Aquatic Sciences Career Services Information
Favorite AQ Job Search Websites
Alaskan Observers
American Fisheries Society Job Board
American Rivers
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Job Board
Aquafish
AquaNIC (The Aquaculture Network Information Center)
EcoEmploy
ECOLOG-L Listserv
Environmental Career Opportunities (Please go to eRecruiter to obtain the password for the job subscription)
Environmental Jobs
eRecruiter
FISHBIO Industry Jobs
FWGRADJOBS Listserv
Great Lakes Commission
Green Careers Journal (Please go to eRecruiter to obtain the password for the job subscription)
govtjobs.com
International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Job Board
North American Benthological Society (NABS) Job Board
River Network Job and Internship Board
SNRE Job Posting Websites
Society of Wetland Scientists Jobs Board
State of Michigan Vacancy Posting Page
Texas A&M University: Wildlife and Fisheries Job Board
The Association of State Wetland Managers
URS
USA JOBS
Employers of SNRE Graduates and Interns*
Check out the SNRE Group on LinkedIn to network with SNRE students & alumni who have professional experience in the field.
Academia Sinica
Anne Arundel County Public Works Department
ARCADIS
Barr Engineering
BCS, Inc
CDM
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Colorado State University
Contra Costa Community College - Diablo Valley College
Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research (CILER)
Enbridge
Engineering and Environmental Solutions Group, Inc. (ESS)
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Grace College
Great Lakes Commission
Great Lakes Environmental Center
Great Lakes Science Center
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Huron River Watershed Council
Illinois Natural History Survey
Inland Seas Education Association
Institute for Fisheries Research
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Korea Environment Institute
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute
Millipore
Mystic River Watershed Association
National Science Foundation via the Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Protected Resources
Oceana
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Purdue University
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Southern Environmental Association (SEA Belize)
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Fisheries Division
The Healthy Reefs Initiative
The Nature Conservancy
The World Bank
Trout Unlimited
Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animals and Fisheries
University of Maryland Baltimore County
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Environmental Conservation
University of New Mexico
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of the Interior, National Park Service
US Geological Survey
Vancouver Island University
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Virginia Institute of Marine Science/The College of William and Mary
World Resources Institute
Yale University
Youngstown State University
Job Titles and Employment Sector of SNRE Alumni*
Please note that some positions may require a PhD.
Non-Governmental Organization/Non-Profit
Education Director
Environmental Analyst
Fisheries Scientist
Natural Resources Management Specialist
Sea Grant Fellow
Water Quality Monitoring Director
Watershed Ecologist
Private (Consulting and Industry)
Consultant
Environmental Scientist
Lab and Field Assistant
Operations Coordinator
Scientist
Sustainability Engineer
Technical Research Associate
Water Resources Engineer
Water Resources Scientist
Academic
Adjunct Professor
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Research Professor
PhD Candidate
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Professor
Professor of Biology
Research Assistant Professor
Research Associate
Research Chair and Director
Research Scientist
Government
Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspector
Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
Biologist
Director
Ecologist
Environmental Policy Specialist
Environmental Quality Analyst
Fellow
Fisheries Biologist
Fisheries Management Biologist
Fisheries Supervisor
Knauss Fellow
Management Plan Specialist
National Coordinator
NOAA Coastal Fellow
Natural Resources Biologist
Research Assistant
Research Ecologist
Sea Grant Fellow
Senior Fisheries Biologist
Senior Research Fellow
Stream Restoration Biologist
Click here for some sample AQ Career Opportunities
Other Employers of Interest
These are just a handful that have been suggested by faculty, students, or are registered employers on eRecruiter...many more are out there! Check out eRecruiter for a complete listing of Aquatic Sciences employers that are registered with SNRE.
Aquatic Management Board, Vancouver Island
ASTI Environmental
California Trout
CH2M
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services
Clinton River Watershed Council
Colorado Watershed Assembly
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center
Coos Watershed Association
Dahlem Environmental Education Center
Damariscotta River Association
EA Engineering
Environmental Concern Inc.
