Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka

If you're considering a career in wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences, you've probably heard that these fields don't pay well and even that you have to be wealthy to make it. But surely, there must be regular folks making it in wildlife careers? Can you really make a living? Pay your bills and raise a family? Or are you doomed to be broke forever if you pursue a career you love in this field?

Making wildlife and related careers work financially is one of those topics that we don't talk about enough (if at all?). We talk about passion, research, saving wildlife, and making a difference but at the end of the day, we also need to pay our bills so…

That's exactly what this episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about! Money is an essential part of our lives and our careers, and we shouldn’t feel bad about not only needing it, but wanting it. It’s essential for us to pursue our calling of working with wildlife and helping the environment. We can’t do this without it. 

This week’s episode is all about money. I've worked as a researcher for 17 years and now as a career mentor for the past six, and I’m here to tell you that none of the people I worked with, that’s right, NONE, were innately wealthy, yet they landed jobs. My friends who I went to graduate school with, some of whom were skating the poverty line at the time, now have jobs as professors, wildlife biologists, researchers, and more. 

I'm going to give you the real deal on the financial realities of working in wildlife and related fields, and maybe even blow your mind (hopefully!) by discussing jobs where you can actually be financially comfortable, and even end up wealthy. 

I start with a mindset shift I learned long before I ever became a wildlife biologist, back when I wanted to be an actress. From there, I get into how you can build experience without spending any money at all, and that you don’t need to sacrifice daily 9-5 life volunteering with unpaid experiences. 

I break down where it actually makes sense to spend money in this field, and where it doesn't: whether paying for programs abroad are necessary, if certificates are worth it, how to think about getting degrees, and why paying for a Master's degree without a clear plan can actually waste tens of thousands of your hard-earned dollars (I’ve seen it happen).

Finally, I go over the fields and job types that do tend to pay well, and how to think about where the money actually is in this field.

By the end of this episode, my intention is that you walk away with a much clearer, more realistic picture of what's actually possible financially in this field, to surprise and delight you, and bust the misconception that you need to be wealthy or willing to go broke to build a real wildlife career. It doesn't matter who you are or what background you come from, I strongly believe this field is for everyone, and I want to help you make a change in your community so that together, we can change the world.

Specifically, we cover:

• Whether it's actually possible to make a living, pay your bills, and raise a family working in wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences
• The mindset shift that makes the early, low-paid years of this career easier to accept
• Why when you search average wildlife salaries on Google, they are strongly misleading, don't tell the whole story, and what they leave out
• How to get real, resume-worthy experience without paying for expensive programs through simple, yet unconventional approaches 
• Where to actually spend money on your education, and where you can save, including where to go for your Bachelor's degree, and how to think about Master's and PhD programs
• Whether certificates pay off and are worth the investment.
• Why a Master's degree doesn't guarantee you a job, and how to avoid wasting money on the wrong program
• The types of jobs and organizations that tend to pay well in this field, and how to think about what kinds of jobs and places pay the most
• Unexpected jobs and workplaces that can create a major impact for wildlife, yet are typically not thought of for wildlife careers
• And MORE!

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-160-wildlife-career-money-salaries-spending/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

One day I was mindlessly scrolling on Instagram and a video stopped me in my tracks. This reel was from a 26-year old with a permanent job, offering some excellent career advice, well beyond his years. I was intrigued, but when I read his bio, saying “Steve Irwin X Tupac,” I was instantly hooked! 

Landing a permanent job is tough when you are first starting out, so this is an accomplishment in itself. Some of my friends with Master’s degrees didn’t get theirs until their late 20s or early 30s, and here was this young man without an advanced degree in one at 26. 

But what also struck me was the advice he was giving. A lot of the things are not necessarily hard or complicated, but simply what most people don’t do because it does involve stepping out of your comfort zone. These are the kinds of things that actually get results, and the same kinds of things I tell my students to do, but that most people aren’t willing to do…(cough cough intentional networking)... 

And of course his style of science communication really captured my attention! With an Instagram bio that read “Steve Irwin X Tupac," I had to learn more. And what better place than the Fancy Scientist podcast? 

José Juan Rodriguez Gutierrez works on threatened and endangered species in rural Humboldt County, California (he prefers to keep the organization he works for private). His job sounds like a nature lover’s dream: getting to conduct wildlife surveys out in the forest, often setting up camera traps to understand the population dynamics of endangered species like the Humboldt marten. He’s also worked on the California Condor Recovery Program, prairie, stream, and other restoration initiatives, as well as salmon research to name a few. 

José spends most of his time in the forest and lives in a small town of less than 20,000 people, yet he grew up in Long Beach, California, a big city with millions of people and stores at every corner! 

I ask José how he was able to land a permanent job at the young age of 26 and his personal path into place that looks so different from how he grew up. We get into practical tips for starting wildlife careers as José shares his unconventional approach to networking, starting with classmates and peers rather than jumping straight to established professionals, the mentors who went beyond their job description to make a real difference for him, and how he kept his career moving during the pandemic by teaching himself GIS when fieldwork wasn't an option.

