CURRICULUM VITAE

Summary of Contributions to Science

• Invisible oil pollution: In this study, I demonstrated that satellite-detected oil slicks significantly underestimate the true extent and impact of large marine oil spills. My findings reveal that substantial quantities of toxic oil can persist beyond the visible footprint, affecting ecosystems and human populations over broader spatial scales and longer timeframes than previously recognized. This necessitates the integration of advanced modeling techniques and in-situ data for comprehensive assessment and improved spill response strategies.

• Behavioral Biophysical Modeling of Larval Dispersal and Connectivity: I pioneered the integration of larval behavior (e.g., auto-correlated directional swimming, schooling) into biophysical models to understand larval dispersal and connectivity patterns. This innovative approach combines oceanographic data, in-situ experiments, and advanced modeling techniques to improve predictions of recruitment success and inform marine protected area (MPA) network design.

• Larval fish use external cues for orientation: In this study, I demonstrated that marine fish larvae consistently utilize external cues for directional orientation during their pelagic larval phase. Employing a cross-species meta-analysis and comparing observed movement patterns to those expected under a purely internal cue-based model (correlated random walk), I found significantly straighter larval paths than predicted by chance. This provides strong evidence for the incorporation of larval orientation behavior in biophysical dispersal models to improve their accuracy and support sustainable management of marine resources.

Higher Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Studies

09/2012 – 06/2016 Ben-Gurion University, Dept. of Life Sciences; Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat. Philosophy doctor. 

09/2007 – 07/2009 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat. Master of science. 

09/2003 – 06/2006 Ruppin Academic Center, School of Marine Science at Mikhmoret. Bachelor of science. 

Post-Doctoral Studies

07/2019 – 06/2022 Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami; NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 

07/2017 – 06/2019 Physical-Biological Interactions Laboratory, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami. 

Academic Ranks and Tenure in Institutes of Higher Education

02/2023 – Present: University of Haifa, Data Science Research Center, faculty member. 

10/2022 – Present: University of Haifa, Department of Marine Biology, Assistant Professor/Senior Lecturer (Full-Time)

Offices in Academic Administration

*2024-Present: University of Haifa, European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC), Coordinator.

*2024-Present: The Israeli Association for Aquatic Sciences (IAAS), Treasurer.

*2023-Present: The Israeli Association for Aquatic Sciences (IAAS), Committee Member.

*2023-Present: University of Haifa, Department of Marine Biology Member of the Department Teaching Committee.

Research Grants

*2024 - Predicting marine organisms’ sensitivity to chronic oil pollution using quantitative data-science approach. In cooperation with Yoav Lehahn. Funded by University of Haifa Data Science Research Center. 

*2024 - The effect of possible oil spills on the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone, Eastern Mediterranean. Funded by The Society for The Protection of Nature In Israel. 

*2023 - A preliminary analysis of population connectivity between sensitive deep-sea habitats in the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone, Eastern Mediterranean. Funded by The Society For The Protection Of Nature In Israel. 

2019-2022 - Marine Reserves Connectivity in the Israeli Mediterranean Waters. In cooperation with Nir Stern (co-PI), Eli Biton (co-PI), Erick Fredj (co-PI). Funded by Yad Hanadiv. 

2016 - Resolving Population Connectivity in the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat using bio-physical modeling. In cooperation with Moshe Kiflawi (PI), Hezi Gildor (co-PI), Erick Fredj (co-PI). Funded by Israel Nature & Parks Authority. 

Scholarships, Awards and Prizes

2023-2026 - Zuckerman STEM.  The Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program supports future generations of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math in the United States and Israel and fosters greater collaboration between advanced scientific research centers. Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program.

2016 - Travel Award for 40th Annual Larval Fish Conference. Travel award. 40th Annual Larval Fish Conference.

2016 - The Sally Richardson Award for Best Oral Presentation. Best oral presentation. 40th Annual Larval Fish Conference.

2014 - The Chen Efrat Scholarship Award for Excellence in Teaching. Excellence in teaching. The Inter-University Institute in Eilat.

2013 - Best Poster Award of The Israeli Association for Aquatic Sciences Conference (IAAS). Best poster award. The Israeli Association for Aquatic Sciences Conference (IAAS). 

2013 - 37th Annual Larval Fish Conference. Best poster award. The John H.S. Blaxter Award for Best Poster Presentation.

2011 - Award for Academic Outstanding Achievements. Academic outstanding achievements. Ben Gurion University, Biology and Biotechnology Program. 

