Officially begun my first moose field season! We are looking for adult females to find if she had a calf!
May 10, 2026
Bastidas Blog
I’m a wildlife ecologist at the start of my career, with a passion for understanding how mammals live, move, and thrive. I recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Marine Biology, where I focused on the movement and reproductive traits of elephant seals and other marine vertebrates. Now, I'm a PhD student at Utah State University where I am attempting to better understand the impacts of climates and parasites on moose! Beyond the research, I’m passionate about sharing what I learn in ways that connect people to the ocean, our forests and its incredible wildlife.
Adrien Bastidas
Check out the full PBS video here!
More About Me
Ever since I was young, I knew working with wildlife fascinated me. When other kids were calling sea lions at the Aquarium of the Pacific cute, I was asking staff questions about their life history (although I didn't realize it at the time). Right away, I knew I wanted to be a researcher.
Whether it was asking for books about marine biology, trips to the zoo, or observing the squirrels in the trees, I was always fascinated by wildlife. Throughout all 4 years of high school, I was enrolled in community college aswell. Upon graduating high school, I also graduated with 3 Associate degrees in Political Science, Arts and Humanities, and Social and Behavior Sciences. While in high school and college, I also was working as a tutor for political science, argumentation and debate, and public speaking, all skills I have been able to carry into my life today.
From this, I continued to pursue learning about marine vertebrates working around cetaceans, turtles, sea otters, and pinnipeds both in and out of the country. Now as a recent graduate from UC Santa Cruz and current PhD student at Utah State University, I am looking forward to the next steps of where my future takes me. If you're interested more in my background, you should look under my experiences tab!
Hobbies
In my free time, I enjoy running and taking long walks along the coast while looking out to the horizon for marine life. My favorite sports include tennis, volleyball. softball and occasionally surfing! I also enjoy photography (although I might not be the greatest)
Research Interests
I'm interested in studying movement and behavioral ecology in relation to population dynamics. Under this, I'd like to explore how pollution and contaminants affect physiological systems.
Recent Updates
Awarded Utah's Wildlife Society Grants-In-Aid for the Amount of $1,750!
June 7, 2026
Accepted as a PhD Student at USU. Helped out with mule deer and elk captures!
Jan 7, 2026