#SoCaltech: Jieyu Zheng

“I study animal behaviors for a living. Observing them doing their things in a naturalistic environment is what I like to do anyway. Under the influence of my photographer friends when I was a research assistant at Cornell, I started taking photos of wildlife. I find it really rewarding because, looking at the photos I’ve taken after a trip, I can recall the species that I saw and some of moments with the animals better. And then, when I share the images, other people can appreciate the animals too.

In my photos of coyotes on campus, I don’t want people to see them as thieves. My principal investigator once said that in my photo of a coyote, the coyote looks more like a wolf; it's quite majestic. And that’s what I like—to convey my own impressions of animals as an art form.

Animals are not aware of the camera, so, as a photographer, there's no negotiation between you two. If the birds or the squirrels decide not to face you, then you just have to find your way around that. You can’t ask them to face the light or anything. It’s similar to scientific research in that many things are not under your control. Even if you’re the experimenter, you can only wait for the results to appear.”

Jieyu Zheng is a PhD candidate in neurobiology working the in the lab of Markus Meister, the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences. Zheng’s research focuses on cognitive flexibility, learning, and memory in animals. She also leads occasional Audubon Society birdwatching walks on campus.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.