Irina Tolkova

Teaching

The enthusiasm, patience, and dedication of my teachers and professors has shaped the course of my life, and I truly hope to continue in their spirit. As a graduate student, I have taught courses across acoustics, robotics, machine learning, and mathematics, earning a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching award four times from the Harvard Derek Bok Center. I have since taught bioacoustics modules at both Cornell University and beyond.

Courses and lectures

IISER Tirupati, India

  1. Winter 2026

    Instructor, Advanced Bioacoustics Workshop

    A week-long, hands-on workshop for 20 students and working professionals from across India, organized by IISER Tirupati and the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics. I taught modules on unsupervised machine learning and acoustic localization.

    Co-taught with Rebecca Cohen, Spencer Keyser, and Meghan A. Beatty of the Yang Center, and V.V. Robin, Isha Bopardikar, and Chiti Arvind of IISER Tirupati.

    Workshop materials
    Workshop participants and instructors gathered around the Advanced Bioacoustics Workshop 2026 banner at IISER Tirupati

Cornell University

  1. Fall 2024

    Lecturer, NTRES 3150 Introduction to Conservation Bioacoustics

    Prepared and taught two lectures and labs on machine learning and statistics.

  2. Fall 2023

    Lecturer, NTRES 3150 Introduction to Conservation Bioacoustics

    Prepared and taught four lectures and two labs on machine learning and acoustic localization.

  3. Fall 2022

    Invited Lecturer, NTRES 3150 Introduction to Conservation Bioacoustics

    Prepared and taught an acoustic localization module.

  4. Fall 2023, 2024

    Guest speaker, NTRES 7800 Ornithology Seminar

    Gave talks about conducting research and pathways in academia.

Harvard University

  1. Fall 2021

    Teaching Fellow, GENED 1080 Engineering the Acoustical World

    Led laboratory sessions, developed assignments, held office hours, graded homework.

  2. Fall 2020

    Head Teaching Fellow, APMTH 22a Solving and Optimizing

    Prepared weekly materials, held office hours, graded homework.

  3. Spring 2020

    Teaching Fellow, ES 159/259 Introduction to Robotics

    Led laboratory sessions, developed assignments, held office hours, graded homework.

  4. Fall 2019

    Head Teaching Fellow, APMTH 22a Solving and Optimizing

    Prepared weekly materials, taught section, held office hours, graded homework.

  5. Fall 2018

    Teaching Fellow, CS 182 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

    Prepared weekly section materials, taught section, held exam review and office hours.