2009 - Berko Award for Outstanding Research. Outstanding research. The Inter-University Institute in Eilat.

Publications

1. Berenshtein I, Kiflawi M, Shashar N, Wieler U, Agiv H, Paris CB (2014). Polarized light sensitivity and orientation in coral reef fish post-larvae. PLoS One 9(2) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088468. IF=3.11; R(SJR)=5787/29165 (Q1). In Multidisciplinary.

2. Berenshtein I, Reuben Y, Genin A (2015). Effect of oxygen on coral fanning by mutualistic fish. Mar Ecol 36(4) 1171-1175 doi: 10.1111/maec.12218. IF=1.43; R(SJR)=1162/2461 (Q2). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

3. Josef N, Berenshtein I, Fiorito G, Sykes AV, Shashar N (2015). Camouflage during movement in the European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). J Exp Biol 218(21), 3391-3398 doi: 10.1242/jeb.122481. IF=2.8; R(SJR)=274/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

4. Barth P, Berenshtein I, Besson M, Roux N, Parmentier E, Banaigs B, Lecchini D (2015). From the ocean to a reef habitat: how do the larvae of coral reef fishes find their way home. Vie et Milieu 65(2):91–100. IF=0.2; R(SJR)=25489/29165 (Q4). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

5. Berenshtein I, Paris CB, Gildor H, Fredj E, Amitai Y, Lapidot O, Kiflawi M (2017). Auto-correlated directional swimming can enhance settlement success and connectivity in fish larvae. J Theor Biol 439, 76–85. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.11.009. IF=1.9; R(SJR)=772/2461 (Q2). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

6. Kimmerling N, Zuqert O, Amitai G, Gurevich T, Armoza-Zvuloni R, Kolesnikov I, Berenshtein I, Melamed S, Gilad S, Benjamin S, Rivlin A, Ohavia M, Paris CB, Holzman R, Kiflawi M, Sorek R (2017). Quantitative species-level ecology of reef fish larvae via metabarcoding. Nat Ecol Evol 2(2), 306 doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0413-2. IF=13.9; R(SJR)=13/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

7. Josef N, Berenshtein I, Rousseau M, Scata G, Fiorito G, Shashar N (2017). Size Matters: Observed and modeled camouflage response of European Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) to different substrate patch sizes during movement. Front Physiol 7, 671 doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00671. IF=3.133; R(SJR)=4411/29165 (Q2). In Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology.

8. Berenshtein I, Paris CB, Gildor H, Fredj E, Amitai Y, Kiflawi M (2018). Biophysical simulations support schooling behavior of fish larvae throughout ontogeny. Front Mar Sci 5, 254 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00254. IF (2023)=2.8; R(SJR)=333/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

9. Paris CB, Berenshtein I, Trillo ML, Aman ZM, Schlüter M, Joye SB (2018). BP Gulf Science Data Reveals Ineffectual Sub-Sea Dispersant Injection for the Macondo Blowout. Front Mar Sci - Mar Poll 5, 389 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00389. IF (2023)=2.8; R(SJR)=333/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

10. Berenshtein I, O'Farrell S, Perlin N, Sanchirico JN, Murawski SA, Paris CB (2019). Predicting the impact of future oil-spill closures on fishery revenues - a spatially explicit approach. ICES J Mar Sci doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsz138. IF=3.3; R(SJR)=299/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

11. Berenshtein I, Paris CB, Perlin N, Joye SB, Murawski SA (2020). Invisible oil beyond the Deepwater Horizon satellite footprint. Sci Adv. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw8863. IF=11.7; R(SJR)=347/29165 (Q1). In Multidisciplinary Science.

12. Cartolano MC, Berenshtein I, Heuer RM, Pasparakis C, Rider M, Cain S, Hammerschlag N, Paris CP, McDonald DM, Grosell M (2020). Impacts of a local music festival on fish stress and the adjacent underwater soundscape. Environ Poll doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114925 IF=7.6; R(SJR)=72/1810 (Q1). In Environmental Science.

13. Weinstein DK., Tamir R, Kramer N, Eyal G, Berenshtein I, Shaked Y, Loya Y, Torfstein A (2021). Mesophotic reef geomorphology categorization, habitat identification, and relationships with surface cover and terrace origins in the Gulf of Aqaba. Geomorphology. IF=3.1; R(SJR)=218/1346 (Q1). In Earth and Planetary Science.

