About Me

Hi! I’m Sonny Schoenhoft, a lifelong animal enthusiast with a deep passion for understanding how they think, communicate, and interact with the world around them. Born and raised just outside of Chicago, Illinois, I grew up surrounded by animals in various capacities, which shaped my desire to study behavior and cognition across species.

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My journey led me to Florida, where I earned a double major in Psychology and Animal Studies from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. During my time there, I immersed myself in hands-on research, working as a research assistant in both the Eckerd College Comparative Psychology Lab and the FAB Lab. I also interned at multiple zoos, including ZooTampa’s primate department, where I gained invaluable experience studying and caring for a variety of species. My work has spanned a wide range of animals, from cetaceans and pinnipeds to primates, domestic canines and felines, reptiles, and amphibians. I also spent time working in veterinary clinics, further strengthening my understanding of animal behavior and care from a medical perspective.

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Eager to dive deeper into the world of marine mammal communication, I moved to East Texas to pursue my master’s degree in Biology at Stephen F. Austin State University. Here, I work alongside Dr. Jason Bruck, focusing on beluga whale acoustics and exploring the complexities of their vocal communication. My research aims to uncover how these highly social animals use sound to navigate their environments and interact with one another.

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With a strong foundation in animal behavior, cognition, and communication, I’m excited to continue my academic and professional journey, always seeking to bridge the gap between science and our understanding of the incredible minds of the animal kingdom.