Jobs in Conservation Biology: Employment Opportunities and Career Paths, Study notes of Environmental Science

Download Jobs in Conservation Biology: Employment Opportunities and Career Paths and more Study notes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! Jobs in Conservation Biology (aka how to have a lot of fun and not make very much money) Environ 317 | Fall 2009 Nerissa Rujanavech Overview • Why Jobs in Conservation Biology? • Employers by Sector • Non-biology Conservation Jobs • Useful Websites • Questions? Federal Government • National Park Service (NPS) • National Forest Service (USFS) • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) • Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Federal Government • Entry-Level Jobs – Biological Science Technician (Wildlife, Fish, Plants) – Forestry Technician – Range Technician – Fire Technician – Park Ranger • Careers – Wildlife Biologist – Fishery Biologist – Botanist – Ecologist – Entomologist – Forester – Invasive Species Specialist – Endangered and Threatened Species Specialist – Hydrologist – Landscape Architect – Natural Resource Specialist – Outdoor Recreation Planner – Rangeland Manager – Wildlife Refuge Manager – Soil Scientist – GIS Specialist Federal Government • Unique Opportunities for Students – Student Temporary Employment Program (Undergraduate) – Student Career Experience Program (Undergraduate) – Career Intern Program (Undergraduate/Graduate) – Presidential Management Fellowship (Graduate) State Government • Examples of Agencies – Department of Fish and Game – Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection – Dept. of Conservation – State Parks – Dept. of Parks and Recreation – Dept. of Water Resources Academia • Job: Field Assistant / Research Assistant – Help a PhD student or Professor with their research • Why work for a PhD student or Professor? – The pay isn’t great but… – Interested in an M.S. or PhD? – Learn about planning a research project – Flexibility – Letters of Recommendation / References – Location, location, location! Academia – Location, location, location! North America International Private Sector • Why Private Sector? – Salaries – Job skills/training – Location • Why not? – It depends on how you feel about development and/or resource use...Sometimes private sector ‘conservation’ jobs involve surveying an area before it gets developed to catalogue what’s there or make recommendations for mitigation. Non-Profit Sector National Organizations • The Nature Conservancy • World Wildlife Fund • Conservation International • National Wildlife Federation • Defenders of Wildlife • Center for Biological Diversity • The Wilderness Society • National Parks Conservation Association Non-Profit Sector • And more examples… – Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (CO) – Legacy Land Conservancy, formerly Washtenaw Land Trust (MI) – Huron River Watershed Council (MI) – Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance (WY) – The Ocean Conservancy (Coasts Nationwide) – The Sonoran Institute (Southwest/West US) – American Rivers (Nationwide) – Northern Forest Alliance (ME, NH, VT, NY) – Trout Unlimited (Nationwide) – The Audubon Society (Nationwide) Service Organizations • Student Conservation Association – “SCA provides…hands-on conservation service opportunities in virtually every field imaginable…” – Partners with federal agencies (ex. NPS, BLM, NOAA), Dept. of Defense, TNC. • AmeriCorps • Peace Corps Non-biology Conservation Jobs • Non-Profits – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – Sierra Club – Earth Justice – League of Conservation Voters (LCV) – Environment America – Blue Green Alliance – 1 Sky – World Resources Institute – Resources for the Future • Feds – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Council on Environmental Quality – Dept. of Energy • State/Local – State EPAs – State Air & Water Boards – Local Planning Commissions Useful Websites • Texas A&M University – Wildlife & Fisheries Job Board – http://wfsc.tamu.edu/jobboard/ • Society for Conservation Biology – http://www.conbio.org/Jobs/ • The Nature Conservancy – http://www.nature.org/careers/ • USA Jobs – http://www.usajobs.gov/ • Cyber-Sierra’s Natural Resources Job Search – http://www.cyber-sierra.com/nrjobs/science.html • Environmental Career Opportunities – http://www.ecojobs.com/