About Us

Dr. Cindy R. Elliser received her B.S. (2000) and M.S. (2003) in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from FAU in 2010. For 10 years she worked with Dr. Herzing and the Wild Dolphin Project studying Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the Bahamas. In 2014 Dr. Elliser moved to the Pacific Northwest and founded Pacific Mammal Research to study marine mammals in the Salish Sea, particularly harbor porpoises and harbor seals. She is the author of numerous papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has presented at international scientific conferences. Dr. Elliser is also Associate Director at the Salish Sea Institute, part of Western Washington University.

Following completion of her Bachelors of Science degree (with Honors) in Ecology & Conservation, Katrina MacIver went on to achieve a Masters of Research in Marine Mammal Research, both at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She has extensive experience in field research and photo-identification techniques in the United States and abroad including the South Western Marine Research Program in Western Australia. Katrina moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2014 and joined Dr. Elliser in creating Pacific Mammal Research to study marine mammals of the Salish Sea. She has since been a co-author on several scientific papers and presented at international scientific conferences.

Ciera received her Bachelors of Science degree from Oregon State University where she majored in Fisheries and Wildlife with a specialization in marine mammal conservation and ecology. After graduation, she became a Research Intern with PacMam and has continued to stay involved with the organization until she was recently able to return as Research Assistant. Ciera’s lifelong passion for marine mammals continues to drive her to research how humans impact the oceans and how she can better educate the public on this issue.