Career Development

What can I do with a Conservation Biology Major?

When Aldo Leopold and Norman Fassett 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 (Public Health, Forensic Science, Biotechnology, etc)

Students in the College of Letters and Science develop and sharpen the transferable skills that are most in demand by employers

Conservation-related Volunteer, Internship, and Job Resources

Students are encouraged to participate in both in- and out-of-classroom experiences to apply their knowledge and gain practical experience in the field. Internships, research, study abroad, volunteer, and other conservation related experiences and are encouraged. Plan ahead by working closely with advisors to build these experiences into your plans.

Madison, WI Area Opportunities-Volunteer, Internships, Jobs

Aldo Leopold Nature Center, offering learning opportunities that teach appreciation of the interconnectedness of all living things

Allen Centennial Garden, artful living laboratory and public botanical garden at UW-Madison

BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, creates safe spaces for people of color and allies through outdoor birding activities and events

UW Food Shed, collects produce from research farms and makes it available to UW Madison students, staff, and faculty

Clean Lakes Alliance, stakeholders who are building on and expanding upon decades of ongoing efforts to preserve and restore our waters

City of Madison, jobs, internships and volunteering opportunities for the city

Dane County Humane Society Wildlife Center, specialized care and treatment to injured, ill, or orphaned wild animals

Dane County Land & Water Resources, strives to protect and enhance the natural, cultural, and historic resources of Dane County

Groundswell Conservancy, nonprofit and community-based organization aiming to protect undeveloped land

Henry Vilas Zoo, admission-free, community-supported Madison zoo

Lakeshore Nature Preserve, 300-acre natural area on the UW-Madison campus

Madison Children’s Museum, rooftop garden and animals

Midwest Environmental Advocates, nonprofit law center that works to secure and protect rights to healthy water, land, and air

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, non-profit protecting our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, public gardens and conservancy with classes, camps, art exhibits and more

OneEnergy, advancing clean energy

The Nature Conservancy, non-profit overcoming barriers to the solutions our planet needs

The People’s Farm, a student organization at UW-Madison focused on sustainable agriculture

The Prairie Enthusiasts, work with landowners, farmers, and other organizations to save prairie and oak savanna remnants

REAP Food Group, empower individuals and communities in a complex food landscape to build a better food system

Sierra Club -Wisconsin Chapter, grassroots environmental organization that works to protect our communities and the planet

Slow Food UW, non-profit dedicated to good, clean and fair food

Southern WI Bird Alliance, celebrate, enjoy, and protect Wisconsin’s birds and natural heritage

Troy Community Gardens, committed to collaborations rooted in food, land, and learning

UW Student Job Center, on and off campus job opportunities

Wisconsin Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology, UW Madison student org with volunteer, leadership, event and fieldtrip opportunities

Wisconsin Herpetological Association, educates enthusiasts and the general public about frequently misunderstood reptiles and amphibians

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, advocates for sound environmental laws and policies

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, DNR staff manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources

Wisconsin Sea Grant, statewide program dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the Great Lakes and ocean resources

UW-Madison Arboretum, 1,200 acres of land with an extensive collection of restored ecosystems

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

Community Conservation, Viroqua, 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 at multiple WI locations

National Eagle Center, Wabasha, WI

Primates Incorporated, Westfield, WI

Racine Zoo, Racine, WI

Riveredge Nature Center, Saukville, WI

Tallgrass Restoration, Milton, 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 Fish & Wildlife Agencies, management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats

Association of Zoos & Aquariums, conservation initiatives

American Bird Conservancy, dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats through the Americas

American Conservation Experience, restoration projects in U.S. parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, crew and internship opportunities rooted in culture and heritage of local tribal communities

Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Oakland & Richland, California

Australia Environmental Jobs, Environment, Water, Natural Resource Managment

Cahaba Environmental Center, Montevallo, Alabama

Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship, a highly competitive 10-month program for recent college graduates to develop professional skills in conservation

Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, Canadian job board that includes funding for graduate positions

Chesapeake Research Consortium, association of seven research and education institutions around the Chesapeake Bay region

Chicago Wilderness Alliance, connecting leaders in conservation, health, business, science, and beyond, we tackle challenging issues

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

Conservation Internship for Broadening Access (CIBA), learn about preservation and museum conservation

Disabled Hikers, building disability community and justice in the outdoors

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 Protection Agency (EPA), Washington D.C. headquarters, ten regional offices, and labs/research centers throughout the nation

Federal Internship Finder, the tool compiles publicly available info about opportunities in government for students and recent graduates into one centralized place

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

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Job and internship opportunities around the world

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

Minnesota GreenCorps

National Parks Conservation Association

National Park Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service, one-stop site for information about student and recent graduate opportunities at NRCS

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) NSF organization that collects long-term open access ecological data

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, NOAA offers educational opportunities to students studying science and the environment

NOAA William M Lapenta Internship, funded summer opportunity for sophomore or junior undergrads

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

Reef Doctor, UK non-profit focused on conservation and social development in Southwest Madagascar

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

Serve MN, 18 AmeriCorps programs in education, environment, and community building

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

Smithsonian Gardens Internships, learn skills in horticultural endeavors that can provide a strong practical background to emerging professionals wanting to enter the public gardening world

Smithsonian Museum Internship, Leadership for Change provides experience to understand role of museums play in advocating for change

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, internship placement depends on finding a match between your interests and a suitable research project mentored by a scientist at STRI

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

US Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Program, 11-week summer Fellowship for students interested in conservation careers

White Oak Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Internships in Yulee, FL

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