Mathilde Chevallay

Exciting news! 🎉 I’m launching my new journey as an independent science communicator 🌊 From marine biology to public talks, school workshops & ocean storytelling — let’s make science accessible, fun & meaningful !
📍 Based in Niort 🇫🇷 working locally & online!
linktr.ee/mathilde.che...

My PhD thesis is finally available online! 🎓
Check it out if you want to learn more about the fascinating hunting tactics of the diving predators of the Southern Ocean 🐧🦭
theses.hal.science/tel-04985134

Last week, I had the pleasure of returning to my old high school to talk about my journey and research. 🐧For nearly two hours, we explored marine biology, ocean science, and career paths in research. 👩‍🔬Huge thanks to the students & teachers at Lycée Anna de Noailles for the great discussions! 🙌

🌿✨ World Wildlife Day ✨🌿

Today, we celebrate the beauty of wildlife. As a biologist and photographer, I capture these moments to raise awareness of their fragility and the need for protection. Every species matters!

📸 Follow me on my Instagram account: @mathildechevallay

#WorldWildlifeDay

📢 Today marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 👧!

💡Encouraging women in science means enriching research, breaking stereotypes, and ensuring a fairer, more inclusive science ⚖️

@unesco.org
#EveryVoiceInScience
#WomenInScience

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with the students from Ecole du Nord for their "Maritime Challenges" project, raising awareness about ocean richness and threats. We discussed about the top predators of Kerguelen Islands and their incredible survival strategies in the Southern Ocean 🌊🐧

In December, I had the pleasure to share my journey as a woman in science with bright, curious high school students as part of the "Têtes Chercheuses" event 👐. We had inspiring discussions about breaking stereotypes, overcoming challenges, and shaping the future through science! 🔬💡

I was honored to receive the Beauvoir-sur-Niort city medal 🎖️during the New Year ceremony, recognizing my research work and my commitment to science education 🎓. Thanks to the mayor for this opportunity to talk about the importance of protecting biodiversity with residents! 🌊

Journal cover for issue 23, volume 227 of Journal of Experimental Biology. The cover includes an image of an Adélie penguin leaping from the water onto ice to return to its colony. The image is by Benjamin Dupuis @bendps.bsky.social – French Polar Institute

Issue 23 has closed & issue 24 is open

journals.biologists.com/jeb/issue/22...

The front cover, by Benjamin Dupuis, French Polar Institute, shows an Adélie penguin leaping from the water to return to its colony. @bendps.bsky.social & co report how depth tracking can estimate penguin energy use

Graphical abstract of the paper describing the main findings

My first PhD chapter just got published in @jexpbiol.bsky.social ! We proposed a new framework to estimate foraging energetics ⚡ of Adélie 🐧 using TDRs. Our framework provided results similar to accelerometers and could likely be applicable on other diving predators 🐋🦈
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....

To celebrate the end of my thesis on Southern Ocean predators 🦭, I’m selling limited-edition fine art prints from my expeditions 🌊🖼️. Printed on Hahnemühle Rag high quality paper, signed & numbered (only 20 per photo). DM me for details & bring the wild home! 🐧📷

Thanks a lot, nice to e-meet you :)

Hi! Could I be added? I work on seal and penguin foraging ecology using biologging data :)

Hi! Could I be added? I am an early career researcher studying foraging ecology of seals and penguins :)

Hi Emma, can I be added please? :) thanks!

Last week, I was delighted to defend my doctoral thesis on Southern ocean predator-prey interactions at the @CEBC_ChizeLab ! 🦭🐧
A big thanks to the whole lab for this amazing experience, and especially to my two wonderful supervisors!

Last week, I was honored to be named a Young Talent France #ForWomenInScience 2024 by @FondationLOreal & @UNESCO. This recognition will help accelerate my research on marine predators' ecology. I am deeply grateful for this support to advance #WomenInScience.
#FWIS2024

I'm delighted to announce that I've been named one of the #FWIS2024 @FondationLOreal-@UNESCO French Young Talents! An award I share with 34 other young researchers, and which highlights the importance of the contributions of #WomenInScience.

@CEBC_chizeLab
@CNRS
@UnivLaRochelle

PhD thesis submitted after 3 years of work! 📚
@CEBC_ChizeLab @MarineMegafaun1

Happy #WorldPenguinDay !
A funny memory from the Kerguelen Islands where deployed tags on king penguins for my final PhD chapter. Results coming soon! 🐧🐟

Today I was very happy to present my PhD work about the fine scale hunting tactics of diving predators 🦭 of the Southern ocean at the @bls8tokyo2024 🇯🇵 ! Many thanks to all the people that listened to my talk!
@MarineMegafaun1 @CEBC_ChizeLab

New paper out!
We deployed sound and movement tags on Antarctic fur seals 🦭in Kerguelen Islands and recorded for the first time underwater vocalizations during foraging in this species 🎙️!

@CEBC_ChizeLab @MarineMegafaun1 @marinemammalogy

New paper out in @WileyEcolEvol !
I was very happy to be involved in this study about fine-scale predator-prey interactions in Weddell seals 🦭 using sonar tags for the first time on this species!

📷 Karine Heerah

Another chapter of my PhD got published! In this study, we deployed new biologging devices on elephant seals 🦭 to describe fine-scale distribution and characteristics of their prey 🐟 in different oceanographic conditions.
@CEBC_ChizeLab @MarineMegafaun1

Back from a great field season in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands! I spent one month on the small Amsterdam island to deploy GLS tags on subantarctic fur seals to learn more about their foraging ecology!

My first PhD chapter has just been published in @PNASNews! We show that elephant seals 🦭are able to detect their prey at a long distance enabling them to set up stealth approach tactics and to find enough prey in the vast Southern Ocean 🐟
@CEBC_ChizeLab @MarineMegafaun1

Dans le cadre de la Fête de la Science, les élèves des Deux Sèvres ont pu découvrir comment utiliser des balises pour mesurer les exploits sportifs des animaux!
#FDS2023 @CEBC_ChizeLab

Présentation de mon deuxième chapitre de thèse au Colloque des Doctorants de Deuxième Année de @UnivLaRochelle 🦭

Remake de Ma Thèse en 180 s pour le Week End de la Conservation au Zoodyssée ! @CEBC_ChizeLab

Présentation de mon deuxième chapitre de thèse sur la distribution des proies des éléphants de mer autour des Kerguelen 🦭
Merci au @CNFRA_France pour l'organisation de ces journées scientifiques ! #JS19CNFRAA @AcademieClimat