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

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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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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 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/

Christina Weber did what most aspiring wildlife professionals think is impossible: she got every single offer she applied to with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE! How did she do it? That’s what this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about. 

After listening to this episode, I know you’ll walk away inspired, ready to take action, and make things happen in your career so that you can work towards having a real impact on the species that need our help.

I invited my former Successful Wildlife Professional student, Christina Weber, to come on the podcast because I have been so impressed by all the success she has achieved despite having no wildlife or environmental experience to get her foot in the door. When Christina began in the program, she was running a dog-walking business and had volunteered with horses, and needed help breaking into wildlife, conservation, or environmental work. Now she is working on a NASA-funded project and getting ready to start a summer internship at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC!

Throughout our conversation, you’ll learn exactly what Christina did to gain traction fast in her career. She took the program’s advice and ran with it. And it WORKED. It worked so well that I honestly can’t believe her results! 

She took experience into her own hands and started with citizen and community science (including regularly conducting eBird surveys). She took advantage of and attended one-off hands-on volunteer opportunities such as beach cleanups, seal monitoring, and horseshoe crab monitoring to start somewhere and meet people in the field.

You’ll hear how Christina maximized opportunities to network, including creating her own connections by cold emailing professionals with the templates provided in the Successful Wildlife Professional program, even though she describes herself as shy and introverted. Her networking efforts led to referrals, informational conversations, and REAL job opportunities.

The results were incredible: Christina applied to four seasonal positions over the summer and was offered every one of them. She was even offered an AZA-accredited aquarium internship that she didn’t apply for! The employer received her resume through a cold email and decided to put it in the internship pile! Christina was shocked when she received a call asking if she wanted to interview.

Christina shares that now she’s conducting research through a NASA-funded New Jersey Space Grant Consortium project on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine copepods. She explains how she designed a project connected to her ultimate goal of working with whales by studying what whales eat. When facing obstacles, she didn’t let anything stop her, and she describes being “scrappy” in her community college setting by building equipment, culturing phytoplankton, and managing the costs and logistics of an ambitious project.

We also talk about how much wildlife work involves working with people. Christina was even able to bring her past dog-walking experience into her wildlife work! She shares that she educated dog owners on responsible beach behavior around endangered piping plovers, using common ground from her dog walking business to communicate conservation messages effectively.

After the interview, I offer you take-home points that you can apply right away to your own situation right now, no matter who you are, including how to volunteer without giving up your whole life or going into debt, using citizen/community science to build legitimate experience, get on LinkedIn strategically, and focus on quality over quantity in your job applications.

If you ever thought you couldn’t do something because you didn’t have enough experience, go to the right school, or know the right people, Christina is living proof that you can do it on your own! There are NO excuses!

Specifically, we talk about:

• Christina’s exact steps from being a dog-walking business owner to working on a NASA-funded research project
• Why citizen and community science (like eBird surveys) can be a powerful way to build a real wildlife experience
• Simple ways to gain hands-on exposure through short-term volunteer opportunities, such as beach or river cleanups, restoration projects, or other community service days
• How strategic networking and cold emailing professionals can open doors, even if you’re shy or introverted
• How Christina used networking to get referrals, informational interviews, and unexpected job opportunities
• Why she received job offers from every seasonal wildlife position she applied for
• The surprising story of how she was offered an AZA-accredited aquarium internship she never applied for!
• An overview of her research on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine copepods through a NASA-funded project
• How she designed her research to align with her long-term goal of working with whales by studying their food sources
• How she stayed resourceful in a community college setting by building equipment, culturing phytoplankton, and managing research logistics
• Why communication and working with people are a major part of wildlife careers
• Practical advice on volunteering without sacrificing your entire schedule
• How to use LinkedIn strategically to build relationships in the wildlife field
• Why focusing on quality over quantity when applying for jobs can dramatically improve results
• The mindset shift needed to stop waiting for perfect qualifications and start creating opportunities

Jump links:

03:52 Christina’s Nontraditional Start

06:24 First Steps in Wildlife

07:22 Landing Job Offers

10:30 Volunteering That Counts

13:24 Networking for Introverts

16:12 LinkedIn Career Boost

17:49 Cold Email Aquarium Win

19:15 Dream Job and Research Path

21:13 NASA Microplastics Project

27:01 Finding Your Field Fit

29:23 Humbling Field Moments

30:29 Protecting Piping Plovers

31:06 Finding Common Ground

32:28 Career Wins and Strategy

35:01 Horseshoe Crabs and Policy

38:42 Wildlife Moments and Whales

40:13 Program Lessons and Mindset

51:05 Post Interview Takeaways

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-150-christina-weber/

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/

I’ve recently gained a lot of new followers, so for this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I wanted to share with you my vast experience that I’ve had working as a wildlife biologist for nearly twenty years, so that you can fully understand what this field is like.

