Interested in Becoming a Biologist? Ecologist? Etc.?
Are you an undergraduate student? A recent college graduate? Interested in pursuing a career in marine biology, or a similar field?
If the answer is yes, the best advice I can give is for you to seek out research opportunities. One venue that may offer such opportunities is a job as a field technician. During the summer months and throughout the year, there are a wide number of wildlife and other biology-related field technician jobs offered through various agencies. These jobs vary from temporary work to long-term positions, though most are for the summer field season. Working as a research technician is a wonderful way to gain valuable field and research experience, meet cool people who work in your field of interest, and best of all – work with wildlife!
There are numerous job boards available through universities, government agencies, and private organizations. Here are a few favorites:
*Note: There tends to be a lot of overlap between websites so #1 is the best place to start.
If the answer is yes, the best advice I can give is for you to seek out research opportunities. One venue that may offer such opportunities is a job as a field technician. During the summer months and throughout the year, there are a wide number of wildlife and other biology-related field technician jobs offered through various agencies. These jobs vary from temporary work to long-term positions, though most are for the summer field season. Working as a research technician is a wonderful way to gain valuable field and research experience, meet cool people who work in your field of interest, and best of all – work with wildlife!
There are numerous job boards available through universities, government agencies, and private organizations. Here are a few favorites:
- Texas A&M Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science Job Board*: http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/
- Society of Conservation Biology Job Board: http://careers.conbio.org/
- Ornithological Societies of North America Job Board (bird jobs): http://www.osnabirds.org/Jobs.aspx
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums Job Board: http://www.aza.org/JobListings/
- The Wildlife Society: http://careers.wildlife.org/home/home.cfm?site_id=8764
- USA Jobs (government agency jobs—usually difficult to acquire): https://www.usajobs.gov/
*Note: There tends to be a lot of overlap between websites so #1 is the best place to start.
Photo of me stalking a sandpiper nest during my first stint as a field tech. Nome, AK (2011)