Careers in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Graduates from the EES department typically either enter the workforce or begin graduate school immediately after graduation. The following list illustrates the wide variety of careers and further education that selected graduates since 2001 have chosen to pursue:

 

Graduate School

Students from our department are well-qualified to begin graduate school in the following fields:

Employment

Hydrologists and Geomorphologists work to protect the quality of water in aquifers, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans to make sure they comply with the federal Clean Water Act or related state legislation. They may work directly with state agencies or private firms as spills and releases are identified and cleaned up. The may also work with wastewater treatment and disposal issues, or landfill sites that need to treat their wastewaters. Other possibilities include management of fisheries habitat to restore optimum water flow and aeration for select fish specied. Positions include: federal and state agencies; industry; consulting firms, and education.

Wetland Scientists practice in a wide variety of disciplines which involve the analysis, delineation and functional assessment of wetlands and shallow surface waters. People work at the interface between earth sciences, biology, chemistry and hydrology, and act as scientists, managers and wetland policy experts. A working knowledge of the structure and function of wetlands, in addition to experience with political laws and regulations, and the interaction between government and private industry is a prerequisite.

Environmental Geologist/Hydrogeologist. The three major areas of activities include: (1) determining the suitability of land for commercial or industrial development, (2) identifying the geological and hydrogeological impacts of proposed projects, and (3) analyzing the characteristics and extent of ground water and soil contamination at hazardous waste sites, and recommending and coordinating cleanup actions. Positions include: Federal and state agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.

Ground Water Quality Scientists work to protect the ground water from contamination and to clean up already contaminated ground water, especially that water that is being used or may be used for public or private drinking supplies. Field work may involve sampling, interpreting data collected, supervising installation of and monitoring wells and soil samples, overseeing excavation of contaminated materials, and responding to spills and accidents that may jeopardize ground water quality. Administrative personnel work to develop procedures and regulations for the federal Superfund or hazardous waste programs or the state equivalents. Positions include: Federal, state, and local agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.

GIS/Remote Sensing Specialists gather, analyze, interpret, and display natural resource information that will be used by scientists and policy-makers. They work with aerial photographs, color infrared photographs, radar imagery, and multispectral scanning (satellite imagery). Computer-assisted design and automated geographic information systems are used extensively by these specialists to analyze remote data of complex natural resource and environmental problems. Positions include: federal, state, and local agencies; consulting firms, and education.

Air Quality Scientists are specialists who interpret complex air quality regulations, monitor indoor and outdoor emissions, and design/implement mitigation technologies to bring emissions into compliance. These specialists also research the affects of air pollutants and their interactions with various aspects of the environment. They also may be involved with the regulated community by presenting training sessions. Positions include: Federal, state, and local government agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.

Environmental Policy Analysts practice a wide variety of functions related to the development or modification of government policies, laws, and regulations that require expertise in political and legal skills and technical understanding of specialties (e.g. air quality, surface and/or ground water quality, solid and hazardous waste management, environmental health and safety) to establish or influence public policy. Positions include: Federal, state, and local agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.

Hazardous Waste Management Specialists work in all aspects of hazardous waste management, including: the federal RCRA law and equivalent state laws and regulatory programs; hazardous materials chemistry and physics; facility hazardous waste compliance audit procedures; testing and classifying procedures for hazardous waste, inspecting waste generating facilities, personal protection procedures and equipment; mandated treatment standards before land disposal; plant personnel training; and spill contingency planning. Positions include: federal and state agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.

Regulatory Compliance Specialists are concerned with the understanding and application of a vast array of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Their work includes: researching and interpreting complex regulations to determine applicability to specific sets of circumstances or projects; documenting the status of compliance for particular facilities; conducting background technical studies; reviewing and evaluating new pollution control technologies for air, water, soil or hazardous wastes; providing guidance on appropriate regulatory procedures for proposed projects; monitoring air and water quality; tracking proposed legislation; and keeping the regulated community informed. Positions include: federal, state, and local agencies, industry, consulting firms, and education.