14. Ainsworth C, Chassignet E, French-McCay D, Beegle-Krause CJ, Berenshtein I, Englehardt J, Fiddaman T, Huang H, Huettel M, Justic D, Kourafalou V, Liu Y, Mauritzen C, Murawski S, Morey S, Ozgokmen T, Paris-Limouzy C, Ruzicka J, Saul S, Shepherd J, Socolofsky S, Solo-Gabriele H, Sutton T, Weisberg R, Wilson C, Zheng L, Zheng Y (2021). A synthesis of integrative numerical modeling for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by GOMRI, NRDA and others. Environ Modell Softw, 105070. IF=4.9; R(SJR)=2744/29165 (Q1). In Environmental Science. 

15. Solo-Gabriele HM, Fiddaman T, Mauritzen C, Ainsworth C, Abramson D, Berenshtein I, Chassignet E, Court CD, Dewar WK, Farrington JF, Feldman M, Ferguson AC, French-McCay D, Hale C, Halpern D, He R, Kourafalou VK, Lee K, Liu Y, Masi M, Maung-Douglass ES, Morey SI, Murawski S, Paris-Limouzy CB, Perlin N, Pulster EL, Ruzicka JJ, Sandifer PA, Shepherd J, Stukel M, Sutton TT, Weisberg RH, Wiesenburg D, Wilson C, Wilson M, Wowk KM, Yanoff C, Yoskowitz D (2021). Towards Integrated Modeling of the Long-term Impacts of Oil Spills. Marine Policy. IF(2023)=3.5; R(SJR)=262/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Science.

16. *Berenshtein I, Faillettaz R, Irisson JO, Kiflawi M, Siebeck UE, Leis JM, Paris CB (2022). Evidence for a consistent use of external cues by marine fish larvae for orientation. Commun Biol. IF (2023)=5.2; R(SJR)=69/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Science.

17. *Berenshtein I, Sagarese SR, Lauretta MV, Chagaris DD (2023). Identifying tradeoffs and reference points in support of ecosystem approaches to managing Gulf of Mexico Menhaden. Front Mar Sci. IF (2023)=2.8; R(SJR)=333/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Science.

18. ##*Guerchon J, Morov AR, Tagar A, Rubin-Blum M, Tikochinski Y, Berenshtein I, Rilov G, Stern N (2023). Marine top secrets: ichthyoplankton in surface water uncover hidden knowledge on fish diversity and distribution. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. IF (2023)=2.6; R(SJR)=382/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q2) in Earth and Planetary Science. 

19. ##*Malul D, Berman H, Solodoch A, Tal O, Barak N, Mizrahi G, Berenshtein I, Toledo Y, Lotan T, Sher D, Shavit U, Lehahn Y (2024). Directional swimming patterns in jellyfish aggregations. Curr. Biol. IF (2023)=8.1; R(SJR)=37/2462 (Q1) in Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

In Scientific Books (Refereed)

1. Perlin N, Paris CB, Berenshtein I, Vaz AC, Faillettaz R, Aman ZM, Schwing P, Romero IC, Schlüter M, Liese A, Noirungsee N, and Hackbusch S (2020). Far-Field Modeling of Deep-Sea Blowout: Sensitivity Studies of Initial Conditions, Biodegradation, Sedimentation and SSDI on surface slicks and oil plume Concentrations  In: Deep Oil Spills – Facts, Fate and Effects.

2. Paris CB, Vaz AC, Berenshtein I, Perlin N, Faillettaz R, Zachary M. Aman, and Murawski SA (2020). Simulating Deep Oil Spills Beyond the Gulf of Mexico: Key Ingredients for Successful Oil Transport Prediction.  In: Deep Oil Spills – Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills - Fighting the Next War.

3. Paris CB, Murawski SA, Olascoaga MJ, Vaz AC, Berenshtein I, Beron-Vera FJ, Miron P (2020). Connectivity of Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf Fish Populations and Implications of Simulated Oil Spills.  In: Deep Oil Spills – Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills - Fighting the Next War.

4. Berenshtein I, Perlin N, Ainsworth C, Ortega-Ortiz J, Vaz AC and Paris CB (2020). Comparison of the Spatial Extent, Impacts to Shorelines and Ecosystem, and 4-Dimensional Characteristics of Simulated Oil Spills. In: Deep Oil Spills – Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills - Fighting the Next War.

5. Berenshtein I, Perlin N, Murawski SA, Joye S and Paris CB (2020). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fishery Closures for Deep Oil Spills Using a 4-Dimensional model. In: Deep Oil Spills – Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills - Fighting the Next War.

