Dr. Maria Maust-Mohl is a biological and cognitive psychologist with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Her interdisciplinary background has paved the way for many publications focusing on animals such as hippos, dolphins, and manatees, to document their behavior patterns and to evaluate the evolution and functions of their vocalizations. Maria is also passionate about investigating factors that influence human perceptions of animals and the human-animal bond, which has implications for the welfare and management of different species.

Education

• PhD in Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, CUNY Graduate Center
• MA in Conservation Biology, Columbia University
• BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona

Research

Animal behavior and communication, including how animals have adapted to different environments, Animal cognition, Human perceptions of animals and their ability to think.

Publications

• R Morrison, M Maust-Mohl, T Ferry. "Exploring Factors That Influence Public Engagement of Adoptable Pets on Facebook." Animals 14 (22), 3217, 2024
• B Brady, C Sarbacker, JA Lasala, M Maust-Mohl, KA Collom, L Searle, .... "Manatees display diel trends in acoustic activity at two microhabitats in Belize." Plos one 18 (11), e0294600, 2023
• JD Reyes-Arias, B Brady, EA Ramos, Y Henaut, .... "Vocalizations of wild West Indian manatee vary across subspecies and geographic location." Scientific Reports 13 (1), 11028, 2023
• K Melillo‐Sweeting, M Maust‐Mohl, MJ Smukall. "Examining shark bite scars on dolphins off Bimini, The Bahamas: Comparisons between bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins." Marine Mammal Science 38 (1), 18-28, 2022
• M Maust-Mohl. "Studying Marine Mammal Behavior—Who Says Academic Careers Are Dry?." Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral …, 2021
• R Morrison, M Maust-Mohl, K Charlton. "Friend, foe, or food: What influences students’ attitudes toward animals?." Anthrozoös 34 (2), 187-200, 2021
• EA Ramos, M Maust-Mohl, KA Collom, B Brady, ER Gerstein, .... "The Antillean manatee produces broadband vocalizations with ultrasonic frequencies." The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 147 (2), EL80-EL86, 2020

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Professional Service

• Editorial Board: Human-Animal Interaction journal
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Marine Mammal Science
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens Animals
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
• Philosophies
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Interaction Studies, special issue
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Animal Behaviour
• Ad-hoc Journal Manuscript Reviewer, Royal Society Open Science
• Textbook reviewer: Sage, Wiley, Taylor and Francis
• Grant reviewer: Psi Chi, NSF, Animal Behavior Society, Society for Marine Mammalogy

Memberships and Affiliations

• Sigma Xi
• Phi Beta Kappa (President of Upsilon Chapter of New York, 2021-present)
• Psi Chi
• Animal Behavior Society
• Society for Marine Mammalogy
• American Psychological Association
• Eastern Psychological Association
• Association for Psychological Science

Hobbies

Scuba diving