• Favorite ConBio job search websites
• What exactly is the study of Conservation Biology?
• Employers of SNRE graduates and interns
• Why should employers hire ConBio students?
• Job titles and employment sector of SNRE alumni
• Other employers of interest
• Examples of ConBio coursework
• Conferences of interest
• Professional organizations to join
• ConBio-focused master's projects
• Interested in ConBio-focused internships?
• Need help finding a job?
• eRecruiter ConBio highlights
• Need help finding an internship?
• Conservation Ecology

Favorite ConBio job search websites

Conservation Job Board
Ecological Society of America
Environmental Career Opportunities (Please go to eRecruiter to obtain the password for the job subscription)
Environmental Jobs
eRecruiter
govtjobs.com
Green Careers Journal (Please go to eRecruiter to obtain the password for the job subscription)
Land Trust Alliance Jobs Board
SNRE Job Posting Websites
Society for Conservation Biology Jobs Database
State of Michigan Vacancy Posting Page
Texas A & M Wildlife Job Board
The American Society of Mammalogists Jobs Board
The Nature Conservancy Jobs Board
The Wildlife Society of Jobs
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. 

Alliance for the Great Lakes
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.
BP of America
CDM, Inc.
City of Ann Arbor
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Colorado State University
Criterion Ventures
Environmental Resources Management
Feira de Santana State University, Brazil
Food System Economic Partnership
Hosei University
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Huron Pines
Huron River Watershed Council
Industrial Economics Inc. (IEc)
Lucida Science Communications
Manlius Greenspace Coalition
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
McKinsey and Company
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan State University
Michigan Tech Research Institute
Mount Washington Observatory
Mystic River Watershed Association
National Grid
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
National Wildlife Federation
Oceana
Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Slow Food Huron Valley
The Conservation Fund
The Field Museum 
The Greenwich Land Trust
The Nature Conservancy
The Wilderness Society
The World Bank
Universidad dle Valle
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Guelph
University of Michigan, SNRE
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency 
US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of the Interior, National Park Service 
Walt Disney Company, Animal Kingdom
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Xerces Society
Zoological Society of San Diego

Job titles and employment sector of SNRE alumni*

Please note that some positions may require a PhD.

Non-Governmental Organization/Non-Profit/Multilateral Institutions

Agriculture Program Coordinator
Bird Keeper
Conservation Coordinator
Conservation Ecologist
Director of Membership & Community Outreach
Ecologist
Natural Resources Management Specialist
Post Doctoral Research Scientist 
Regional Land Conservation Manager
Water Quality Monitoring Director

Private (Consulting and Industry)

Associate
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Specialist
Outreach Educator
Practice Manager
Project Manager
Senior Analyst
Technician
Translator

Academic

Adjunct Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Research Professor
Associate Professor
Full Professor
Lecturer
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Research Assistant
Research Associate

Government

Biological Technician
Director of Fisheries and Wildlife
Environmental Programs Assistant
Fisheries Technician
Landscape Ecologist 
Natural Resource Technician
Regional Wildlife Ecologist
Restoration Biologist
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Diversity Associate

Click here for some sample ConBio 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 ConBio employers that are registered with SNRE.

Alaska SeaLife Center
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE)
Audubon Canyon Ranch
Audubon New York
Biohabitats
Bioversity International
Blandford Nature Center
Boothbay Region Land Trust
California Council of Land Trusts
Campion Foundation
Center for Native Ecosystems
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Chesapeake Research Consortium, Inc.
Colorado Wild
Ducks Unlimited
Ecoagriculture Partners
Ecology Project International
ECONNECT
ENTRIX, Inc.
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Resources Center
ERO Resources Corp.
Freedom to Roam
Great Basin Institute
Greenpeace
High Country Conservancy
Institute for Applied Ecology
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
Klamath Bird Observatory
Land Trust Alliance
Mangrove Action Project
Marys River Watershed Council
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan Nature Association
Mississippi Valley Conservancy
National Audubon Society
National Council for Science and the Environment
National Geographic Society
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Coast Land Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy
Pacific Whale Foundation
Palmer Land Trust
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
Patuxent Research Refuge
Pheasants Forever
Prince William Sound Science Center
River Network
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
SeaWeb
Sierra Forest Legacy
Sierra Institute 
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Strawberry Plains Audubon Center
Sustainable Conservation
SWCA Environmental Consultants
The Center for Biological Diversity
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership
The Earth Institute at Columbia University
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Sitka Conservation Society
The Union of Concerned Scientists
TRAFFIC International
Triangle Land Conservancy
Trout Unlimited
United Nations Environment Program
US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
US Department of Interior, National Park Service
US Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center
US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy
Walama Restoration Project
Wildlife Clubs of Kenya
Wildlife Conservation Society
Willamette Riverkeeper
Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation

Check state fish and wildlife departments for possible internship and job opportunities.

