Wildlife Ecology Lab- Careers

What does a wildlife biologist/ecologist/manager do?

• Survey and assess populations, communities, and ecosystems to identify problems

• Create, carry out, evaluate, and modify management plans

  • Research (scientific literature review and designing studies), technical skills, writing, communication, statistics, physical labor

  • Plans need to be in accordance with policy and management goals of broader organization

  • Consider human interests as well as wildlife

• Manage people (employees, volunteers, collaborators) and money

• Engage with diverse stakeholders and general public, who made disagree with you

Knowledge and Skills Often Needed

• Strong scientific literature reading comprehension

• Strong base knowledge of ecology and ecological methods

  • Vegetation identification and habitat assessment

  • Animal identification and natural history

  • Population survey methods

  • Capture and non-invasive data collection methods

• Statistics and data interpretation

• Writing and communication

• Policy

• GIS

• Outdoor skills such as wilderness first aid, primitive camping

• Knowledge of current local challenges and priorities

• Project management

Careers in Wildlife Biology/Ecology

• Management

  • Government, non-profit, private sector

• Research

  • Academic and non-academic

• Education (Teaching and Outreach)

  • Academic and non-academic

• Grant Funding

  • Non-profit and academic

Essential Tips for Making it in the Wildlife Field

• Passion

• Good grades and actual, real learning

• Networking

  • Professional societies, conferences, events

• Be open to graduate school

  • Totally different from applying for undergrad stuff

  • Talk to professors for help

• Conduct yourself professionally in the classroom, in personal interactions, online

• Acknowledge that you are responsible for your success/failures

• Be open to moving anywhere

• Pursue experiences outside the classroom

  • Be willing to volunteer

• Put effort into your application materials

  • Create a CV

  • Always tailor your resume

  • Always include a cover letter

  • Consider references and develop relationships

• Practice interview questions ahead of time

• Have a backup plan