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Environment & Sustainability
Environment & Sustainability
Careers in this community focus on studying the physical aspects of the earth and applying knowledge to educate and inform on how to protect the environment and human/animal health.
Meet the Community Coaches
Lynne Sebille-White
- Check out Exploring Majors & Careers page (scroll to What Can I Do With This Major?).
- See what Hawkeyes in your college/major are doing after graduation using interactive post-graduation dashboards.
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*Net contain information on duties, education and training, pay, and job outlook.
- Environmental Science Career Information & Options
- U.S. Career Institute Green Career Guide
- Geography & Geoscience Skills Graph
- Campus Sustainability Resources (UI Office of Sustainability)
- Career Information for Undergraduates (Ecological Society of America)
- Environmental Justice Guide (UI Office of Sustainability)
Sustainability within Business
- B Corps (Find for-profit companies who meet rigorous social and environmental standards)
- GreenBiz
- Environmental Accounting
Environmental Law & Policy
- Harvard Law School's "A Trail Guide to Careers in Environmental Law"
- 7 Considerations for Pursuing an Environmental Law Career
- What is an Environmental Lawyer?
Geoscience
- Career options in Geoscience infographic
- Careers that Change the World brochure
- Career Compass - career paths with skills and experiences mapped to different titles/roles
Learn from professionals working at SWCA Environmental Consultants, EPA law enforcement and Descartes Labs about their career path and advice for current students interested in working in environment & sustainability:
Want to put your interests to good use? Join with other students who share them. Explore opportunities for involvement or schedule an engagement advising meeting to get started.
- UI student organizations involved in environment & sustainability
Volunteering is another great way to explore your interests, build your resume, and connect with the community! Learn more about UI civic engagement and service programs, visit The Community Space or schedule a volunteer advising meeting to get started.
Additional Local/Regional Suggestions Include:
- Bur Oak Land Trust (Iowa City)
- Grow: Johnson County (Iowa City)
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Find local watershed projects or conservation groups in your region within IA
- Indian Creek Nature Center (Cedar Rapids)
- Nature Conservancy (Search by State)
- Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (Des Moines area)
- Sierra Club Chapter List by State
- Local non-profit organizations
Professional Organizations are a great way to Explore, Prepare, Experience and Achieve!
Explore: Learn what people in the industry do, talk about, and take action on.
Prepare: Learn job titles, companies, and organizational/thought leaders.
Experience: Check out the resources; including specialized job boards, and LinkedIn groups to find mentors and job shadowing/informational interviewing opportunities.
Achieve: Polish your professional image by taking an active part in your industry’s association. Reach your goals through networking and the professional development opportunities your association provides.
Plus, professional associations often offer discounted memberships to students!
Environment/Conservation/Sustainability
- American Council on Renewable Energy
- American Geosciences Institute
- Association of Climate Change Officers
- Ecological Society of America
- National Association of Environmental Management
- Global Council for Science and the Environment
- The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
- The Wildlife Society
Conservation/Natural Resources/Climate Change/Sustainability
- Conservation (can pair with Coordinator, Technician, Intern, Steward, Officer, Crew, Corps., Education/Educator, Communications/PR)
- Environment/Environmental (can pair with Steward, Educator, Guide, Research, Justice, Interpreter/Interpretation, Outreach, Scientist, Intern, Social Media, Communications,
- Outdoor (can pair with Educator/Education, Youth, Visitor)
- Field (can pair with Work, Crew, Member)
- Land (can pair with Protection, Program, Manager, Coordinator)
- Plants/Invasive Plant/Invasive Species/Vegetation
- Seed Collection/Collector
- Habitat (can pair with restoration, technician)
- Wildlife/Animal ( can pair with Conservation, Protection, Rehabilitation, Biology)
- Zoo
- Desert
- Marine
- Mountain
- Water/Watershed/River/Stream/Lake/Marsh/Ocean
- Soil (can pair with Conservation/Conservationist, Science)
- Trails (can pair with Planner, Assistant, Crew, Preservation, Assessment, Technician)
- Wildfire/Fire (can pair with Science, Prevention)
- Forest/Wilderness (can pair with Ranger, Intern, Program, Associate)
- Park or Historical Park (can pair with Ranger, Intern, Interpreter, Guide, National, State)
- Natural Resources (can pair with Department, Technician, Education)
- Fisheries/Fish
- Ecology/Biology/Entomology (can pair with Intern, Technician, Research)
- Climate (can pair with Action, Solutions, Analyst, Communications)
- Museum Curator/Exhibit Intern (within national/state parks/aquariums, etc.)