ConBio-focused master's projects

[img_assist|nid=7734|title=Corn Ethanol and Wildlife Master's Project|desc=Members of this master's project visited the U.S. Senate Building.From left, they are Becca Brooke, Aviva Glaser, Greg Fogel, Elizabeth Griffin and Kristen Johnson.|link=none|align=right|width=323|height=482]Corn Ethanol and Wildlife: How are policy- and market-driven increases in corn plantings affecting habitat and wildlife? "The five members of our masters project team had experience in a wide range of fields, including ecology, environmental policy, economics, GIS, business, and public health. As the two conservation biology students in the group, we used our expertise, along with the support of faculty, to perform an ecological analysis looking at the effects of land-use changes related to corn ethanol expansion on sensitive grassland bird populations. The interdisciplinary nature of our team allowed us to contextualize that research within a larger political and economic analysis. This increased the relevance and timeliness of our project -- we were able to take our results and present them to the conservation community, USDA, DOE, and on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC." --Aviva Glaser and Elizabeth Griffin, SNRE Conservation Biology Alum

ConBio students and master's projects

• Current Conservation Biology Related Master's Project: Hannahville Indian Community Forestland Acquisition and Forest-based Business Planning Initiative
• Current Conservation Biology Related Master's Project: Scaling Up Payments for Watershed Services in the Southern United States
• Current Conservation Biology Related Master's Project: Developing Policy on Environmental Quality, Schools, and Health
• Current Conservation Biology Related Master's Project: PepsiCo Post-Consumer Waste Recycling in SE Asia
• Current Conservation Biology Related Master's Project: Eco-Tourism at Glacial Park
• 2011: Ecological Prioritization and Mapping of the Huron Clinton Metroparks
• 2011: The Potential for Micro-algae and Other í¢â‚¬Å“Micro-cropsí¢â‚¬  to Produce Sustainable Biofuels
• 2011: Jocko Valley Trails Masters Project
• 2010: Fostering Implementation of the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan
• 2010: Renewable Energy in the California Desert: Mechanisms for Evaluating Solar Development on Public Lands
• 2010: Restoration of a Multi-Functional Landscape: Mill Creek after Dam Removal
• 2010: Protected Area Management Effects on Freshwater Conservation
• 2009: Area Based Development and Climate Change
• 2009: Ungluate Pathways of the West: Examining conservation challenges and opportunities for ungulate migrations through case studies of the Grand Teton National Park Pronghorn, Absaroka Elk, and Round Valley Mule Deer
• 2009: Corn Ethanol and Wildlife: How are policy- and market-driven increases in corn plantings affecting habitat and wildlife?
• 2009: The St. Marys River Watershed: Planning for Biodiversity Conservation
• 2008: Biodiversity Conservation and Collaborative Management in Jamaicaí¢â‚¬â„¢s Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park
• 2008: El Yunque National Forest
• 2007: Northeast Michigan Integrated Assessment: Connecting Great Lakes Coastal Access, Tourism, and Economic Development

Interested in ConBio-focused internships?

Go to the SNRE Internship Website to view ConBio student internship reports.

eRecruiter ConBio highlights

• Search for ConBio related jobs/internships (employers can register for eRecruiter for free)
• Find career events on campus
• Search for Employers who hire ConBio students
• Apply for ConBio jobs/internship on-line
• View our Document Library, full of helpful career related resources

What exactly is the study of Conservation Biology?

Biodiversity loss has been identified as one of the great challenges of our time. The potential demise of one-fourth or more of the Earthí¢â‚¬â„¢s species before the end of this century represents an irreversible loss of nature and may significantly undermine the sustainable use of natureí¢â‚¬â„¢s services. The continuing expansion of populations and economies and the urgent need to improve human well-being also place increasing pressures on biological diversity.

The need for new understanding and novel approaches to the management of wildlands and protected areas has never been greater. Scientists and practitioners within the field of Conservation Biology need specialized knowledge of their sub-discipline -- forest management, endangered species policy or wildlife ecology, for example. They also need the integrative perspective of a broadly educated scholar-practitioner who is equipped to understand interactions between natural systems and human influences. This field of study combines basic knowledge from the ecological sciences and other disciplines to drive environmental problem solving.

Why should employers hire ConBio students?

Students are educated and trained to become scientists and practitioners within the field of Conservation Biology, where they learn to incorporate the recognition that sustainability depends as much on managing people as on managing ecosystems. The Conservation Biology field of study was developed to address the complex mix of issues related to the conservation of biodiversity and the management of ecosystems. This field of study can lead to a governmental career as a fish and wildlife biologist, remote-sensing specialist, environmental manager or wetlands ecologist. Private-sector occupational options include environmental biologist or fisheries biologist. In addition, graduates also may work in the nonprofit sector, where ecologists, urban foresters and habitat-restoration specialists are needed, or in academia, where research and teaching positions are well within reach.