My career has taken me all over the world, and I’ve been on all different kinds of adventures: from hiking the deserts of Utah to the top of Mount Kenya, and from flour beetles to forest elephants. I have worked across four different continents and in almost every type of organization that you can think of: the government, zoos, museums, universities, and alongside nonprofits.

In this episode, I break down each one of the positions that I have had in the past, telling you what they’re like and what I did, but more importantly, how I felt about the position emotionally, mentally, and what it did for my career.

This is a comprehensive, yet fun overview of my journey. It’s you and me hanging out, sharing the raw reality of these different places, so you can see the truth behind the resume. I do not shy away from discussing real challenges, like navigating toxic work environments and the “sink or swim” nature of graduate research. Chances are, you’ll find it refreshing how I don’t hold back, but also share how I pulled through.

I started my wildlife career officially in 2003 when I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree. My first position was an internship with the Bureau of Land Management in St. George, Utah, where I searched for water catchments to help wildlife combat drought and started some preliminary bat research in the Grand Canyon. This got me started in my wildlife career, but this was a challenging internship, and I almost quit!

I’m so glad I didn’t because that experience led me to a dream internship at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where I worked in a glass-walled lab doing endocrine research on the captive animals there, including African savanna elephants and the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey. This was a total 180 from my experience in the desert! I loved Disney World and spent my days catching tamarin poop and helping to monitor elephant pregnancies. It was a supportive environment that showed me how much I loved combining science with outreach.

From there, my journey took me to Kenya as an intern for the School for Field Studies, which was also enriching but challenging. Again, I almost quit! But here I showed that I could work at a field station internationally long-term, which was a major flex for my upcoming Ph.D. research. It also gave me the invaluable experience of publishing.

My Kenya internship led me into a six-and-a-half-year Ph.D. program studying African forest elephants in Gabon. I loved my Ph.D., but each step was a mix of incredible highs like observing wild elephants for months on end in Central Africa and the lows of being lonely in a field station or figuring out how to do something that has never been done before! Here, I fully understood what scientific research was really all about.

This episode is a must-listen to one if you are interested in going into wildlife fields, want to get to know me better, or are just curious to know what it’s like to be a wildlife biologist!

Specifically, we go over:

• How I landed my first “legit” field internship with the Bureau of Land Management in Utah and why it was so hard on me
• The inside scoop on working at a world-class zoo and in Disney World, being a Reproductive Biology intern, including what it’s like to catch cotton-top tamarin poop and monitor elephant pregnancies
• What it’s like to live in Kenya for a year, and in a remote field station
• Navigating toxic work environments and almost quitting more than once
• How I got my first scientific publications
• A brief overview of my research on forest elephants in Gabon, the “sink or swim” reality of graduate school, and why I considered dropping down to a Master’s
• How to study “disgust” in raccoons and why I drove around looking for roadkill carcasses
• My seven-year postdoc at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, running global camera trap projects, and the birth of “The Fancy Scientist”
• How these 17 years of experience led me to leave the traditional research path to start my own business in science communication and career mentoring
• Other fun experiences, like seeing a tiger in the wild or watching a leatherback turtle lay eggs
• 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…

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

🐾 Get my FREE Job Tracker: https://stephanieschuttler.com/job-tracker/

📚 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/149-my-wildlife-career/

Jump links:

01:37 First Field Internship

08:09 Loneliness and Resilience

11:57 Disney Internship Begins

14:20 Repro Lab and Zoo Science

20:44 Wildlife Surveys and Extras

24:43 Career Tips and Perks

27:45 Kenya Internship Overview

29:32 Field Cred and Publications

33:07 Tourism Research in Kenya

34:51 East Africa Travels

35:20 Almost Quitting Kenya

40:04 Publishing Initiative

42:52 PhD Ups and Downs

44:55 PhD Research Reality

53:07 PhD Advice

54:38 Raccoon Disgust Postdoc

59:44 Museum Postdoc Dream Job

01:01:16 Camera Traps in Classrooms

01:04:43 Global Expansion and Expeditions

01:07:39 Wildlife Insights AI

01:08:23 Final Career Takeaways

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/

Normally when I do an interview for the Fancy Scientist podcast, it’s me interviewing a guest. But for this week’s episode, I’m flipping the script and the guest is….yours truly: Me!!

