conducting population surveys through
photo identification of humpback whales in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Panama. Tasks
included photographing tail flukes, collecting biopsy samples, writing the blog,
and taking detailed behavioural notes on the boat. Deployed a passive acoustic
monitoring device. Assisted with educational community whale watching
expeditions. Funding provided by Panacetacea.
Jan 2017 - Apr 2018 Lab Assistant and Student Coordinator – University of Vermont
Analysed acoustic data to construct a thesis project. Assisted Dr. Laura May-
Collado with analysis of acoustic data for Project ONDAS (PI: Dr. May-Collado)
as well as coordinating and leading a team of 8 undergraduate students in
sampling this data.
July 2016 Field Assistant – University of Vermont
Assisted Ph.D. candidate Laura Caicedo-Quiroga with her field work which
included collecting specimens, conducting population surveys, and performing a
GIS tracking experiment to monitor daily movement of Amblypygids. Funding
provided by the University of Vermont.
Jan – May 2016 Lab Assistant – University of Vermont
Photographed and catalogued Amblypygids collected from prior research trips.
Identified species using morphological data. Barcoded samples and maintained
catalogue of specimens.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Mar 2021 – pres. Graduate Teaching Assistant – University of Bristol

 Demonstrated in undergraduate biology labs: Diversity of Life A&B; Life

Processes A&B; Ecological Field Skills Catch Up; Quantitative and
Computational Methods; Animal Behaviour
 Served as a Postgraduate Tutor
 Marked reports for Diversity of Life B, Life Processes B, Quantitative and
Computational Methods
 Designed and implemented a lab for outreach program Access to Bristol,
“Listen Up: Bioacoustics as a tool for ecosystem monitoring”
Jan – Dec 2017 Undergraduate Teaching Aide – University of Vermont

 Assisted graduate teaching aids in running the introductory biology labs:

BIOCORE 011; BIOCORE 012
 Assisted Professor May-Collado in leading the special topics seminar for first
year students, which included bimonthly meetings to discuss progress and
 coordination of data processing tasks for research projects (BIO 195).

CONFERENCES
5. Chereskin, E., Connor, R., Friedman, W. F., Jensen, F. H., Allen, S. J., Sørensen, P. M., Krützen,
M. and S. L. King “Vocal network analysis provides insight into bottlenose dolphin social
complexity,” Speed Talk, Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference, Palm Beach,
USA/Virtual. August 2022. Student Award for Oceania Region.
4. Chereskin, E., Jensen, F. H. Allen, S. J., Connor, R., Krützen, M., and S.L. King. “Vocal
network analysis provides insight into bottlenose dolphin social complexity,” Poster, Society for
Marine Mammalogy UK Student Conference, Virtual. June 2021.
3. Chereskin, E., Jensen, F. H. Allen, S. J., Connor, R., Krützen, M., and S.L. King. “Vocal
network analysis provides insight into bottlenose dolphin social complexity,” Speed Talk,
Speaking of Science G4 Alliance Student Conference, Virtual. May 2021.
2. Rosten, S., McAree, D., Ziegler, K., Chereskin, E., Rasmussen, K., Palacios, J.D., Gamboa-
Poveda, M., Trejos, L., and May-Collado, L. J. “Singing activity and song structure of breeding
stock G wintering off the coast of Costa Rica and Panama,” Poster, World Marine Mammal
Conference, Barcelona, Spain. December 2019.
1. Chereskin, E. and Caicedo-Quiroga, L. “Efficacy of miniature radio tags in tracking the
movement of Phrynus longipes” Poster, University of Vermont Student Research Conference,
Burlington, USA. April 2017.

ESTEEM INDICATORS
 Invited presentations: University of Vermont (2022)
 Invited guest: Panellist for World Dolphin Day hosted by Women in Ocean Science (2021);
guest for Women in Ocean Science blog (2021)

RELEVANT SKILLS
Photo identification and aerial photo analysis | Deployment of acoustic monitoring devices | Acoustic
localisation and analysis | Data analysis (acoustic and statistic) using MATLAB and R | Scientific writing
| UAV pilot | Powerboat Level 2 license

LANGUAGES
English – native speaker | Spanish – competent speaker able to read and write

REFERENCES
1. Dr. Stephanie L. King – PhD thesis advisor
stephanie.king@bristol.ac.uk | +44 7704752399
School of Biological Sciences
 University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building
24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK BS8 1TQ
2. Dr. Laura May-Collado – Undergraduate thesis advisor
Laura.May-Collado@uvm.edu | +1 8029998558
Department of Biology
University of Vermont, Marsh Life Science Building
109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405 USA
3. Dr. Michael Krützen – PI for PhD research
michael.kruetzen@aim.uzh.ch | +41 446355412
Department of Anthropology
University of Zurich, Faculty of Science
190 Winterthurerstrasse, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland