Faculty

Principal Investigator

Susan Parks is a leader in the field of marine bioacoustics and animal communication research. As the head of the Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab at Syracuse University, her team explores the hidden languages of the animal kingdom, with communication and behavior studies focused on a wide range of species from insects to the largest whales. With a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/ Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography, Dr. Parks brings a multidisciplinary approach to her research, with research topics spanning questions pertaining to the behavioral ecology, bioacoustics, and the direct conservation of wildlife. The primary research in the lab focuses on behavior, communication, and the effects of disturbance in large baleen whales, some of the largest, longest-lived mammals on the planet. Her innovative studies have shed light on the nuanced ways in which animals can communicate with sound, from understanding the behavioral context of sound production to the degree of individual identity that is encoded in vocalizations of large whales. Through her leadership, the lab strives to be a hub of collaboration to foster the next generation of scientists and support groundbreaking discoveries that deepen our understanding of animal communication.

Research Assistant Professor

Dana Cusano is a bioacoustician and behavioral ecologist whose research focuses primarily on the acoustic behavior of marine mammals. Her interests include the use of vocal signaling in animals and the link between vocalizations and behavior. Specifically, she is interested in the social interactions between individuals and how arousal may be reflected in acoustic signals. Past research has also centered on investigating the movement of animals in response to anthropogenic disturbance with the use of animal movement models. Currently, Dana’s research involves studying the acoustic and movement behavior of sei whales, North Atlantic right whales, and humpback whales with the use of biologging tags.

Current Lab Members

Valeria is a Ph.D. candidate and NDSEG Fellow interested in supporting animal conservation through research in animal behavior and physiology, particularly how they are impacted by anthropogenic disturbances. For her thesis, she is examining how humpback whales respond behaviorally to vessel disturbances based on their nutritional status. She is employing a combination of novel non-invasive methods, biologging tools, and unmanned aerial vehicles to collect data.

Dana (she/they) is a Ph.D. candidate and NDSEG Fellow interested in the impacts of anthropogenic noise on baleen whale acoustics and behavior. Her research uses the development of offshore wind as a natural experiment to study North Atlantic fin whale behavioral ecology and the impacts of construction and boat noise.

Sara joined BABEL as a Ph.D. student in 2023 to look at the vocal behavior of right whales.  During her time at Northeastern University and the NEFSC’s Passive Acoustic Group, she had focused on baleen whale acoustic monitoring and endangered species management.  Through her research in the Parks lab, she’s hoping to dive deeper into the combination of behavioral ecology and and conservation science.

Alex joined the lab in 2023.  He is looking into the lateralization patterns of fin whales, sei whales, humpback whales, and North Atlantic right whales to investigate their “handed-ness” and why it matters in relation to body size, prey selection, and morphology in these species. Outside of the lab, he spends his time as a photographer and a musician. He play drums and is always taking nature pictures on his hikes.

Melanie joined the lab as a Ph.D. in 2024. She is interested in understanding how vessel noise impacts baleen whales. Her previous research at the University of New Hampshire focused on using behavioral and acoustic baselines to inform humpback whale management strategies in Southeast Alaska. Outside lab, Melanie loves long distance running and trying new restaurants.

Lab Alumni

Alumni in the lab have gone on to a wide range of positions, including positions in academia, government, industry, medicine and non-profit endeavors. Where available, links are provided to their LinkedIn pages to follow their careers!