Environmental Literacy Council
Environmental Protection Agency (also check out individual state EPA websites)
Friends of the Detroit River
Gathering Waters Conservancy
Kids for the Bay
Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Massachusetts Riverways Program
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (also check out other individual state DNR website)
Prince William Sound Science Center
Stroud Water Research Center
TetraTech
The Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR)
The Nature Conservancy
United Nations Environment Program
Watershed Agricultural Council
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Willamette Riverkeeper
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
AQ Focused Master's Projects
Valuing Water: A Globally Sustainable Approach for the Pharmaceutical Industry: "This was an interesting master's project for me because I was working with other students who had no real training in the aquatic sciences. This made me the ex officio expert on all things water related - climate change impacts, human uses & needs, distribution, treatment, and so on. Because of my coursework in the Aquatics track in SNRE, I was able to bring valuable information to the table, while also hearing ideas that were fostered by the Sustainable Systems track. It was a really wonderful intellectual exchange for all of us." Kristina Donnelly, SNRE AQ Alumni
Current AQ Students and Master's Projects
- Current Aquatic Sciences Related Master's Project: Reduction and Utilization of Waste Water
- Current Aquatic Sciences Related Master's Project: Building a Sustainable Community in Africa
- 2011: Ecological Prioritization and Mapping of the Huron Clinton Metroparks
- 2011: Assisting Great Lakes Coastal Communities with Climate Change Adaptation
- 2010: Supply Chain Carbon Management Strategy for Ford Motor Company
- 2010: Fostering Implementation of the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan
- 2010: Protected Area Management Effects on Freshwater Conservation
- 2009: St. Maryí¢â‚¬â„¢s River Conservation Assessment
- 2008: Valuing Water: A Globally Sustainable Approach for the Pharmaceutical Industry
- 2008: Visions of Argo: Alternative Futures for Ann Arborí¢â‚¬â„¢s Riverfront
- 2007: Assessment of the India River Linking Plan: A Closer Look a the Ken-Betwa Pilot Link
- 2007: River Raisin Watershed Management Planning
Interested in AQ Focused Internships?
Go to the SNRE Internship Website to view AQ student internship reports.
eRecruiter AQ Highlights
- Search for AQ related jobs/internships
- Find career events on campus
- Search for Employers who hire AQ students
- Apply for AQ jobs/internship on-line
- View our Document Library, full of helpful career related resources
What exactly is the Study of Aquatic Sciences (AQ)?
The Aquatic Sciences field of study provides training in basic and applied sciences relevant to the worldí¢â‚¬â„¢s
growing water crisis and the management of aquatic ecosystems. Faculty includes professors and research scientists from a number of disciplines and departments, with interests covering a wide range of subjects, such as fisheries science, aquatic entomology and ecosystem modeling. Students focus on a variety of subject areas, including fisheries, watershed management, river/stream ecology, wetland science, aquatic-conservation biology and Great Lakes ecosystems. Students also learn the physiological, behavioral and numerical responses of fish to their environment and learn how environmental factors influence energetics growth, survival, behavior and reproduction of individuals, communities and populations of fish.
Why Should Employers Hire AQ Students?
This field of study prepares our students for a research career focusing on specific species, ecosystems or ecological problems or for a management career requiring skills in policy and economic analysis and the application of scientific knowledge to management problems.
Aquatic Sciences students have the opportunity to work with various Centers, Initiatives and Programs associated with SNRE. Students can work closely on important projects and efforts that impact the world in a real way while enhancing their education. The Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER), Institute for Fisheries Research, and Michigan Sea Grant are Centers of Excellence that are associated with SNRE and are located on the UM Campus. As well, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and Great Lakes Fisheries Commission are located in Ann Arbor, MI, and are great resources for Aquatic Sciences students. The Great Lakes Science Center (USGS) in Cleveland, OH isn't far away, and can provide students with excellent experiences as well.
Watch a video of SNRE Alum Bridget Horner talk about her experience at SNRE and her research. Bridget current works for the Colorado Division of Wildlife as an Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspector.
Examples of AQ Coursework:
Students focus on a variety of related subject areas, including fisheries, watershed management, river/stream ecology, wetland science, aquatic-conservation biology and Great Lakes ecosystems. In the laboratory, students become acquainted with the field methods used in fish biology and fisheries, as well as those necessary for examining the diversity of the Michigan ichthyofauna and major groups of world fish. Students have access to a variety of aquatic research facilities on site, as well as the University of Michigan Biological Station, a research and teaching field station in Pellston, Michigan. Our partnership with local and state laboratories as well as local offices of Federal Labs provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with scientists focusing on Great Lakes Ecosystem issues.
