Isabel Fernandez-Mc Auley joined CERG, Massey University in February 2026 as part of an MSc collaboration between Massey University and Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands. Originally from Canada, Isabel completed a BSc with honours in Environmental Sciences from McGill University, with a thesis project studying diet overlap of Arctic and subarctic seals. After graduating, Isabel gained experience in both research and scientific outreach by completing internships on marine animals in Italy and Portugal, and by working as a guide on a whale watching boat in New Zealand.

At CERG, Isabel is completing her MSc thesis, working on cetacean welfare during strandings of pilot whales.

 

PhD Project:

Isabel's MSc investigates how whale behaviour changes over multiple days during a live mass stranding event.

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Supervisors: Prof Karen Stockin & Dr Rebecca Boys