Environmental Biology and Environmental Science - Explore A Career
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| Skills needed to succeed in the Environmental Biology and Science fields |
This is a listing of skills that will supplement your college education. Develop them early!
Develop skills and knowledge
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- Math
- Keen observation skills
- Computer
- Laboratory methods
- Scientific analysis
- Plant and animal ID
- Research design
- Theory development and application
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Operate vehicles
- Obtain a driver's license; get experience hauling and backing boat and snowmobile trailers
- Learn to drive: standard transmission, pickup truck, van, 4-wheel drive vehicles
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Take up a skill building sport
- Any sport that makes you more familiar with the outdoors; camping, hiking, cross-country skiing and biking
- Activities that increase your knowledge of the outdoors: scuba diving, bird watching, fishing
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| Career Advice |
- ATTEND the Unity Career Fair - talk with the professionals in your field, conduct informational interviews
- TALK with upperclassman - where did they volunteer, intern, and find employment?
- ASK faculty, and CRC about Unity alumni who are employed in the environmental biology field. Call alumni who are working in an area you want to work; introduce yourself, let them know you are looking for advice, internship, job
- JOIN SIBC or Ecological Society of America (for annual & regional meeting) by your Junior year
- ATTEND area, state, regional, national wildlife conferences
- READ any and all biology, ecology, wildlife related popular and semiprofessional magazines or publications that interest you. If you find a subject or article intriguing, do some research on that subject in books or journals. Also Origin of Species, Silent Sprint, Sand County Almanac, The Maine Naturalist.
- VISIT the CRC
During your Junior year begin researching graduate school programs and options:
- Pick your senior thesis research project with care; it will help make you a more competitive graduate school applicant.
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| Jobs for Environmental Biology and Science Students |
- Ecology Society of America - Ecology related portions including: research position, graduate student assistantships, research technicians. ESA offers a listserver, ECOLOG-L for discussion of ecological research and theory and job and meeting announcements. Members and non-members are welcome to use this resource. To subscribe to ECOLOG-L, send the command “sub ECOLOG-L {your name} to the address: listserv@listserv.umd.edu
- EcoJobs - helps you find jobs in any field in the environment
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Use their on-line searchable database to find paid research opportunities. The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects designed especially for the purpose.
- Sustainable Business.com - Business Jobs - Environmental Jobs - Environmentally Responsible Employers. Great site with a variety of positions all over the US.
- Career Resource Center's Job Webpage-Tons of other web links to jobs.
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| What types of positions can I work in? |
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Positions to look for during college to gain experience and skills:
- Lab Assistant - for a professional scientist doing research or working with plants, animals or water quality; perhaps assisting a veterinarian
- Field Assistant - volunteer or paid position - often associated with universities, government or private nonprofit organizations
- Volunteer - a day or two at a time with college professors or graduate students involved with research. (it may take a bit of effort to be accepted as a volunteer - visit a few times. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!)
- Information Centers - for parks/refuges where you would be providing info. about plants and animals
- Summer Camp - naturalist position or any position which strengthens your knowledge of the natural world
Volunteering even half a day a week for the summer will provide you with valuable
experience. You may need to ask repeatedly before being taken on as a volunteer.
When you have some experience and are looking for an internship of summer position:
University research projects lab assistant - Apply for positions as assistants on research projects. Typically you will need to contact biology or ecology professors or their assistants directly; these types of positions are often not advertised. Also consider contacting graduate students for leads on research being conducted at their university, or a professional scientist doing research or working with plants, animals or water quality; perhaps assisting a veterinarian Seasonal, part-time and temporary positions - Apply at all of the places suggested as volunteer options; if you volunteered for the organization the previous summer your chances of employment are greatly increased.
Remember it's all about NETWORKING. If you don't network how is anybody to know who you are and what you have to offer? Volunteering is where you are given the chance to schmooze with the professionals, use it wisely. This is where a lot of people get their first jobs.
Definition of "NETWORKING"- Introducing yourself to, and getting to know, people who might be able to tell you about a job. "An estimated 80% of all jobs are filled by word of mouth even though they may be advertised." The Career Search Handbook
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| After Unity, what do alumni do? |
Coming Soon!!
Visit the CRC and get contact information for alums so
you can get advice from former Unity students.
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| Develop a gift wish list |
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If anyone asks what you would like for your birthday, Christmas, Chanukah, graduation etc. suggest the following
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Gift membership to:
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- Binoculars
- Hiking Boats
- Hip Boots
- Foul weather gear
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Need some equipment in the meantime? Stop by the equipment room in the OAC. With a $20.00 refundable deposit you can take out equipment including canoes, backpacks, snowshoes, skis, wet suits and much more!
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| Grad School Links |
- Grad Schools -this site will allow you to search for schools that have environmental biology graduate programs.
- Grad School Page-Unity's webpage with resources for students considering graduate studies.
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| Professional Association Links |
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For more information about the Environmental Biology degree at Unity College
click here or for Environmental Science click here
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