- Seasonal (relevant for park/preserve and similar summer work)
- Science Communications (pair with Intern, Assistant, Associate)
- Sustainability (pair with Advocate, Intern, Project/Program Manage, Coordinator)
- Recycling
- Restoration
Energy
- Wind
- Solar
- Geothermal
- Biomass
- Ethanol
- Air (can pair with Pollution, Emissions, Quality)
- Energy (can pair with Audit, Coordinator, Efficiency, Renewable, Research)
Environmental Planning/Policy/Advocacy/Organizing
- Policy (can pair with Wildlife, Climate, Environmental, Research, Agriculture)
- Environmental Compliance (can pair with Specialist, Coordinator, Scientist, Analyst, Field Technician)
- Government Relations (within orgs. that must comply with environment regulations)
- Regulatory Specialist
- Climate Action/Policy
- Organizing (Can pair with Community, Environmental)
- Public Interest Research
- Planner (can pair with Urban, Transportation, Assistant, Associate, Technician)
- Sustainability or Corporate Sustainability (can pair with Advocate, Intern, Project/Program, Coordinator, Lead)
- Environmental Remediation
- Environmental Protection (can pair with Agency, Specialist, Public Affairs, Program)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal (within relevant law firms or government agencies)
Environmental Health & Safety
Food/Agriculture
- Farm (can pair with Organic, Intern, Market, Coordinator)
- Farmers Market (can pair with Manager, Coordinator, I)ntern
- Horticulture/Community Garden
- Food (can pair with Corps, Inspector, Scientist, Pantry, Access, Supply)
- Agriculture/Natural Resources (can pair with Extension, Educator, Agent, Intern)
- Quality Assurance/Food Inspector
- Agronomy/Agronomist
- USDA, FDA or Dept. of Agriculture for State of ____
Geography/Geoscience/GIS
- GIS(can pair with Intern, Mapper, Analyst, Technician, Integrator, Coordinator, Specialist)
- Geology/Geological/Geologist (can pair with Entry-Level, Assistant)
- Geological Survey (U.S. or by state)
- Cartographer/Cartography/Geographer
- Environmental Scientist
- Mine/Mining
- Mud Logger/Logging
- Hydrology/Hydrologic Technician
- Meteorologist/ Meteorological Technician
Check out student employment, internships, and post-graduation full-time jobs in Handshake. Employers targeting University of Iowa students and alumni use this recruiting system to connect with you!
Conservation/Natural Resources/Climate Change
- Climatebase
- Conservation Job Board
- Cyber-Sierra Natural Resources
- Earthworks
- EcoJobs
- Environment America
- EnvironmentalJobs
- Green Jobs (USA -search by category/type, state and city)
- GreenJobs (UK)
- Idealist.org
- Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge (Iowa)
- Niabi Zoo Animal Care, Conservation or Horticulture Internships (Illinois)
- State Hygienic Labs (Iowa)
- Marine Careers
- Natural Resources Job Board (Texas A & M)
- North American Association for Environmental Education
- The National Park Service
- The Nature Conservancy
- The Student Conservation Association
- The Wildlife Society
Environmental Planning/Policy/Organizing
- 21 Environmental Policy Jobs for the Discerning Job Seeker
- American Planning Association Career Center
- Environmental Law & Policy Center
- Environmental Protection Agency
- GreenCorps (environmental organizing)
- U.S. PIRGS (Public Interest Research Groups)
- Environment America (part of network of Public Interest Groups)
Food/Agriculture
Geography/Geoscience/GIS
- ESRI Careers
- GeographyJobs.com
- GIS Jobs Clearinghouse
- GISLounge
- MyGISJobs
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Geoscience Internships & Fellowships
- Geoscience in your State
General/Other
- UI Office of Sustainability & Environment Student Resources
- Gap Year Options (includes fellowships)
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
- USAJobs (Federal Jobs Database)
- Study Abroad
Below is a sampling of internship sites that Iowa students have registered in recent years.
Sustainable Education Intern, Earthways Center
Field Ecologist & Storm Water Management Intern, Resource Environmental Solutions
Water Treatment Intern, Johnson County Public Health
Transportation Planning Intern, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
GIS Intern, City of Iowa City
Superfund Student Trainee, US Environmental Protection Agency
Research Assistant, Ocean Research and Conservation Association
Naturalist Corps Intern, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Climate Action and Outreach Division Intern, City of Iowa City
Seasonal Ranger, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Air Quality Intern, Polk County Public Works
Writing/Media Intern, Alaska National Park Service
Solar Production Intern, Kimley-Horn
Intern, Renewable Energy Group
Learn About Careers from Professionals
CandidCareer.com provides an easy way to explore careers and learn about job search strategies through thousands of 1-2 minute videos.
Youth Programs Manager
Environmental Scientist
Sr. Project Manager
Job & Internship Postings
This list is a small sample of what is in Handshake.
View all opportunities