You see, last year I was interviewed by my friend and fellow podcaster Andrew Lewin, who hosts the How to Protect the Ocean Podcast. Because I had such a great time chatting with him and my audience has grown so much recently, I thought It would be a great opportunity for you to get to know me more so that you can learn about how I got to where I am today and learn from my experiences and path from traditional research scientist to online business owner in content creation for wildlife careers and science, conservation, and nature education.  

I have a very unconventional career path with many unexpected twists and turns. For the first 17 years of my career, I went about this career through the traditional research route, but even this choice itself was unexpected. To be honest, I didn’t even know wildlife biology was a viable career path until I took a study abroad program in Kenya focused on wildlife management. You’ll learn how I stumbled upon this program and why I chose it. From there I participated in multiple internships, got a Ph.D. studying forest elephants, and had multiple postdocs. 

Andrew and I get real about what it’s like to have a lasting career in this field. I talk about the hardships of trying to find a permanent position while working to stay in a place that I loved (Raleigh, North Carolina) and navigating an oversaturated wildlife job market. I truly was shocked by how few permanent jobs I was truly qualified for, how closely job experience needs to match job descriptions, and how competitive the field is, even for people with PhDs. I was told I would not be pigeon-holed, but I was. 

We spend some time discussing the competitiveness of this career and what I teach students: that finding clarity, being strategic about experience and networking, and improving job applications, are the keys to success through a proven framework that I’ve now tested with dozens of students. 

I thought I was going to be a researcher for life, but my journey took me in another direction. The difficulties I had in landing a permanent job after my Ph.D. combined with the science communication experiences from years of postdocing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences opened my eyes to my true fashion: science communication and career mentoring.

I decided to do this through entrepreneurship - something I never thought I would do! As a young girl, I grew up watching my dad run his jewelry business and never wanted that for myself, but over time I realized that I could only have the impact I wanted on conservation and the natural world through opening my own business. Andrew and I have an honest discussion about what it takes to run a business in this field, including the financial pressures and mindset. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business or side hustle, which I truly believe is something anyone can do in this field, and to be honest should do, this episode is for you. You’ll get my advice on how to get started and earn revenue by teaching your expertise in science and nature fields (or any other area of expertise!). 

As podcasters, Andrew and I are both passionate about science communication and we take a deep dive into how to effectively communicate science with the public. We talk about how my work at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, blogging, and public speaking, led me to recognize how much conservation solutions ultimately came down to reaching people and not through studying a species or its habitat (this is important, but not what it going to solve most conservation problems). I realized through studying a critically endangered species that no amount of research on this animal would save this species - rather, the solutions were all economic, political, or related to education. Getting others to care or have behavioral change would have a more profound impact on conservation for most problems and this was a big motivation for my career change.

Finally, Andrew and I discussed my work on TV shows, including how I first appeared on Science Channel’s What on Earth through a professional connection, and then later joined History Channel’s The Proof Is Out There after producers found my YouTube video explaining why “black panthers” aren’t present in the U.S. I go over what it’s like to prepare for filming a television, how often it happens, and what I’ve learned about what audiences find fascinating when it comes to wildlife and nature, like bigfoot and other cryptids - a total surprise to me! 

Whether you are a new friend here to the podcast or a longtime listener, this is a really great episode to get a behind the scenes look at what I do professionally, as well as what it's like to be both a researcher working many different kinds of jobs in the wildlife profession. 

More specifically, I reveal:

• How I went from a straight career path of wildlife research to founding and running my own business
• Why a Kenya study abroad was a pivotal moment for me when I realized wildlife biology was a real career
• My Ph.D. research on forest elephant social behavior and using non-invasive genetics from their poop to study social structure
• How saturated and competitive wildlife conservation jobs are, even with a Ph.D.
• Why alignment between your experience and the job posting matters so much
• The biggest reasons people don’t get interviews (and what to change in applications)
• How investing in yourself can affect follow-through and results
• How I started my own business in 2020 and ways you can generate revenue through an online business
• What it’s like to do science communication on TV and how I landed roles on the Science, History, and Discovery channels
• How being a scientist is similar to being an entrepreneur
• My advice for anyone considering a side hustle or online business
• 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…

✍️ 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/148-stephanie-manka-wildlife-career/

Jump links:

00:43 What You’ll Learn: From Researcher to Small Business Owner + TV & Bigfoot

06:39 Stephanie’s Origin Story: Business Owner Dad, Acting Dreams, Biology Backup