There are also some more unexpected parts of José’s journey, including one of the ways he's passionate about getting conservation messages out: combining his love of hip-hop with the wildlife world.

As a kid, he was shy and self-conscious about his accent, never picturing himself in front of a camera or a crowd. But his passion for communicating conservation superseded that, causing him to step out of his comfort zone, pursue a communication degree, practice, and hone his skills. And the results are incredible: He’s grown his Instagram to nearly 20,000 followers since I first came across him and his posts reach hundreds of thousands of people! 

José opens up about how this wasn’t always easy, and the more uncomfortable parts of building confidence and communication skills, something he had to work on early in his career. His passion for conservation overrode his insecurities, as well as his desire to reach all kinds of communities, especially the ones he is a part of.  

He’s especially intentional about communicating conservation back to his own community and other underrepresented groups historically excluded from science and nature education. As the child of immigrant parents, he felt isolated growing up, not speaking English at first, and rarely seeing anyone who looked or sounded like him in the wildlife field. Instead of leaving that part of himself behind, he wants Latino kids to see themselves in this work too. He believes they (and you!) belong in nature, even if you have not spent much time in it yet. 

You’ll see that one way José does this as well as sets himself apart from other wildlife professionals on social media is through blending messages of conservation with hip-hop culture music, lending to his "Steve Irwin X Tupac" tagline on his Instagram bio. When he received a grant from Save the Redwoods League to study California condor reintroduction, he even made one of his three deliverables a hip-hop song about the species.

You're going to walk away from this interview inspired, excited, and with a huge smile on your face, because not only is José’s journey inspirational, but he's also super funny, has a diverse range of interests, and is beyond passionate about this field. He provided so many amazing tips, many of which I share with my own students, so make sure you stay tuned to the end, where I break down the most important concepts to take away to give yourself the competitive edge in this field.

I’m so inspired by this episode that maybe I’ll add “Elle Woods x Jane Goodall” to my Instagram bio.

Specifically, we go over:

• What José does on a day-to-day basis working on endangered species conservation in a remote landscape
• How José landed a permanent job so young; his tips and and the unconventional, yet simple actions he took that lead him to success
• How José went from living in one of the biggest cities in the US to working in a remote field location and what it’s like
• How Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) became his first form of mentorship and helped him navigate applying to college
• Why communication is so critical in conservation especially to groups historically excluded from the sciences, a necessity and not a luxury
• Why it’s important to include creative messaging and his style of blending hip-hop and conservation, including his record about California condors. Why "Steve Irwin X Tupac" perfectly describes his approach to conservation communication
• His approach to networking, starting with peers before reaching out to more established professionals
• The mentors who shaped his path, including a high school teacher with a Ph.D. who chose to teach in an underserved community
• José’s unstoppable and “can do” attitude: How he kept his career moving during the pandemic when everything shut down by teaching himself GIS
• How he honed his communication skills by practicing and speaking by talking to himself in the mirror
• His process for creating the short-form videos that have grown his following like wildfire
• Why no job is truly permanent, and how to build a career that can adapt
• And MORE!

Jump Links

5:13 Working in wildlife: camera traps, condors, and field life

13:52 The reality of seasonal jobs and low pay in conservation

15:00 Optimism amid a competitive job market

16:39 How José got into wildlife (from TV to career)

17:36 Family, toys, and childhood influences

20:22 Blending hip-hop and conservation

26:22 Curiosity as the core scientific skill

30:47 Landing a permanent job (after 3 tries)

32:27 Internships, mentors, and getting a foot in the door

39:29 Networking tips that actually work

50:51 His social media process and mindset

53:45 Outro and key takeaways 

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-159-jose-juan-rodriguez/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

Have you been applying and applying to wildlife jobs or experiences only to hear nothing back? That’s exactly what happened to Dylan Karl despite having a degree from a prestigious university specializing in wildlife, a Master’s degree, years of experience, and a wildlife biologist certification from The Wildlife Society. Dylan had seemingly everything, yet, he was applying to 30-50 jobs every season, but nothing was landing. 

Dylan’s story is even more unique. Dylan was one of my Successful Wildlife Professional students, and when I first started working with him, he was working in a wildlife job, but unhappy. He felt that although he was technically involved in wildlife work mitigating damage at airports, he wasn’t having the impact he wanted, and felt like he was spending a lot more time killing wildlife rather than saving it. 

So Dylan decided to join the Successful Wildlife Professional program and get help. And it paid off almost instantly! Within two months of the program, he applied for and got his dream job of working with Mexican wolves. This was a huge win and we were both so excited for his future! Because of these incredible results, I knew I had to have him on the Fancy Scientist podcast to share. 

