Careers in Environmental Biology

[MichaelXY]

Summer sessions. Usually shorter sessions of 9 wks. So the workload is double, cram 16 weeks into 8 or 9. Most people only take 6 units max during summer, but I have known some to take more, but doing so is tough.

[AstusAleator]

Michael I just want to point out that your link for SCEP was specifically for federal defense contractors. Other branches of the government (such as Forest Service, NRCS, etc) also use it.

[MichaelXY]

I have been interested in working for the forest service, that is why I started looking for links. Do you have any useful links other than the one I found?

And my apologies, did not mean to hijack Alex's thread.

[alextemplet]

That would be a good link to have; I want to look into the SCEP as a possible part-time job while I'm in school.

And yes, I'm taking classes during the summer session, to try to get started as soon as possible. I'll be taking 11 hours this summer and 19 in the fall. Classes start exactly one week from today!

[MichaelXY]

11 hours seems a bit of a heavy load for summer. What classes are you taking?

[alextemplet]

Chem lecture and lab, English, and speech. Fun stuff.

[AstusAleator]

http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/forestservice/scep.html

My best advice to you would be to call the offices you're interested, or find scep openings at usajobs.gov and call the selecting officials. FS and other land management agencies may have converted to online systems, but they still place a great deal of value on face-time. Plus, calling some FS people with questions about SCEP will probably get you a LOT better advice than you can find online.
Another thing, if you're not really looking for a career with them, a STEP is still something to consider.

[February Beetle]

I have been doing a lot of research for grad schools. Everyone I have talked to (Entomologists, Botanists, and others) have said if you want to work for the government, you should get your masters. You should only get your PhD if you want to be a professor. It is harder to get a job with the government if you have your PhD because you are seen as overqualified and they are required to pay you more than a person with masters. The best way to go may be to get your masters, get a gov job then they will may pay for you to get your PhD and you get a raise.

Anyone tell me what they have heard?

[AstusAleator]

That is correct FB. You'll rarely find someone with a PhD working in natural resources government unless it's a research position. Masters is the way to go.

[MichaelXY]

I think your right Astus. My oldest sister has 3 masters. When I asked her, "Why didn't you just get a phD?" She replied, "Who want's to pay for a title?"

[February Beetle]

Such a hard decision to make

[MrMistery]

what's wrong with research?