08:47 The Kenya Study-Abroad That Sparked a Wildlife Biology Career

12:21 PhD & Postdocs: Forest Elephants, Job-Market Reality Check, and Not Wanting to Move

15:28 Pivot to Science Communication: Blogging, Museum Work, and Going Full-Time

16:41 Do You Miss Research? Impact, Education, and the ‘People Problem’ in Conservation

19:31 Starting the LLC in 2020: Ads, Programs, Book Income, and Making It Work

26:22 Wildlife Careers Are Saturated: Clarity, Strategy, Networking, and Strong Applications

32:20 Paid Help vs DIY: Free Resources, Resume Reviews, and Why Investing Changes Commitment

38:48 Creating a Supportive Mentoring Space in a Tough Science Culture

45:09 From YouTube to History Channel: Landing TV Science Communication Gigs

49:00 What TV Taught Me: Curiosity, Cryptids, and Explaining the Unknown

52:26 What’s Next: Refocusing on Science Communication + Kids/Nature Programs

57:24 One Big Business Tip: Teach What You Know and Start Small Online

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/

Making observations in nature isn’t just about what we see. Scientists use (almost) all of their senses to make observations, and in this video, we are focusing on the sense of touch. After exploring nature through sight, sound, and smell, it’s now time to focus on the textures of nature and discover how different plants, surfaces, and organisms actually feel. Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video and read ALL of the text here for best practices for you and wildlife, as well as helpful apps to identify organisms.

In this activity, I challenge you to head outside and search for as many different textures as you can find in nature. Can you find something rough like bark? Soft like moss? Fuzzy, smooth, or prickly? Even in wintertime, you'll find lots of different textures to explore!

IMPORTANT: Before touching anything, make sure you know what wildlife in your area could be harmful, such as poison ivy or venomous animals. If you’re ever unsure about an organism, don’t touch it.

Some organisms may surprise you! For instance, I talk about the cup plant, which has leaves that feel like tough sandpaper.

Even in wintertime, you'll find lots of different textures to explore!

IMPORTANT: Before touching anything, make sure you know what wildlife in your area could be harmful, such as poison ivy or venomous animals. If you’re ever unsure about an organism, don’t touch it. Tools like the Seek by iNaturalist app can assist with identifications through their built-in AI system. 

IMPORTANT: When it comes to animals, completely avoid touching mammals and birds, as this can harm them. Some amphibians, reptiles, and insects may be handled carefully if they are safe and non-venomous, and any animal you handle should be handled minimally and released afterward to reduce stress on the animal. Wear gloves when handling amphibians to protect their sensitive skin.

Observing nature through touch and the other senses helps kids slow down and mindfully engage with their surroundings. I invite you to ask your children to reflect not only on WHAT they feel, but HOW they feel. For instance, how does being in nature make your child feel? Calm? Curious? Excited? 

Join us as we step outside, explore textures, and practice observing the natural world with fresh curiosity!

Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/.

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

Resources mentioned in this video:

👉 Seek app: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app

✍️ 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 

Resources mentioned in this video:

👉 Seek app: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app

Full show notes:

👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/147-touch

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/

Scientists use most of their senses to conduct observations, a critical step in conducting research, and one of those senses is SMELL. We might not think of nature as being smelly, but we get so many of our everyday smells from nature. From the scents in our perfumes, deodorants, or candles to bringing nature into our homes to change the smell (think flowers or pine branches during the holidays) to our cleaning products, nature provides an abundance of smells.

In this video, you'll learn about the different smells in nature and be prompted to step outside and start observing the natural world, focusing on your sense of smell to discover things you've never noticed before. Go on a "Smelling Safari" and see how many different scents your nose can pick up!

In addition to the good smells of nature, there are also many that aren't so good. Discover interesting plants like the corpse plant and skunk cabbage, and why these plants have stinky smells to begin with. Explore how animals use scents for communication.

Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/.

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

Resources mentioned in this video:

👉Merlin BirdID app

✍️ 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/146-smell

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/

Today, we’re tuning into the world of animal sounds and learning to observe nature like true scientists. We’ll sharpen our sense of SOUND, and I’ll introduce an activity to close your eyes and listen to the natural world around you. Once you start REALLY listening, you’ll be amazed at how noisy our world really is. You’ll likely hear birds, mammals, and, depending on the time of year, insects and maybe even herps like amphibians!