But when I interviewed him, I was surprised he was no longer working there! It turns out that his story took an unexpected turn. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for reality to not match up with expectations in our field… 

Dylan had always imagined himself as a bridge between wildlife and people, helping manage conflict and promote coexistence. But what he thought was a non-lethal position in Arizona turned out to not be so non-lethal after all, due to pressure from ranchers pushing for the lethal removal of federally protected wolves. This didn't sit right with him, and that misalignment caused him to rethink what he actually wanted out of his career.

Luckily, he had the tools he learned from the Successful Wildlife Professional to lean back on. He used the trainings on understanding the jobs and workplaces and personal exercises to uncover his own desires and strengths to re-identify his dream job. He combined this with the wildlife-specific protocols in the application section to write competitive cover letters and resumes for his new dream path. 

He now works as a Preserve Management Assistant for the prestigious The Nature Conservancy in northwestern Minnesota, helping to manage approximately 300,000 acres of tallgrass aspen parklands through tools like prescribed burns and seed spreading. Every morning he wakes up feeling like he's taking care of the animals he loves’ homes.

Dylan also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work at the Nature Conservancy and what prescribed fire management actually looks like, including how burning 400 acres of land can transform a smothered wetland into one teeming with native wildflowers, frogs, fish, and water birds just a month later. 

After the interview, I break down the key takeaways so you can apply them to your own path, including why "proven experience" beats just experience, why knowing your end goal changes everything, and why the workplace you choose matters just as much as the work itself.

Specifically, we talk about:

• Dylan's winding path from watching Steve Irwin as a kid in Cincinnati to managing 300,000 acres with The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota
• His experiences with the Peace Corps, the Cincinnati Zoo, wind turbine curtailment, spotted owl research, and USDA Wildlife Services
• What it felt like to be in a position that looked good on paper but isn’t aligned with your values
• How you can still work in wildlife, but not feel like you are following your dream or having the impact you want
• The gap between the Steve Irwin version of a wildlife career and what most wildlife jobs actually look like
• Why sending 30 to 50 applications a season and taking the first offer isn't a career strategy
• What caused Dylan to break through and land his dream job on Mexican wolves within a couple of months
• How Dylan used The Successful Wildlife Professional to get clear on what he actually wanted and land the Nature Conservancy job
• His tips for landing a job with The Nature Conservancy, including why seasonal positions are the right entry point
• How prescribed fire is used as a conservation tool, and what it's like to return to a burned unit a month later and find it thriving with life
• The spotted owl courtship behavior story you didn't know you needed
• And more!

Jumps Links

3:28 Meet Dylan Karl

4:50 Dylan's Winding Career Path

5:24 Working at The Nature Conservancy

6:26 Prescribed Fire & Conservation

11:40 Dylan's Education & Background

15:25 Peace Corps, Zoo Work & Master's Degree

18:45 Working for USDA Wildlife Services

22:51 The Non-Lethal Wolf Job That Wasn't

24:19 Landing at The Nature Conservancy

27:37 Is There a Bait & Switch in Wildlife Careers?

31:46 Why Dylan Joined Successful Wildlife Professional

32:36 Carpet Bombing Applications & Career Misalignment

35:32 Finding His Dream: Habitat Management

40:31 A Moment of Success in the Field

42:36 What Makes Dylan a Fancy Scientist

45:20 The Owl That Defended Her Mate

46:49 How to Get a Job at The Nature Conservancy

49:18 Is the SWP Program Worth It?

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-158-dylan-karl/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

What if I told you that most jobs in wildlife, conservation, and environmental science aren't directly in research? Would you be shocked? Well, it's true! And that's exactly what I talk about in this episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast. 

When most people think of wildlife work, they think of jobs in wildlife research. Those are jobs where you pose questions or objectives, and then collect, process, and analyze data to address them. But when you compare these jobs to all of the others in the realm of wildlife, conservation, and environmental sciences work, they are actually in the minority. 

I am calling these non- ”traditional” jobs wildlife research-adjacent work or even just wildlife-adjacent jobs, even though they relate to conservation and the environmental sciences, and some are definitely in the wildlife field. 

This was a topic suggested by members of my Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook group a couple of years ago because there is strong interest in them, so I thought it would be the perfect topic to take a deep dive into for the podcast because it is a big one. 

In fact, it’s WAY too much to cover in just an episode. This is by no means a full list, and there’s not enough time to go into them in-depth. For example, in my group mentoring program, the Successful Wildlife Professional, we spend at least 30 minutes for each job and organization type. 

I’ll walk you through the major categories: data analytical and processing roles like GIS, statistics, lab work, and computer science; communications, outreach, fundraising, and education jobs; wildlife health careers, rehab, and vet work; zookeeping; more environmental science roles in water quality, forestry, and agriculture; corporate sustainability positions; and outdoor recreation jobs. 

But first, before you even consider a wildlife-adjacent job, I ask you to question WHY you’re pursuing one of these jobs in the first place. Is it because it is truly a job you want? Or is it because you feel like you can’t get the job you really do want? 

In my experience working with individuals seeking these kinds of jobs, it’s usually the latter, and if that’s the case, I encourage you to go after what it is you really want because this is a fixable problem. I identify the two big reasons that people can’t get wildlife jobs in the first place and what you can do about them. 

