What can I do with a Conservation Biology Major?
When Aldo Leopold and Norman Fassett, a former UW Botany professor, first initiated the major in the 1940s, they intended for the major to prepare individuals for careers as game wardens, ranger naturalists, and museum workers. As the major evolved, career opportunities evolved as well. Conservation Biology alumni have worked both domestically and internationally in:
- Conservation and non-profit positions (ex. Conservation International, Audubon Society, and Nature Conservancy)
- Research and field jobs (ex. Ecological Restoration, Urban Forestry, and Smithsonian Environmental research)
- Environmental education (ex. Environmental Consultants, Park Service Naturalists, and Teachers)
- State and government agencies (ex. Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Forest Service)
- Graduate School (ex. Masters or PhD programs in Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Conservation, or Policy)
- Other Biological Opportunities (Health Care, Forensic Science, Biotechnology, etc)
Conservation-related Volunteer, Internship, and Job Resources
Students are encouraged to participate in both in- and out-of-classroom experiences. These experiences provide opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to the world around them and gain practical experience in the field. Internships, research, study abroad, volunteer, and other conservation related experiences and are therefore encouraged. Plan ahead by working closely with advisors to build these experiences into your plans.
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Madison, WI Area Opportunities-Volunteer, Internships, Jobs
BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin
Dane County Humane Society Wildlife Center
Madison Area Herpetological Society
Madison Children’s Museum –rooftop garden and animals
Midwest Environmental Advocates
Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
Sierra Club -John Muir Chapter
Water-related Organization in Dane County
Wisconsin Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Is there an organization you’d suggest we add to the list? Email your recommendations to conservationbiology@ls.wisc.edu
Greater Wisconsin Opportunties
Aldo Leopold Foundation, Baraboo, WI
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay, WI
Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Dodgeville, WI
Driftless Land Stewardship LLC, Bagley, WI
Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital, Lake Geneva, WI
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, agency of eleven Ojibwe tribes
Horicon Marsh and Education Center, Horicon, WI
International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI
Lac du Flambeau Natural Resource Department, La du Flambeau, WI
Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, internships and fellowships
National Eagle Center, Wabasha, WI
Primates Incorporated, Westfield, WI
Racine Zoo, Racine, WI
Riveredge Nature Center, Saukville, WI
Trees for Tomorrow, Eagle River, WI
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI
USDA, several Wisconsin locations
Wanakia Wildlife Rehab and Education Center, Richfield, WI
Wild Instincts Wildlife Rehabilitation, Rhinelander, WI
Wildlife in Need Center, Oconomowoc, WI
Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership, Ashland, WI
Wisconsin Environmental Organizations
Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advocacy Council, a forum for the eleven federally recognized Native American Tribes in WI
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Wales, WI
Wisconsin WildCare, South Central Wisconsin
WisCorps, La Crosse, WI
Is there an organization you’d suggest we add to the list? Email your recommendations to conservationbiology@ls.wisc.edu
National and International Opportunities
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, careers, internships and Workplace Alaska Guide
Amphibian Foundation -Protecting amphibians through research and conservation in Southeastern US and across the globe
Association of Zoos & Aquariums, conservation initiatives
American Conservation Experience, restoration projects in U.S. parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands
Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Oakland & Richland, California
Backyard Basecamp, inspiring Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color (BIPOC) across Baltimore City, MD to find nature
Cahaba Environmental Center, Montevallo, Alabama
Chesapeake Research Consortium, association of seven research and education institutions around the Chesapeake Bay region
Chicago Wilderness, connecting leaders in conservation, health, business, science, and beyond, we tackle challenging issues to ensure a resilient region
Citizen Science, innovation through public participation
Climate Change Internships, National Parks Service
Climate Justice Alliance, building local alternatives that center traditional ecological and cultural knowledge
Green Muslims, working to connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism, headquarters in Washington DC
Conservation International, combining fieldwork with innovations in science, policy and finance
Environmental Organizations in South & Central America and Mexico
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington D.C. headquarters, ten regional offices, and labs/research centers throughout the nation
Forest Service, supporting the next generation of dynamic conservation stewards
Green Latinos, leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation issues
Greening Youth Foundation, engage under-represented youth and young adults, while connecting them to the outdoors and careers in conservation
GrowNYC, improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities
Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors, engage their communities in the conservation of our public lands
Indigenous Seed Keepers Network, Promoting Indigenous culturally diversity for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants
Internships/Summer Research in Ecology, Animal & Plant Biology, and Marine Science
Latino Outdoors, engage Latino communities in the outdoors
Marine Opportunities, a Sea Grant guide to ocean opportunities
Minnesota Association of Conservation District Employees
National Parks Conservation Association
Natural Resources Conservation Service, one-stop site for information about student and recent graduate opportunities at NRCS
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, NOAA offers educational opportunities to students studying science and the environment
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, entry level positions associated with the EPA
Outdoor Afro, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature
People for Community Recovery, educating communities on environmental justice in Chicago
Ray Conservation Fellows, aims to increase and facilitate conservation-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color
San Diego Zoo Summer Student Fellowship, Undergraduate Summer Student Fellowships in a variety of conservation related research teams
Semester Schools, group of schools across the U.S. offering semester-long educational opportunities to HS students
Shedd Aquarium, animal care and conservation, Chicago, IL
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington DC, save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, leads research on coastal ecosystems, Edgewater, MD
Student Conservation Association, restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states
UNEP-United Nations Environment Programme, Cambridge, United Kingdom
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington DC headquarters with employees in nearly every county across the United States
US Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Program, 11-week summer Fellowship for students interested in conservation careers
Wild Tracks International Volunteer Conservation Experiences, connect with results-oriented conservation projects
World Wildlife Federation, conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth
WWOOF Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
YMCA of the Rockies, summer youth camp in Granby, CO
Is there an organization you’d suggest we add to the list? Email your recommendations to conservationbiology@ls.wisc.edu
Conservation-Related Job Search, Events and Grad School Resources
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Career Preparation, Events and Information
BadgerBridge UW Professional Alumni Social Network
Careers in Biological Sciences
Career Events and Advising, UW-Madison
Environmental Policy Analyst description
Informational Interview as a job search strategy
Linked In Social Network for Professionals -join Conservation Biology at UW Madison
SuccessWorks L&S Career Services
Graduate & Professional School Exploration and Applications
Center for Pre-Law Advising, UW-Madison
Contact potential Graduate School Advisors
Find your PhD Mentor through Google Scholar
Graduate School Mentor Letter of Inquiry
Graduate School Application Timeline
McNair Scholars Program at UW-Madison, aims to increase attainment of PhD degrees by underrepresented students
Peterson’s guide for graduate program search
Public and Environmental Health Resources
Teaching MS through UW, with numerous scholarship opportunities
Graduate School Funding
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Job Board, browse by “Graduate Assistantships”
Find fully funded graduate programs
Graduate School Fellowships Database
John J Bander and Christine E Runblad Research Fellowship, Milwaukee Public Museum
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Job Boards and Announcements
Chicagoland Environmental Network
Environmental Career Opportunities
Handshake UW student career tool
Identity at work focused job boards
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Careers
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Job Board
North American Association for Environmental Education
North American Lake Management Society
Texas A&M Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Job Board
University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Job Board
Certification Resources
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