You'll also notice how much noise HUMANS make. Planes flying overhead, cars driving by, the sounds of lawnmowers, and leafblowers are just a few things you are likely to hear. How do these sounds affect animals? Called noise pollution, these sounds can actually impact an animal's survival. Through this video and activity, you'll be exploring how and why.

Learn how to document these sounds in a nature journal and discover how different times of the day and seasons influence what you hear. I'll also introduce you to the Merlin ID app, which helps identify bird species by their calls. 

Once you start REALLY listening, you’ll be amazed at how noisy our world really is. You’ll likely hear birds, mammals, and, depending on the time of year, insects and maybe even herps like amphibians.

Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/.

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

Resources mentioned in this video:

👉Merlin BirdID app

✍️ 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/145-listen

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/

Animal behavior is one of my FAVORITE topics, and we’re studying it through an animal you’ve probably seen a thousand times but never truly observed: squirrels!

Why squirrels? They’re abundant, easy and fun to watch (one of my friends called them “our” monkeys), and perfect for learning how scientists study behavior in the real world. In this video, I talk about:

• What animal behavior is 💡
• The kinds of animals scientists study to understand behavior 🌍
• How YOU can help scientists by joining Project Squirrel 🐿️
• What data you’ll collect and why it matters 📊

📓 The bonus animal behavior ethogram activity you’ll get inside the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, as well as worksheets on using squirrels to conduct observations on foraging, communication, habitat use, and personalities

In Project Squirrel, you’ll help scientists figure out where different species live, why they live there, and how human activity impacts them. Even if you don’t see squirrels, your observations still help real researchers! Understanding where squirrels don’t live is just as important as understanding where they do live.

Plus:

🐦 If squirrels aren’t in your area, you can conduct the same exercises with birds and submit your observations to help scientists at eBird.

🦅 We’ll also preview upcoming winter bird-focused projects, so start sharpening your bird observation skills.

Whether you’re a curious kid, parent, teacher, or nature lover, this video and the downloadable activities in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club will get you outside, observing, asking questions, and contributing to community science.

Let’s explore animal behavior squirrel-style! 🐿️✨

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to connect people with nature so that we can restore our planet while rediscovering who we really are.

Full Show Notes:

👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/144-project-squirrel/

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

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Conducting accurate and meaningful observations are a CRITICAL part of being a scientist. In this video, learn how to conduct DETAILED observations in nature. Discover the benefits of nature journaling and using a camera to capture intricate things you wouldn't notice.

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

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/143-observe-like-a-scientist/

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/

It’s well known that careers in wildlife, conservation, and the environment are incredibly competitive. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a job to have hundreds of applicants. So you might be surprised to hear that there are jobs that are difficult for employers to fill. Yes, difficult! (insert mind blown emoji here). To be honest, I was surprised too. 

Today’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast is inspired by this recent insight, and it came about through a new connection on LinkedIn. Dr. Patrick Raney, the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, and I were messaging each other about conservation jobs, and he mentioned that it had actually been difficult for him to find qualified applicants to fill certain positions Given that so many people are struggling to get jobs, I immediately thought that this was wonderful news and that I needed to have him on the podcast to learn more and help those in need.

As the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, Patrick leads wetland restoration and mitigation efforts to restore habitat, protect biodiversity, and ensure that long-term conservation wins for both wildlife and communities. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about Patrick’s winding career path to Ducks Unlimited and early interest in conservation. We also talk a lot about what I am now calling “wildlife adjacent careers,” that is, careers that are related to wildlife work, but are not necessarily directly involved in research. This includes fields that you might not think of when it comes to helping wildlife, in this case, careers in engineering that rebuild wetland habitats. 

Patrick initially trained as a plant biologist and started his journey at the early age of 16 with a summer camp job that he demanded (yes, demanded!). It’s a great story that you won’t want to miss. In it, he demonstrates his unstoppable attitude towards going after your wildlife career, which is CRITICAL in this field. We also follow his career progression through various roles in environmental science and research.

We talk in-depth about Patrick’s work at Ducks Unlimited, how he uses different strategies to support wetland species, and especially ducks. You’ll learn how Ducks Unlimited approaches wetland conservation, working with stakeholders, and achieving results that are a win-win for wildlife and partners. 

Throughout the conversation, Patrick offers a lot of valuable advice for early professionals in wildlife careers. We cover the importance of volunteering and building experience, and that a little goes a long way, as well as the value of transferable skills from non-wildlife jobs in environmental careers. Patrick shares advice on the importance of networking and even making proactive job applications. He mentions that he occasionally hires candidates who reach out directly, even if there are no immediate positions available! 