Finally, I'll leave you with this: wildlife jobs have a reputation for being competitive and low-paying, but that's not universal, especially when you consider adjacent jobs. In a recent podcast interview with Patrick Rainey of Ducks Unlimited, we talked about some wetlands restoration jobs that are in demand and also well-paying. So if getting a high salary is important to you, you might want to explore wildlife-adjacent work. 

Specifically, we cover:

• What "wildlife-adjacent" work means and how it differs from traditional research careers
• The two biggest reasons people fail to land wildlife jobs, and why that matters before you consider an adjacent path
• When pursuing a wildlife-adjacent job is a smart move even if it’s not what you really want, and how to prevent it from becoming a trap
• Analytics jobs, including GIS, statistics, lab work, and computer science roles
• Communications, outreach, fundraising, and education jobs, including science writing and ecotourism
• Wildlife health careers like rehabilitation and vet work
• Zoo and aquarium roles outside of research 
• Environmental science jobs in water quality, forestry, agriculture, and more
• Museum work
• Corporate sustainability roles, even within companies you wouldn't expect to have a conservation focus, and how this can indeed make a big difference for wildlife 
• Outdoor recreation jobs
• Why some wildlife-adjacent fields are actually in high demand
• And more!

Jump links:

2:21 What Are Wildlife Research-Adjacent Jobs?

4:25 Common Job Search Mistakes

16:19 Data & Analytics Jobs

21:39 Communications & Education Jobs

28:19 Wildlife Rehab & Vet Careers

30:51 Zookeeping & Aquariums

35:11 Forestry, Agriculture & Museums

37:05 Private Sector and Corporations

37:47 Final Takeaways

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-157-wildlife-adjacent-jobs/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

Do zoos actually help conservation? Contribute to wildlife research? Or are they mostly to entertain people? 

A couple of years ago, I did a podcast interview all about zoos, and I thought this would be a great topic for my own podcast due to the complexity. It’s not a straightforward answer…

In fact, during the pandemic, when we were all watching The Tiger King, I did a whole blog post series on the ethics and research impacts of zoos, and these are still some of my most popular posts!

Zoos were originally built purely for entertainment and were the only way most people could see an exotic animal. Placed in cement cages or concrete pits, animals were there to fascinate, but at the expense of their well-being. 

But as scientists and the public have learned more about animals, some zoos began to change. There are now high-quality institutions running genuine conservation science, captive breeding programs, and research on wild animal populations.

But unfortunately, not all zoos have stepped up. There are still dilapidated roadside attractions where animals are locked in cement cages, might be forced to do unnatural and harmful tricks, or be bred to have a constant supply of babies for tourists to pose with for photos, and with nowhere to go once they get older. 

These zoos might do things that they call research, but really, this is a form of greenwashing so that they can use these small projects to justify their money-making operations from animals. 

On the flip side, I talk about how zoos genuinely contribute to conservation. For example, conducting real research on animals outside of their zoo population, providing genetic safety nets, and captive breeding animals like the black-footed ferret and golden lion tamarin from the brink of extinction. 

In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’m going to walk you through zoos so that you can understand these differences, as well as offer some guidelines so that you can make an informed decision for yourself. I break down what separates a good zoo from a bad one, and the gray areas in between. 

I also address the harder question of whether zoos change people's minds. Many claim that zoos educate the public about wildlife, but just because they present information doesn’t mean that people take it in or take conservation actions…Those are much harder to change. I talk about a meta-analysis of 56 studies on visitor attitudes after zoo visits, plus how zoos like Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are trying to close the gap between education and action with things like their sustainable palm oil initiative.

And because this podcast is always about helping you build a wildlife career, I offer an overview of the different kinds of roles that you can obtain for employment, as well as my own behind-the-scenes experience, where I monitored elephant pregnancy hormones and worked on reproductive research for cotton-top tamarins.

You’ll get a rundown of the career paths zoos actually offer: zookeeping, education, communications, research, and creative roles like videography, plus wildlife-adjacent jobs in finance, fundraising, and law. I also explain what kinds of zoo work won’t help your wildlife career, no matter how much hands-on animal experience it seems to offer.

Specifically, we talk about:

• The history of zoos, and how they evolved from pure entertainment into institutions that can contribute to research, education, and conservation
• The clear signs that separate an ethical zoo from an unethical one including enrichment, keeper barriers, and whether the public is allowed to touch wild animals
• Why Tiger King-style roadside zoos like Myrtle Beach Safari don't count as real conservation work, and how to spot greenwashing when a zoo claims to "support conservation"
• Why zoo populations serve as a safety net for species with critically small wild populations
• Real conservation success stories through captive breeding, including golden lion tamarins and black-footed ferrets
• The behind-the-scenes research zoos do that visitors never see, including my own experience monitoring elephant hormones as a Disney's Animal Kingdom intern
• Whether zoos actually succeed at changing visitor attitudes and behavior toward conservation, and what the research says
• The strongest arguments against zoos
• An overview of wildlife career paths at zoos: zookeeping, education, communications, research, creative and media roles, and wildlife-adjacent careers like finance, fundraising, and law
• And MORE!

