Expert: Walter Hintz - 11/16/2008

Question
I have a bachelors in biology and did not continue on in the field for 5 years.  Now I wish to return to the field and am now more focused on what I actually want to do. I would like to do wildlife biology research, focusing on waterbirds and seabirds or ecology focusing on wetlands,  estuaries, aquatic habitats, and or marine habitats.

I am very willing to start with internships and seasonal technician jobs, and thought that spending at least 2 years doing this would be a good way to prove intent to grad schools.  However, with no recent research experience, it is proving to be challenging to get that first road in.  I volunteer for different agencies (International Crane Foundation, Audubon Society, Sierra Club), but still just don't have some of the base qualifications (i.e. mist netting and banding birds) that are preferred for the positions that most interest me.  I also just don't know how to explain, given my 5 year absense from the field, that I am truely serious about this.  Is this something that only continued applications and more investment in time in volunteering can cover?

Answer
Hello April; I cannot tell you much about what to say on applications but I have a suggestion for you.  I do not know where you live but I went to graduate school at The Ohio State University.  Ohio state has a biology department that is second to none and they operate a freshwater biology laboratory in Lake Erie. It is the F.T.Stone Institute of Hydrobiology. I think this would be ideal for you. It operates during summer sessions. Contact The Ohio State Univ and ask for information.