Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka

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/