Jump links:

1:52 Tiger King during COVID

4:59 History of zoos: from pure entertainment to modern standards

7:28 Roadside zoos & Tiger King-style operations

8:08 Signs of an ethical zoo: no touching wild animals, enrichment, barriers

13:00 Captive breeding & maintaining genetic diversity

15:10 Reintroduction programs & minimizing human contact

16:37 Personal experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom (elephant endocrine research)

20:31 Zoos & education: Do they change attitudes toward wildlife?

23:47 The argument against zoos

25:49 AZA accreditation & evolving zoo standards

27:56 Careers in zoos overview

33:02 Outro & upcoming free training: The Four Faux Paws

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-156-zoos/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

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As a wildlife biologist, you have incredible moments with animals that are nearly impossible for other people to experience. But you also do some pretty crazy, strange, and downright WEIRD things.

In my 17 years working in the field across four continents and for a variety of organizations, I've had experiences that range from terrifying to awe-inspiring to disgusting. So in this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I'm sharing my top ten with you! Plus, you’ll get a couple of bonus memories. 

The show notes for this episode will be really short because I don’t want to give away too much, but I’ll take you on my adventures from Central Africa to Central Missouri, and from the suburbs to remote mountaintops. You’ll learn about the most dangerous things that I did, the (multiple) scary animal encounters that I had, and how I felt like I was living in an Indian Jones movie at times.

You’ll hear about encounters with lions and tigers and (no bears, sorry), but other animals!

Specifically, I go over:

• My top ten moments in my 17 years of working as a wildlife biologist, including the scariest, most awe-inspiring, rare, weirdest, and more
• The unexpected things I never thought I would do as a wildlife biologist
• Why wildlife biologists have to do some really weird things for research
• How my perception of what was scary changed over time
• Psychologically scary vs what’s really scary
• The scariest moment of my entire life
• And much, much more! I don’t want to give too much away

Whether you want to work in wildlife professionally, you're already in the field, or you simply love wild animals and wild places, you'll walk away from this episode inspired to go explore the natural world, whether it’s traveling to a new country or taking a deep dive in the green spaces in your neighborhood. Nature is everywhere and ready for you to explore. 

Jump Links:

00:00 Intro and why I'm doing superlatives

03:42 Most scary, early career

09:17 Most awe-inspiring

12:58 Most psychologically scary

15:03 Feeling most like a wildlife biologist

17:53 Most Indiana Jones

21:55 Closest animal encounter

23:59 Most rare and unique

26:12 Most dangerous

29:28 Weirdest

32:21 Scariest moment of my life

39:33 Bonus moment 1

41:42 Bonus moment 2

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-155-wildest-wildlife/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

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AI seems like it’s EVERYWHERE nowadays, and I know if you’re a conservationist like me, you’re concerned about its environmental impacts, and maybe even avoiding it because of them…

But I recently read an article that scared the bejesus out of me. It basically stated: AI is here, and those who don’t know how to use it well, WILL be left behind. 

And then I realized, AI is already here, not just in our everyday lives (you can’t run a Google search without it), but it’s also here in wildlife work. Big conservation organizations all over the globe are using AI to document, assess, and analyze biodiversity to combat huge losses. Platforms like iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and Wildlife Insights all use AI models.  

And now I’m starting to see it pop up in wildlife job advertisements. Posts are now asking for applicants to know how to use and run AI effectively in wildlife work by integrating Claude and ChatGPT in their workflow and processes. 

This episode is NOT about the environmental impacts of AI, but rather that it’s that AI is here, hard to avoid to some extent, and that organizations are already using it. If you’re pursuing wildlife work, they are now also asking you to adopt it. And just like the article I read, I’m concerned that if you don’t adopt it, you’ll be left behind. 

So in this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I am talking all about AI in wildlife work. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous to record this one. It's a topic that can ruffle some feathers, and as you’ll learn in the episode, there is a lot of real pushback from not just environmentalists, but society as a whole. 

My goal in providing you with this episode isn't to tell you whether to use AI or avoid it. I’ll leave that up to you. Rather, it's to provide you with my perspective using 20+ years in wildlife work, and actually having worked on a large AI conservation project, on how it's already being used in nature and conservation research, how I expect it to be used in the future, and what it means for your career.

In this episode, I walk you through how large conservation organizations are using AI with examples across different species and systems, and what it means for you as a job-seeker. Should you use AI to write your cover letters and resume? Is AI messing up the system so that your applications can’t get through? I’ll cover all of that for you.

So if you're worried about what AI means for wildlife careers, or maybe you're curious and didn’t realize the extent to which it is being used in conservation research right now, or just want to get the competitive edge when it comes to wildlife, conservation, or environmental careers, this episode is for you.  