Given that we met each other over LinkedIn, we also go into the importance of this platform, which I have become obsessed with recently. Ever since I took some training and developed my own LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass, I have been using and loving LinkedIn. He talks about how he believes it is a powerful career tool, and uses it for job recruitment offering you tips on how you can use LinkedIn to your advantage.

If you’re interested in wildlife careers, you’re going to get a lot of specific and concrete advice on how to approach your career, as well as creative ideas to think differently than others to set yourself apart. And if you’re not on a wildlife career track, you’re going to learn about important conservation practices that work and successful wetland restoration efforts.

Specifically, we go over:

• What wildlife adjacent jobs are and how to think about careers in conservation 
• Patrick’s work at Ducks Unlimited and what they do as an organization to protect wildlife 
• How Patrick got started in wildlife work and the unexpected turns his career took 
• How you can get started in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers 
• The importance of volunteering and how to make it work for you, even with limited time and resources 
• How Ducks Unlimited works with various stakeholders to achieve conservation success What jobs are in demand for wildlife careers 
• Creative ways to set yourself apart from others to secure experience, jobs, and more 
• Making LinkedIn an asset to network, connect with others, and share your professional achievements 
• 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…

✍️ 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/142-patrick-raney/

Jump Links:

00:00 Introduction and Inspiration

02:19 Meet Camilla Price

02:38 Camilla's Background and Career Path

07:07 The Journey to the NSF GRFP Grant

10:07 Developing the Research Proposal

13:44 Methodology and Broader Impacts

18:27 Seeking Help and Finalizing the Application

22:48 The Joy of Receiving the Grant

23:57 Choosing the Right Program

24:26 Reaching Out to Professors

26:50 Advisors and Research Projects

29:43 Backup Plans and Career Strategies

33:32 Final Tips and Reflections

38:18 Networking and Taking Initiative

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/

t’s fall, which means the leaves are falling off the trees and soon they’ll be on the ground. But don’t throw those leaves out! Here you’ll learn how leaves are a valuable resource for wildlife. In this video, we’re going to get curious about and explore the beautiful transformation of leaves from their normal green into shades of red, orange, and yellow. Have you ever wondered why this happens? And why, after this color change leaves eventually fall off? Then, I’ll talk about why leaves are so important for wildlife and give you tips on what you can do with your leaves to help the animals out around you. You’ll learn that animals like frogs, salamanders, turtles, butterflies, moths, chipmunks, and more use fallen leaves to not only survive, but thrive. As always, I'll provide an activity for you to contribute to real science. You’ll learn how to help scientists track leaf color changes, and when you join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, you’ll get access to this activity with downloadable worksheets and step-by-step instructions, as well as a leaf scavenger hunt to find all of the colors in the canopy. Join me in making a difference for our wildlife!

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

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/141-leave-the-leaves

00:00 Introduction: The Magic of Fall Leaves

01:51 Why Trees Lose Their Leaves

03:14 The Science of Leaf Color Change

04:57 How You Can Help Scientists Track Leaf Changes

06:22 How Leaving the Leaves Benefits Animals

08:36 Simple Actions to Help 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/

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/

Did you know that by modern definitions, trees ARE wildlife? Often overlooked, trees are actually living, breathing beings. In this video, we’ll explore how magnificent they are, and I’ll give you some tips to get you started with identifications so that you can get to know the trees around you! We’ll dive into the crucial role that trees play in our survival and the survival of the animals we love.

As the northern hemisphere transitions from summer to fall, it's the ideal time to study deciduous trees as they lose their leaves. I'll guide you through the process of identifying trees by examining their leaves and bark. You'll discover why knowing plants is essential for wildlife biologists, as many animals depend on specific types of trees for food and shelter.

As a special challenge for this week, I encourage you to not only identify the trees around you but also thank and hug a tree, embracing a practice known as forest bathing. This mindfulness activity helps us appreciate the profound impact trees have on our lives and the environment. Join me on this journey to deepen your connection with nature and become more aware of the incredible importance of trees.

Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/

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/140-know-your-trees/

Jump Links:

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Trees

01:18 Why Study Trees in Wildlife Biology?

01:43 Trees and Their Role in Animal Habitats

03:01 Appreciating Trees: Oxygen and Climate Change

03:45 How to Identify Trees: Leaves and Bark

05:19 Using Technology for Tree Identification

05:53 Mindfulness and Gratitude: Thanking Trees

06:24 Conclusion: Your Tree Challenge

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/