Significant Career Lesson From A Community Science Coordinator At Sonoma Ecology Center
Entry-level environmental science roles include research assistant positions where "you're learning as you're going," outreach work, and fieldwork with agencies like California Fish and Wildlife; further skill development via workshops, such as those in wildlife management, can open additional career paths.
Research Assistant, Data Analysis, Outreach, Field Work, Data Entry
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maria Maurico
Volunteer Coordinator/Community Science Coordinator
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (Sonoma Ecology Center)
California State University - Sacramento
NA
Biology & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level research assistant positions are available for undergraduates with environmental science, biology, or ecology majors. These roles often involve learning on the job and working with experienced professionals.
2. Skills in data management and analysis, as well as the ability to read and interpret scientific articles, are highly valuable for entry-level positions.
3. Outreach and field work are other potential entry points into this career field, with opportunities available through organizations like California Fish and Wildlife. Post-college workshops can help develop skills to increase job opportunities.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider?
If you are graduating with any majors in environmental science, biology, or ecology, some entry-level jobs you could find are research assistant positions. Often, the most basic college workload will suffice for these roles because, in general, you learn as you go. You're usually working with a doctor in a field or a professor on campus who will guide you.
You get to learn a lot of skills at the same time. I think you'll do pretty well if you've taken courses in data management and data analysis. Learning how to read scientific articles is also a great skill to have, and I recommend practicing reading them efficiently.
If you enjoy outreach, entry-level outreach jobs can be pretty simple to find. Fieldwork jobs are also an option. With California Fish and Wildlife, there are many entry-level positions, including fieldwork and data entry.
If you want to expand your skills to get jobs that might not seem entry-level, you can take workshops after college. These workshops focus on different aspects of what you want your career to look like. For example, I took workshops on wildlife management, which is something I wanted my career to involve.