Specifically, we talk about:

• Real examples of how AI is being used in wildlife research right now, such as camera trap processing, animal behavior studies, in surveys, and more
• How AI is changing data processing roles and what this means for internships and field assistant positions. Will these jobs be gone? 
• Why wildlife careers are becoming more quantitative and computer-heavy, and what skills to prioritize
• How AI is going to continue to affect wildlife jobs and careers at a variety of levels
• How AI is affecting the job application process. Should you use AI to write a cover letter? Resume? 
• If AI is making it harder for your job application to move to the interview stage
• How leaning on AI can actually hurt your career when it comes to job applications, networking, and standing out
• Why it’s more important than ever to be authentic and do something different to separate yourself from others when seeking jobs 
• What conservation organizations are starting to ask for when it comes to AI in wildlife jobs
• And more!

Jump Links:

00:00 Welcome and Topic

04:25 AI Environmental Impact and Context

08:54 AI Is Already Here in Wildlife Work

12:57 AI Tools in Conservation

17:31 Research Automation Examples

22:00 Jobs and Skills Shift

26:21 Data Heavy Future

30:10 Regular Job Postings Seeking AI Skills

34:18 Authenticity Over Automation for Job Applications

43:26 AI in the Hiring Process

47:02 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-154-ai-in-wildlifework/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

Do you want a wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences career, but feel that it is not physically possible for you? Do you have health challenges or a condition that limits you and are worried that it prevents you from working in a field that is notoriously demanding? Or do you feel discriminated against because of these circumstances? 

You are not alone! I have heard from aspiring wildlife biologists all over the world that they struggle with conditions like chronic fatigue, anxiety, sight disabilities, strokes, ADHD, and more and are concerned that they can’t work in this field, which they love so much. I, myself, struggle with an autoimmune condition that greatly slows down my metabolism, and has made me heavily fatigued at key points in my career. Well, in this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I’m showing you that it’s possible for you with an interview with a young conservationist who blew me away with her unstoppable attitude. 

When I first heard Grace O’Dea speak on a Green Jobs webinar event, I was so inspired by her story that I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Grace has cerebral palsy, and at 17, she was told by someone that her lack of upper-body strength meant that she could never work in an animal career. But that’s not where her story ended…

In fact, she used that “no,” as ammunition to propel her wildlife career. Today she is a permanent educator at a major aquarium and has previously worked in physically demanding jobs at farms and zoos, proving that naysayer wrong.

This week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about NOT accepting no as an answer when it comes to pursuing your dreams or whatever conservation goal you want to accomplish no matter what your circumstances are. If you want to work in the wildlife field, you'll want to listen for sure, but this episode is for everyone. No matter what you were going after in your career or even your life, the lessons that Grace shares will apply to the seemingly impossible situation that you are going through. 

Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Grace navigated her path by refusing to let her disability define her. She didn't let being questioned stop her; instead, she purposely built her physical strength at the gym. She didn’t hide her disability either. Rather, she voiced her concerns to employers so that they could find ways to work with her condition rather than around it. 

Grace shares her experience working with everything from hedgehogs to wild deer, and how she uses positive messaging and hope to impact the public rather than the typical conservation messages of doom and gloom. She explains how she handles the physical aspects of her current and past jobs and why being "ballsy" and confident is your greatest asset, even if you are naturally shy or introverted.

And the results of her boldness are incredible! Grace started as a seasonal employee, but she didn't just wait for it to end and look for something else. Instead, she took the initiative to email her bosses and ask if her position could be made permanent. And it worked! She now has a full-time permanent position as a conservation educator delivering daily talks to aquarium guests and teaching the next generation about ocean conservation.

Grace also excels at networking. She lets us in on her strategies, which led to her being invited as a guest speaker for her university’s graduation and connecting with influencers in the green jobs space. We talk about how she leverages LinkedIn by active and intentional posting, using hashtags strategically, and attracting professionals to her profile through sharing her personal and professional achievements. 

I also noticed that Grace is a fancy scientist herself. We discuss her fancy side and how she owns her personal style and unique comedic value to be an unconventional, yet highly effective educator. 

After the interview, I break down key take-home points for you to apply to your own career or situation, including sharing resources helping you adopt Grace's unstoppable mindset, using LinkedIn as a search strategy, and why you should never be afraid to ask for a job extension or a permanent role.

If you ever thought you couldn’t pursue conservation because of a health condition, your background, or a lack of financial resources, Grace is living proof that it’s all possible! After listening to this episode, I know you’ll walk away filled with hope, and ready to face the challenge in your career head on.

