Herpetology is the scientific study of amphibians, turtles, reptiles and crocodilians, a fascinating field of endeavor. Individuals that aspire to be herpetologists should understand the kinds of jobs that are available. Throughout the world, there are three major areas of employment, as follows:
1. Faculty position at a college or university. This ddc training, minimally resulting in a dh a Doctoral Degree, either or both with a specialty in herpetology. Alternatively, some aspiring herpetologists specialize in peripheral fields (psychology, computer science, veterinary medicine, etc.), but use primarily amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians as subjects for their research. Faculty employment, at least initially (and at many institutions continually), involves a commitment to teaching. At smaller schools, time for research on amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians is often that left over after teaching duties that usually address a broader subject matter; larger universities frequently have faculty whose only responsibility is research on these creatures, but such positions are few and growing more scarce as students demand that professors spend more time teaching.
2. Staff position with government wildlife agencies. These positions may be either field- or desk-oriented, and are available through the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service or any of the fifty state wildlife agencies. Duties range from determination of endangered and threatened species status to research about critical habitat to law enforcement to public relations. Opportunities for field work are good in this sector of the herpetological job market, but there is much bureaucracy and paper work.
3. Curator or staff position at a Natural History Museum. This often involves the same academic training as a university faculty position, and sometimes is a joint appointment with a nearby college or university. The duties of a museum curator or staff member are much more varied, ranging from herpetological research to exhibit preparation to public lectures to fund-raising to editing or writing books and articles.
Herpetologists interested in augmenting their income often develop a number of skills to a professional level that permits them to charge a fee for services or products such as photography, presenting public lectures, writing books and articles (for royalties or direct fees), consulting (on endangered and threatened species and their habitats), and conducting wildlife tours. |