Irina Tolkova
Postdoctoral Fellow
Throughout my graduate and undergraduate studies in applied mathematics and computer science, I’ve conducted interdisciplinary research spanning machine learning, signal processing, robotics, and quantitative ecology. My aim as a Rose Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cornell Lab is to leverage this background towards developing conservation technology.
In particular, I am working on improving the performance of passive acoustic monitoring systems to gain a deeper understanding of vocal wildlife, with a focus on robust methods for sound source separation and localization.
I’m also broadly curious about effective applications of tech for conservation, sustainability, and social impact.
In my free time, I like to explore the natural world by foot, bike, and camera!
Education
Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, Harvard University
B.S., Computer Science, University of Washington
B.S., Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences, University of Washington
Favorite Hike
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and my favorite childhood hike is the Wonderland Trail up to the Panhandle Gap within Mt. Rainier National Park. After climbing from evergreen forest, to alpine meadows, to rocky moraine, the trail crosses the mountain ridge… and the view is absolutely breathtaking.