Specifically, we talk about:

• Grace’s career path from graduation to securing a permanent educator role at an aquarium
• What it was like for Grace to work at various kinds of animal organizations and places including farms and zoos
• Magical wildlife moments from Grace’s career such as stampeding deer and circling buzzards, and humbling moments like collecting hedgehog poop
• Why you shouldn't "play it safe" if you have a passion for animals and want to pursue this kind of work
• The critical importance of a resilient mindset when facing physical or psychological barriers in the field
• How to navigate a wildlife career while managing a disability or other health condition including when and how to disclose health conditions and get accommodations
• How to ask for what you want in wildlife work 
• The power of LinkedIn for attracting employers and why posting once a week can change your career trajectory
• Grace’s dissertation research on positive vs. negative messaging in conservation campaigns
• How to give the public hope through small, actionable steps like beach clean-up 
• And more!

Jump links:

03:53 Meet Grace O’Day

06:02 Told No at 17

07:54 Finding Her Why

08:42 Aquarium Career Path

11:55 Turning Seasonal Permanent

16:14 Impact Through Education

19:20 Navigating Cerebral Palsy at Work

25:52 Networking With LinkedIn

29:50 LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass

31:33 Hedgehog Sanctuary Stories

34:08 Being A Fancy Scientist

35:25 Advice And Future Plans

38:00 Key Takeaways And Wrap

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-153-grace-odea/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

Do you have a lingering desire to start a wildlife career, but feel like it might be too late for you? Or maybe you’re working on a wildlife career, but it isn’t working for you, and time just keeps passing by? You got the degree, but then life got in the way, and you even had to get a non-wildlife job to pay the bills…

Well, I’m here to tell you that whether you’re 25, 45, or older, a wildlife career IS still possible for you (and yes, I get by 25-year-olds who think they are too late), and this week’s Fancy Scientist podcast episode really proves it! I interviewed Yellowstone Park Ranger Lynda Moore about her journey from Radiologic Technologist to environmental educator and what it’s really like to work in one of the most famous protected areas. Lynda first spent 28 years working in healthcare before deciding to return to school in 2017. She graduated with her degree in wildlife conservation biology in 2021, just two weeks before her 58th birthday! Now, she is working in one of the most coveted locations in the world for wildlife job seekers: Yellowstone National Park.

Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Linda navigated the challenges of being a non-traditional student and successfully landed a position with the National Park Service. She didn't let age hold her back or fears about ageism in the workplace. In fact, she embraced her past experiences and used them to her advantage, leveraging her work as a Radiologic Technologist to her new career while focusing on new strategies to land her a park service job. 

You’ll learn that Lynda emphasized networking and learning from others, building relationships with professors and graduate students while getting her degree. She shares how she willingly raised her hand for new opportunities, including counting bee behaviors in a lab and driving across the country for internships.

You’ll also get an insider’s perspective on the fascinating, and sometimes dangerous, reality of working in America’s first National Park. Lynda discusses her role as an interpretive ranger, educating the public on everything from the park’s unique thermal geology to the "Big Five" wildlife species in the United States. She shares eye-opening stories about "babysitting" a 2,000-pound bison and the constant struggle to keep tourists at a safe distance from unpredictable wild animals.

I also asked Lynda about the technical side of landing a federal job. She credits her success to having a mentor help her navigate the notoriously difficult federal resume process. You’ll learn about the new federal resume requirements and how she transitioned from the "healthcare brain" to the "biologist brain," and how she carried over the work ethic and supervisory skills from her previous career that made her a standout candidate.

After the interview, I break down the take-home points that you can apply to your own journey, regardless of your age. I explain how previous "unrelated" career experience can actually contain a variety of transferable skills for wildlife jobs, how to network with people who are decades younger (or older) than you, and how seeking outside help from professionals can help you navigate something like the frustration of the federal application system.

If you’ve ever told yourself you’re "too old," that "it’s too late," or that "employers won't hire someone my age," Linda is living proof that the National Park Service, and the wildlife field at large, needs your experience and your passion! And even if you aren’t working towards a wildlife career, in this episode, you’ll be fascinated by what it’s like to work inside one of the world’s most iconic parks. 

Specifically, we talk about:

• Linda’s steps from a 28-year career in radiology to becoming a Park Ranger at Yellowstone
• What it’s like to go back to school in your 50s and graduate alongside your own daughter
• How starting your career later in life can work to your advantage: using "adult money" and maturity can be a competitive edge in wildlife work
• Behind-the-scenes of working at Old Faithful and educating the public on thermal safety
• Why "interpreting" wildlife behavior is actually a safety talk in disguise
• Fascinating animal facts and the emotional impact of seeing a wolf in the wild for the first time
• Lynda’s most impactful animal moment with Lucy the Orangutan at the National Zoo
• Practical tips for federal resumes and navigating the shift from long-form to two-page limits
• The reality of seasonal life in temporary wildlife work
• The importance of using informational interviews to learn the "hidden" requirements of jobs
• Why you should never underestimate yourself before you even apply for a job
• The mindset shift needed to overcome imposter syndrome as a career switcher
• How protecting the natural world starts with educating a single tourist or child

Jump Links:

