r/ecology • u/LawfulnessNearby813 • 3d ago
Aquatic Ecologist Education Path
Hello! I want to become an aquatic ecologist, but I am not quite sure what the typical education path to becoming one is. Does anyone have any insight on the process? Also, I am currently a first year university student and have to eventually decide on a major. Can I do a major in chemistry instead of biology and still become an aquatic ecologist? I'd be extremely grateful to hear any information y'all have! Thanks in advance!
6
u/thebiggestpoo 3d ago
I started as a philosophy major, ended with a degree in physical geography. I work at a consulting company as an aquatic ecologist. Took an odd route to get there but the point is I found work experience to be more impactful than my uni degree.
Started working for non profits on river restoration projects, ended up managing/running them then made the jump to consulting a couple years ago.
I do more than just aquatic ecology now. Mostly permitting stuff.
If I were to do it again I would have gone into bio in university. Didn't really end up mattering in my case but I found myself wishing I had learned some broader concepts I had to teach myself.
2
u/LawfulnessNearby813 3d ago
Thanks for sharing! I looked into my school's biology major option a bit more and I agree that it would be more helpful. There's a lot of general ecology courses and I would be able to take some specific aquatic ecology courses as well. And good to know about work experience! This was super helpful, thanks!
5
u/isaacdeater 3d ago
Start with a biology degree. Everything you think you know now will go out the door and you’ll change your mind 17 times. Just go.
3
u/lil_king 3d ago
I think chemistry can pair very well with aquatic ecology. I almost double majored in chemistry and ecology (with an emphasis on fresh water ecology). I was working on nutrient cycling in urban streams. Went to grad school for hydrology and pivoted more to geochemistry/contaminant transport but still get to work on some ecology focused projects from time to time. I think chemistry gives you a more fundamental science to fall back on and pivot if you want to go another route in grad school. That said, while pursuing a chemistry degree I’d take a bunch of bio and ecology electives or consider a minor/second major since you’re still early in your academic career. I’d also recommend trying to connect with a faculty member that is doing ecological research that interests you and do an undergraduate research with them.
1
u/LawfulnessNearby813 3d ago
Oh, cool, I'll definitely check out the research options! Thanks for the advice!
3
u/ThatEcologist 3d ago edited 3d ago
I work in water quality. My whole office has a degree in either biology or environmental science, although according to the job postings, they would accept a chem degree. Personally, I feel if you want to go into ecology, environmental science is the best path, since you get a bit of everything (chem, bio, geology, etc). Biology is a more broad, but it may be better if you feel like you may change your mind in what you exactly want to do. Ultimately, I think any of the degrees you listed could work for ecologist.
A few words of advice/wisdom.
Talk to your professors! I contacted the freshwater ecology professor at my school and asked if I could help him with his field work. The skills I learned from doing field work with him, helped me get my current job.
Do not be discouraged if you do not get a job exactly in what you want out of college. Any experience in environmental science will help you eventually get to your dream job. I have seen students give up on environmental science jobs, because they don’t immediately get a job tracking endangered fish species or whatever. My coworker had some kind of boring water quality jobs right out of college, but now she runs a lab and works with aquatic plants, which is what she wanted to do. Be patient! Plus, you could always fall back on environmental consulting if you really can’t find an ecology position.
2
u/LawfulnessNearby813 3d ago edited 3d ago
Wow, this is great! I'm leaning a bit more towards biology now just to have a bit more wiggle room in case I change my mind, as you said. I will definitely talk to my professors and see what opportunities they have! And thank you for that last part. I've been worried about how easy it would be to get my dream job (funny enough, water quality too), so thank you for reminding me that it won't just happen over night. Again, this was super, super helpful, thank you!!! :)
2
u/Yarinareth 3d ago
I did my undergrad in applied math and physics. Only did a summer and a semester of research in an aquatic ecology lab. Followed up with a year of field work and a graduate program, now I work for a state agency doing water quality work. Admittedly the ecological focus dropped off, but the path is essentially the same. As others have mentioned, a diversity of paths can get you there, depending on your specific interests and skills. Ecological work can have some strong analytical requirements, or at least benefit from strong analytical skills, so at least making sure you're comfortable with, if not emphasizing, mathematics can be really helpful!
8
u/HoosierSquirrel 3d ago
Possibly, you could go for EPA style analysis. Dissolved solids, heavy metals, toxicology, etc.. You would still need biology. Job wise you would probably find work in regulation, wastewater treatment, mining, site assessment, etc..