Welcome

Research in the Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab focuses on the ecology and evolution of animal acoustic communication, from signal production and function through auditory perception, and how anthropogenic noise disrupts these processes. Diverse research topics in the lab span the fields of behavioral ecology, evolution, bioacoustics, sensory ecology, and animal communication. Current projects involve studies of both marine and terrestrial animals, ranging from characterizations of acoustic behavior and behavioral ecology to experimental investigations of signal function and the impacts of noise on communication. Research interests include the evolution and function of acoustic signals, auditory perception and hearing abilities, soundscape ecology, and the impacts of noise on communication, development, and behavior.

Photos shown on this site are collected under research permits issued by NOAA NMFS/Canadian DFO.

Latest News

  • June 2026 – Maya Philipp has been selected as a 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipient to Portugal to study in the Azores for the next academic year.
  • May 2026 – Maya Philipp has passed her Ph.D. qualifying exams and has advanced to a Ph.D. candidate.
  • April 2026 – Melanie Smith successfully passed her Ph.D. qualifying exams and has advanced to candidacy.
  • April 2025 – Alex Eschmann passed his M.S. thesis defense and will be graduating in May!
  • April 2025 – Sara Tennant successfully defended her thesis proposal and advanced to candidacy.
  • May 2024 – Dana Adcock successfully defended her thesis proposal and advanced to candidacy.
  • May 2024 – Colin Swider has been awarded the Alexander Gourevitch Memorial Award in Biology by the Biology Department at Syracuse University for his outstanding doctoral research.
  • April 2024 – Julia Zeh has been awarded one of the prestigious All University Doctoral Prizes at Syracuse University in recognition of her outstanding dissertation.
  • April 2024 – Julia Zeh successfully defended her dissertation. Congrats to Dr. Zeh!
  • February 2024 – Julia Zeh has been awarded the 2024 Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work.