Dr. Berenshtein is a quantitative marine ecologist and a bio-physical oceanographer, studying complex interactions in the ocean. He addresses fundamental scientific and environmental questions concerning the marine environment by combing oceanography, data-science, numerical modeling, and sensory ecology. Dr. Berenshtein completed his first post-doctoral position at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, the University of Miami. During this time, Dr. Berenshtein lead innovative research, which revealed that the Gulf of Mexico’s (GoM) Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, was substantially larger than previously estimated and consisted of vast toxic regions that were previously not considered to be contaminated. During his second post-doctoral position at the Cooperative Institute for Marine & Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), the University of Miami, Dr. Berenshtein lead the development and calibration of an ecosystem model of the GoM, examining the effects of forage fish harvest on their predators. In his research, He focuses on the contribution of early life stages of fish to large scale ecological processes, as these stages often drive population dynamics, while at the same time representing one of the greatest knowledge gaps in marine ecology.   

Dr. Berenshtein’s laboratory deals with fundamental questions concerning the health and functioning of the marine environment, with an emphasis on early life stages of fish. The laboratory investigates larval dispersal and connectivity, and examines the effects of marine pollution, fishing pressure and climate change on the marine environment. Our methods include the use of advanced modeling techniques, applied oceanography, ecological surveys, and behavioral experiments.