I’m Charlene Pérez Santos, a marine scientist with an M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Science, specializing in marine mammal ecology and human–ocean interactions. My work integrates satellite telemetry, AIS vessel traffic, and spatial environmental data to map risk hotspots and support evidence-based conservation and management. I’m bilingual (Spanish/English) and experienced translating technical results into clear, community-relevant outreach. 

My journey to where I am today:
 
I’ve always wanted to expand my knowledge of marine mammals, which first led me to pursue a NOAA IN-FISH internship. During that experience, I supported a seafood marketing survey connected to North Atlantic right whales and lobster fishing, and the relationships I built through NOAA helped guide me toward additional opportunities—ultimately leading to the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) Fellowship, which supported my graduate research.

Along the way, I intentionally sought hands-on field and community-based experience. In Puerto Rico, I volunteered with the Manatee Conservation Center and participated in local conservation initiatives—including coral monitoring, light pollution work, and aquaponics research. I also worked with Para La Naturaleza on coral monitoring, supporting data processing and health assessments using benthic imagery and CPCe.

My thesis research at the Ocean Ecology Lab in the Marine Mammal Instiute of Oregon State Univeristy, focused on interactions between humpback whales and vessel traffic in Pacific Mexico, assessing ship-strike risk and the broader impacts of human activity on whale populations. I also completed an Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center (La Jolla, CA), contributing to the California Current Cetacean & Ecosystem Assessment Survey 2024, environmental eDNA sampling and filtering, and photo-identification work with marine mammals. In addition, I conducted thesis fieldwork in Bahía de Banderas, Mexico—an experience that strengthened my commitment to translating science into practical conservation solutions through collaboration with agencies, researchers, and coastal communities.

My Goal: Return to my island to do science.
My long-term goal is to return to Puerto Rico and build a career rooted in doing impactful marine science at home. What matters most to me is advancing research that supports conservation and management in Puerto Rico. My goal is to strengthen local capacity, create pathways for students and collaborators, and produce science that directly informs decision-making.

In the near future, I also plan to continue my academic path by pursuing a PhD, with the intent of conducting research that remains connected to Puerto Rico and directly benefits the region’s marine ecosystems and communities.