Taylor Azizeh

During my undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho, I discovered a passion for research and worked with a variety of study systems and species ranging from bats to ants to kangaroo rats. Through my work, I was able to spend time in Costa Rica, the Mojave Desert, and southern California, and Ecuador, cultivating my interest in international collaboration and research.

In 2019, I graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.S. in Wildlife Resources. I was awarded a Fulbright grant to study arctic ecosystems and marine biology in Denmark and Greenland, specifically working on a project examining the effects of biological stressors on southern right whales. After my time in Denmark and Greenland, I lived in Italy and worked with Oceanomare Delphis Onlus to conduct cetacean surveys in the Tyrrhenian Sea. I also completed internships with LeopardSeals.org and the British Antarctic Survey, where I worked with Dr. Jennifer Jackson to research historical whaling in the Indo-Pacific.

My research interests are wide-ranging but primarily focus on behavioral ecology, bioenergetics, habitat use, foraging ecology, and the effects of disturbance. I joined the VEL in Fall 2021 and my current research is focused on the foraging ecology of emperor penguins at Cape Crozier, Antarctica. I am a current NSF GRFP Fellow. I am passionate about diversity and inclusion in STEM, and enjoy a lot of outdoor activity in my free time!