Courses
Aquatic Entomology
This course provides thorough taxonomic knowledge and basic understanding of the biology and ecology of aquatic insects for advanced students in ecology, fisheries, and entomology. Lectures focus on ecology; laboratories concentrate on taxonomy.
Biology of Fishes
Lectures cover many aspects of the biology of lower vertebrates known as fishes, including evolution, physiology, functional morphology, phylogeny, biogeography, ecology, and reproduction. The systematic position of fish among vertebrates is discussed and exemplary assemblages examined. Special attention is given to the effect of the physical properties of water on form, function and mode of life of fishes.
Ecology of Fishes
This course covers the relationship between fish and the physical, chemical, and biological parameters of major habitat types. The course also covers adaptations of fish for survival under different constraints.
Ecosystem Ecology
Ecosystem Ecology focuses on current theories regarding the control and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the approaches and techniques being used to test these theories, and the application of theory to the management and restoration of ecosystems. The scope includes examples from terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems.
Fluvial Ecosystems
Fluvial Ecosystems introduces key concepts pertinent to understanding rivers and stream ecosystems and their management in the face of multiple human stressors acting at local through landscape scales. Using the watershed as a framework, the impacts of human activities are described and possible management and restoration actions are explored.
Water Resource Policy
This course considers policy processes associated with the development and utilization of water resources.
Wetland Ecology
The following topics are covered in this course: types, functions and values of wetlands, wetland hydrology, wetland biogeochemistry, wetland development and succession, wetland plants, animals, and interactions, peat lands, Great Lakes coastal wetlands, wetland management and restoration of wetlands.
Students can also reach out to other schools and departments on campus to find faculty member with Aquatic Sciences interests. Faculty members in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geological Sciences, the Natural History Museum, the College of Engineering and the School of Public Health offer courses and conduct research in the Aquatic Sciences.
Conferences of Interest
Conferences are great avenues for resource sharing, presenting papers/poster, networking, and meeting possible future employers!
Aquaculture Conference (7.7-9.2011)
Aquafish (a listing of Workshops and Conferences in the Aquatic Sciences is available on this website)
Aquaterra Conference
Beyond Pesticides National Pesticide Conference (annual event)
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Conference
Conference Alert (listing of upcoming environmental conferences)
Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference (search the internet for workforce, labor development, or other green job conferences)
Great Lakes Commission (Areas of Concern Annual Meeting 10.13-14.2011)
Great Lakes Restoration Conference (10.12-14.11)
International Perspective on Water Resources & the Environment Conference (1.5-7.2012)
MidWest Fish and Wildlife Conference
Nonpoint Source (NPS) Monitoring Workshop
Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge Association Conference
View the SNRE Conference Website
Many of the Professional Organizations listed below hold annual conferences, visit their websites for more information. There are also many state and local chapters that hold conferences in which you may have interest. The benefits are that the conferences are close to home and usually are less crowded than national conferences.
Professional Organizations to Join
Air & Waste Management Association
American Fisheries Society
American Society of Oceanography and Limnology (ASLO)
Ecological Society of America
International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Annual Conference (5.13-17.12)
International Society of Limnology
Michigan Lake and Stream Association
Michigan Wetlands Association Annual Conference (8.30.11-9.2.11)
National Association of Environmental Professionals
North American Benthological Society (NABS)
Sigma Xi
Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)
Society of Wetland Scientists
Soil and Water Conservation Society (Michigan Chapter)
The Stewardship Network, (Conference 1.21.2011)
The Wildlife Society (National Meeting 11.5-10.2011, also check with state chapters for meeting times/locations)
Other organizations associated with a student-specific realm of interest (e.g., St. Lawrence River Walleye Association or Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin)
Need a help finding a job?
Email snre.careers@umich.edu to request an appointment with a SNRE Career Services staff member.
Lisa Yee-Litzenberg: Coordinator of Student Career Services
Room 1520 Dana Building
(734) 615-1633, yeeha@umich.edu
Need help finding an internship?
Email snre.careers@umich.edu to request an appointment with a SNRE Career Services staff member.
Conservation Ecology
Conservation Ecology at SNRE includes the Aquatic Sciences, Conservation Biology, and Terrestrial Ecosystems field of studies. Conservation Biology and Terrestrial Ecosystems also have career specific websites.
*Data taken from 2006-2011 surveys of SNRE students/alumni and from our eRecruiter system