Wildlife/Conservation/Ecology: Jobs, Internships, and Volunteer Opportunities

One of the most important things for students is to gain practical research experience. Below are links I have found useful over the last few years.

Always keep in mind that networking (via phone or in person) is absolutely the best way to approach finding research experience. Talking to your professors is the first step in successful networking. Don’t leave the University without your departmental professors knowing you personally!

To Think About:

There are two caveats to wildlife research that I urge each person to consider:

First, do you want to do field research? Collecting data in the field is not for everyone. There are many people with a passion for wildlife/fisheries/ecology that favor work in the lab or office. There are plenty of positions out there for you. Field data collection can be extremely physically challenging and mentally exhausting. Be prepared and know what you are getting into.

Second, each person should strongly consider his/her personal ethics in regard to research. It might be your life long dream to live capture and physically work with wild animals (black bears, fishing cats, or black-backed jackals), but first you need to judge the ethical dilemmas inherent with “messing” with wildlife. Trapping animals is dangerous work for both you and the animal. Despite your best intentions there will always be the possibility of injury or even mortality to your study animal or other wildlife. Can you accept this? Explore your personal ethics of what is right for you!

Texas A&M University: Wildlife and Fisheries Job Board

Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)-SCB-Services

Stop Dodo

The Western Section of The Wildlife Society

The Wildlife Society-JOBS

The American Society of Mammalogists

Animal Behavior Society Web Site

Ornithological Societies of North America

SWS - Wetland Jobs Board

USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Job Site

OREGONS STATE JOBS

National Wildlife Federation Career Gateway