"SNRE Conservation Biology students are unique because of the interdisciplinary experience they get at SNRE, which enables them to communicate effectively with a wide variety of conservation professionals and stakeholders. My internship with The Nature Conservancy has really proven the importance of non-scientific knowledge and I have most definitely utilized skills and concepts learned in classes like mediation, negotiation, and resource policy. I think this gives SNRE Conservation Biology students an edge over those with a purely scientific background." --Nerissa Rujanavech, SNRE Conservation Biology Alum

Some students also have the opportunity to work in the Perfecto Lab, the Foufopoulos Lab, work with the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI), or work with the Ecosystem Management Initiative located on the University of Michigan Campus in the Dana Building.

Examples of ConBio coursework:

Conservation Biology at SNRE focuses on issues related to resource conservation and ecosystem management and creates an interdisciplinary learning environment that includes ecosystem science, social science, policy, environmental design and quantitative analysis. Coursework examines the past and present causes of species extinction and biodiversity loss, as well as the biological principles central to species conservation and sustainable ecosystem management.

Students develop quantitative and analytical skills in biometrics, economics and computer applications and gain first-hand experience through internships with government agencies and private organizations. Practical applications, ranging from the design and identification of preserves to the effective management of developed landscapes and the recovery of degraded ecosystems in developed and developing countries are also learned by students.

Courses

Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology This course focuses on the ways environments shape the behavior and life histories of animals. Because environments pose constraints, behaviors have "better" and "worse" impacts on an organism's survival and reproduction - and these affect what is possible in conservation efforts!

Ecological Restoration The Society for Ecological Restoration defines ecological restoration as "the process of renewing and maintaining ecosystem health (or integrity)." This course is designed to provide a practical overview of various facets of ecological restoration, particularly as related to restoring and managing the kinds of habitats found in Southeastern Michigan and the upper Midwest. Through a combination of lectures, readings, field trips, and project work, students examine background theory and issues relating to ecological restoration and attempt to develop approaches for solving specific problems associated with local habitats.

Environmental Policy, Politics, and Organizations This course examines the ways that environmental policies are formed and implemented, and the behavior of governmental and nongovernmental organizations as they shape policies and management programs. Students develop an analytic ability to disaggregate complex political and management situations, assess the feasibility of environmental policy changes, and build strategy to get such changes adopted and implemented.

GIS and Landscape Modeling The goal of this class is to explore various approaches to modeling landscape pattern and change. The focus is on understanding, describing, and predicting the two-dimensional patterns of land-use and land-cover that are observable in map-based depictions of landscapes.

Human Resource Ecology Examines how resource distribution, richness, and predictability interact with systematic and historical constraints to yield patterns of resource control, mating systems, and life histories (including sex differences) in mammals, particularly humans.

Natural Resources Conflict Management This course builds an understanding of the causes, dynamics and consequences of natural resource and environmental conflicts as well as the range of possible procedural interventions that can be used to manage these conflicts. The course emphasizes the practical application of dispute resolution theories to the environmental and natural resource context. Case materials for the course are drawn from current conflicts in situations including public lands management, air and water pollution regulation, wildlife and endangered species management, and community planning.

Students can also reach out to other schools and departments on campus to find faculty members interested in Conservation Biology. Faculty members in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Urban Planning offer courses and conduct research in the field of Conservation Biology.

Conferences of interest

Conferences are great avenues for resource sharing, presenting papers/poster, networking, and meeting possible future employers!

Beyond Pesticides National Pesticide Conference (annual event) 
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Conference 
Conference Alert (listing of upcoming environmental conferences)
European Congress of Conservation Biology (8.28-9.1.2012)
Farming for the Future Annual Educational Workshop
Fieragricola International Agri-Business Show
Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference (search the internet for workforce, labor development, or other green job conferences)
Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) (4.1-3.2011)
Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference (12.4-7.2011)
Student Conference on Conservation Science (10.12-14.2011)
Wind Wildlife Research Annual Meeting  (10.19-21.2010)
Women in Green Forum  (8.30-31.2011)
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
Ecological Society of America
International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) (2011 ISSRM Symposium 6.4-8.2011)
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (Winter Convention 12.15-17.2010)
Michigan Invasive Plant Council
Michigan Wetlands Association
National Association of Environmental Professionals
National Environmental Health Association (Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition 6.28-30.2012)
Society for Conservation Biology (International Congress for Conservation Biology will be biennial after 2011 - 11.29-12.2.2011)
Society for Conservation GIS (SCGIS) (Annual Conference) (yearly conference provides a good opportunity to network with conservation professionals working with GIS)
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)
The Stewardship Network , (Conference 1.21-22.2011)
The Wildlife Society (National Meeting 11.5-10.2011, also check with state chapters for meeting times/locations)

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. Aquatic Sciences and Terrestrial Ecosystems also have career specific websites.

*Data taken from 2006-2011 surveys of SNRE students/alumni and from our eRecruiter system