Leo Azizi brings his skills and enthusiasm for learning to marine energy fieldwork
Leo Azizi is a research professional with ACEP.
June 14, 2024
By Yuri Bult-Ito
Leo Yousef Azizi is a research professional working with the Marine Energy team. His work mainly involves hydrokinetic testing fieldwork around Alaska.
Azizi does a variety of hands-on work in helping out with fieldwork, such as operating boats, operating Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site equipment and deploying mooring. He also does maintenance and fabrication work on all the marine energy equipment.
He joined ACEP after hearing from Stephanie Fisher, a research professional also with the Marine Energy team, last summer about “all the exciting fieldwork” that ACEP does while he was working in the UAF Property and Central Receiving Office.
Leo Azizi prepares to deploy the buoy—big white drum behind him—at the Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site.
Some of Azizi’s work involves traveling to a remote community with equipment, such as a recent February trip to Eagle where he and Fisher measured the under-ice flow rate to determine whether the seemingly frozen river could be used for electricity generation.
“I enjoy helping with fieldwork,” Azizi said. “I also love learning about the instrumentation as I work on equipment maintenance and fabrication.”
Azizi brings to ACEP an extensive range of skills and experience he gained through job training in different fields, including aviation, logistics, commercial fishing and fabrication. He also has spent years in the wilderness and waters of Alaska.
“Leo brings a wide range of skills to the Marine Energy team, and his love for working with his hands, exploring Alaska, and learning new skills and knowledge of marine energy has only made working with him more enjoyable,” Fisher said.
Azizi is an avid hunter, fisherman and all-around outdoor enthusiast. He currently resides in Fairbanks but has also lived in Kodiak, Ketchikan and Eagle River.
Leo Azizi prepares locations for through-ice water velocity measurements on the frozen Yukon River downriver of Eagle.