Other publications

1. Berenshtein I, Gildor H, Fredj E, Amitai Y, Berman H, Kiflawi M (2016). Bio-physical model for larval connectivity and dispersal in the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat. A technical report for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

2. Cartolano M, Heuer R, Pasparakis C, Berenshtein I, Rider M, Cain S, Hammerschlag N (2019). Impact of the Ultra Music Festival on fish in the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery and on the underwater soundscape surrounding Virginia Key.

3. Berenshtein I, Sagarese SR, Lauretta MV, Nuttall MA, Chagaris DD (2021). Natural Mortality of Gulf menhaden from 1980 to 2016 Generated by the US Gulf-wide Ecosim Model. NOAA working paper NMFS-SEFC.

4. Berenshtein I, Sagarese SR, Lauretta MV, Nuttall MA, Chagaris DD (2021). Technical documentation of a US Gulf of Mexico Ecopath with Ecosim model. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC. doi:10.25923/zj8t-e656.

5. Schueller A, Mareska J, Gelpi C, Mroch R, Herbert S, Leaf R, Himchak P, Moncrieff T, Kuttel FP, Swanson C, Landry B, Adriance J, McIntyre D, Chagaris D, Sagarese S, De Mutsert K, Berenshtein I, VanderKooy S. GDAR 03: Gulf Menhaden Stock Assessment 2021 update. Gulf Data, Assessment, And Review (2021).

6. *Berenshtein I, Paris CB, Stern N, Fredj E, Lapidot O, Zaken Y, Biton E. Marine Protected Areas Connectivity in the Israeli Mediterranean Waters -a biophysical modeling approach. A concluding report for Israel Nature & Parks Authority - Yad Hanadiv Grant (2023).

7. *Berenshtein I. Preliminary assessment of connectivity between sensitive benthic habitats in Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using biophysical models. A concluding report for The Society For The Protection Of Nature In Israel Grant (2023).

8. *Assaf Pertzlan, Berenshtein I. Spatial sensitivity to hydrocarbon spills from gas drilling in the Israeli Mediterranean Sea: the pollution threat to desalination facilities, bathing beaches, fisheries and marine reserves. A concluding report for The Society For The Protection Of Nature In Israel Grant (2024).

Submitted for Publication

Submitted Articles in Refereed Journals   

1. *Berenshtein I, Stern N, Fredj E, Lapidot O, Morov A, Zaken J, Paris CB, Biton E. Proposed network of Marine Protected Areas supports larval dispersal and connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean. ICES J Mar Sci doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsz138. IF=3.3; R(SJR)=299/2461 (Q1). In Agricultural and Biological Sciences.

2. *Berenshtein I, Shenkar N. Modelling non-indigenous ascidian larval dispersal in coastal waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Divers Distrib.

3. *Shabtay A, Rothschild A, Makovsky Y, Neuman A, Bialik O, Goren L, Idan T, Slavenko A, Salingré S, Buba Y, Guy-Haim T, Herut B, Stern N, Gertman I, Rubin Blum M, Gilboa M, Gal G, Ofir E, Berenstein I, Amir D, Karniel T, Belmaker J, Ben -Lamine E, Giakoumi S. Deep-sea conservation planning in the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea: linking challenges and actions. Environ. Sci. Policy.

Revise and Re-submit

1. Berenshtein I, Sagarese SR, Lauretta MV, Kirtman B, Chagaris DD. Will mega-droughts in the US drive the collapse of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico? Nat. Commun. IF=14.7; R(SJR)= 4/187 (Q1). In Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology.

Publications in Preparation

1. *Pertzelan A, Berenshtein I. Spatial Sensitivity to Hydrocarbon Spills from Gas Drilling in the Israeli Mediterranean Sea: The Pollution Threat to Desalination Facilities, Beaches, Fisheries, and Marine Reserves. To be submitted to Sci Total Environ. IF (2023)=10.75; R(SJR)=12/165 (Q1) in Pollution.

2. *Lapidot O, Berenshtein I. Predicting marine organisms’ sensitivity to chronic oil pollution using a quantitative approach. To be to Ecol Appl. IF (2023)=6.4; R(SJR)=27/469(Q1)  in Environmental Science.

3. *Pertzelan A, Berenshtein I. “Bridging the scales”: how to translate small-scale processes such as pollution avoidance to large-scale processes such as larval dispersal and connectivity. To be submitted to Ecol Appl. IF (2023)=6.4; R(SJR)=27/469(Q1) in Environmental Science, Ecology.