02:56 Meet Ranger Linda

04:13 Career Switch Story

05:36 Internships And Mentors

07:38 Landing Yellowstone Job

08:24 Seasonal Life Logistics

10:41 Ranger Duties Explained

13:32 Visitor Questions And History

15:24 Expectations Versus Reality

18:08 Wildlife Safety Lessons

19:52 Craziest Tourist Encounters

25:04 Bison Babysitting And Bears

27:44 Choosing Biology Later

32:23 Networking in School

34:09 Ageism and Confidence

37:06 Federal Resume Tips

39:40 Unforgettable Animal Moments

43:52 Teaching Predators Balance

45:39 How to Get Hired

49:32 Key Takeaways Wrap Up

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-152-lynda-moore/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/

How do you actually make your wildlife career happen when you feel like you’ve missed your window? You got the degree, maybe even got some temporary jobs here and there, but you felt like you weren’t getting traction. Or couldn’t see how it could all come together. And time just keeps ticking away…

That’s exactly how my former Successful Wildlife Professional student, Makeela Magomolla, was feeling before she joined my group mentoring program. Even though she was young at 25, the world was taken over by a pandemic, halting opportunities for young wildlife professionals left and right, and she felt powerless to move forward in her wildlife career and contribute to making a difference in the world. But in this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, you’ll discover how we turned that around for her!

After graduating in 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, when the world shut down, Makeela found herself in a lab job, feeling like she had missed her chance and questioning if she was “too old” for a wildlife career. Today, she is a Master’s student leading acoustic surveys and collaborating directly with state DNR biologists on the animals she is most passionate about: bats.

Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Makeela moved out of a “dark space” by taking the advice to be intentional. She didn’t just wait for luck; she went on a “rampage” to find opportunities. You’ll learn how she started to make things happen for her: she volunteered in wildlife rehabilitation and reached out to a campus group called the “Bat Brigade” that had been dormant since the pandemic. She even took the preemptive step of paying for her own rabies vaccinations, an expensive and painful preventative needed for bat work, to ensure she was ready for any hands-on opportunity that came her way.

You’ll hear how Makeela mastered networking through cold emailing professionals she wanted to work with and learn from. Despite being shy using the methods and templates provided in the Successful Wildlife Professional program, she reached out to graduate students, professors, and other researchers.She even connected with a former podcast guest of mine, Dr. Seth Magle, which led to an introduction that helped her find a graduate advisor and a project she truly cared about.

The results of her networking were so effective, that when she was invited to an important meeting with bat specialists in the area, she realized that she already had met everyone in the room prior! Her dedication even led to a generous donation from a sponsor, allowing her to start her first semester of graduate school while she applied for teaching assistantships.

Makeela shares the details of her Master’s research, which includes analyzing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data sets, tracking rehabilitated bats post-release, and studying the effectiveness of community science as a tool in wildlife research, as well as the importance of science communication and getting the community involved in nature right where they live.

You’ll walk away from Makeela’s story excited about what is possible when you decide to be intentional about your career path. Makeela proves that even when you are at your “wits’ end,” small shifts in mindset, strategy, and more led her to incredible results!

Finally, after the interview, I break down the main points Makeela covered and how you can apply them to your own career, including the importance of mindset, why you should lead with the job you want rather than the degree, and how to build a community in this field, no matter your background.

Specifically, we talk about:

• Makeela’s detailed journey from a 2020 pandemic graduate to her first week as a Master’s student
• How she handled the “quarter-life crisis” and the feeling of powerlessness when job opportunities were unavailable
• Why she chose to be intentional about specializing in bats after a senior project and an experience in Rwanda
• How she revitalized the “Bat Brigade” on campus and transitioned from a volunteer to a leader of the program – even after she graduated from college and was no longer a student!
• How a cold email to a podcast guest resulted in an introduction to her current graduate advisor
• The way her networking efforts connected her with state DNR biologists and the local wildlife rehabilitation community
• The story of how a sponsor provided a donation that let her start her Master’s research.
• The elements of her research, including acoustic data analysis, post-rehab tagging, the social science of community science, and more
• Her perspective on being a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) professional in the field and the value of groups like BIPOC birding organizations
• How she integrated her interests by joining working groups and following labs on social media to find opportunities
• Why she shifted from wanting to work abroad to finding value in investing in the community and wildlife of the Midwest
• And MORE!

Jump links:

01:13 Meet Mikayla And Big Lessons

04:34 Early Passion For Wildlife

05:55 Pandemic Graduation Detour

09:23 Quarter Life Crisis

11:05 Choosing Bats On Purpose

14:30 Bat Brigade Leadership

17:22 Networking Into Grad School

23:40 Funding And TA Path

25:59 Masters Project Overview

29:45 Citizen Science Impact

30:36 Career Goals and Tanzania

32:08 Local Nature Appreciation

36:19 Gorillas and Wildlife Highlights

40:20 Being BIPOC Outdoors

44:29 Networking and Cold Emails

48:23 Host Recap and Resources

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/

🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/

📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/

🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg 

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-151-makeela-magomolla/

Let’s connect! 🤝✨

Website: https://fancyscientist.com/

Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/