....sort of.
This post is rambly and I could talk about this topic for ages. I tried to stick (relatively) to the questions asked.
Take away message: if you have questions that aren't answered here / want to know more then just send me an ask!
What is Ethology?
Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior. It is considered a sub-field of Zoology but can also be an inter-disciplinary field, combined with neurology, anatomy, ecology, evolution, and anthropology (to name a few!). While notable naturalists and biologists- like Charles Darwin- have studied aspects of animal behavior, the field of modern Ethology really kicked off in the 1930s with the work of Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen.
I tried to draw a patas female foraging with a gum feeder I designed. Notice how I avoided drawing the mouth... and hands... and feet.... oh the shame.
2. Pick the school that works best for you. Very few universities (re. none I know of) have undergraduate programs for Ethology, so instead look for schools with a strong Biology department. Some things to keep in mind in your search:
~Do they offer any minors or concentrations within the Biology department?
~Look at the faculty webpages. Do any of the professors have research interests that you find interesting? Email these professors and tell them your aspirations. They may be able to tell you about specialized classes (which would be listed only as something vague like “Topics in Biology with Lab” in the registrar) or potential research options you would have as a student.
~See if the courses offered have anything that peak your interest, like Animal Behavior, Mammalogy, Ornithology, etc. Just because there isn’t an official Ethology program in place, doesn’t mean you can’t get the education to build your own.
3.Don’t stop learning once you leave the classroom.
There are volunteer opportunities, internships, and even (the ever elusive) jobs available to build your resume and give you the experience you need to become an Ethologist. It is very likely that you will have to pay money for these opportunities. It is very unlikely that you will get paid any money for these opportunities. So make the most of your time, energy, and money and learn everything you can from each position. Which leads me to my next bit…
4.NEVER SAY NO! I mean, if your supervisor / advisor is telling you to do something that you feel is unsafe or that you are uncomfortable with, then that is completely different…. But never turn down an opportunity to learn a new skill. Ethologists work with all kinds of animals and in all kinds of environments, so you need to be a well-rounded scientist in order to prepare yourself for your dream career.
Bird banding at 4am? Sure. Wading through a stream to collect invertebrates for water quality analysis? I’m there. GIS and statistical data analysis from the past twenty years of my advisor’s research? Sounds like a fun challenge! Educating children about reptiles and other native wildlife? I’d love to! Mating behavior of Australian Satin Bower Birds? Splendid! Large predator observations in South Africa? Like you even have to ask. (all examples of things I've said yes to)
This wealth of experience will 1) reaffirm that Ethology is indeed what you want to pursue, 2) give you the confidence and skills to deal with challenges in your academic and professional career, and 3) make your resume look absolutely amazing for graduate school and potential employers.
If you can track a breeding herd of elephants for a week of twelve hour days without a visual - and be so happy you want to cry when you finally catch up to them - you know you made the right career choice.
5.Graduate School. I know a number of Primatologists / Ethologists who have chosen the route of education-by-experience instead of graduate school and are well respected in their fields. But generally, a Masters or PhD program should be seriously considered. Keep in mind; it all depends on what your end game is. A higher degree is not always appropriate and may even be detrimental with job placement, depending on what you want to do. (Ex. many keeper positions I know of have their own type of experience training system so while a M.S. can be beneficial, a PhD is unnecessary and generally unsuitable.)
If your dream job requires an advanced degree, grad school is where you’ll be able to find more Ethology-specific programs. Much like with your undergraduate search, look for strong Zoology/Ethology programs, contact professors, and even ask current graduate students for their perspective on the program.
What kinds of jobs are available for Ethologists?
Ethologists can work in a variety of fields. They can be found teaching and researching as a part of Academia, in sanctuaries, wildlife reserves, zoos, and even in private / government research. [This is not a complete list] Some Ethologists choose to specialize in a specific group of animals; Ex. Frans De Waal is interested in aspects of social behavior and therefore chooses to work with primates like chimpanzees, bonobos, capuchins, and macaques. This specification makes your research goals more manageable than if you were to attempt to study all social behavior in all animals. Frankly I wouldn’t know where to start! I consider myself an Ethologist that specializes in apex predator and primate social behavior, recently dominance hierarchies / alliance formation, sexual selection, and communication. That’s already quite a mouthful.
Stuff about me.
1. My undergraduate career was a bit of a mess. I went to James Madison University initially as an English/ Pre-Physical Therapy Major (I was working at the National Center for Theraputic Riding at the time). Due to my nature of collecting passions and some amazingly inspiring professors I spent some time as an English / Theatre / Biology triple major (that’s right, triple major), before deciding I wanted to be able to actually enjoy college and just changed completely to a Biology major. The breather didn’t last long as I soon got jobs in the Microbiology and Toxicology labs as well as a computer admin job for the Biology Department, all for student work wages (less than minimum wage). I then slowly joined the research teams of five different professors (GIS analysis of water quality in the Shenandoah Valley, Saw-whet owl population data, song bird banding, small mammal population densities, and human behavioral research) and eventually graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with concentrations in Zoology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, and GIS.
Saw-whet owl research in G.W. National Forest.
2. I’m not going to go into all of my summer internships / volunteer programs / work experience but you can check out some of the places HERE. Let’s just say I was pretty much always working with some kind of animal or on some research project when I wasn’t in school
3. Currently I work with a number of primates for a government contractor. I get to do some amazing behavioral research that draws on inspiration from field work to improve behavioral management and enrichment practices for captive primates in research, zoo, and sanctuary settings. I also work with people who are making massive strides in the fight against cancer and HIV/AIDS. I can’t wait for the day when that part of research is no longer needed, but until then Ethologists and Primatologists are the animal advocates. I may not be in my dream position just yet, but I am happy to be in a place where I can benefit the lives of humans and other primates.
I was able to place some of my patas monkeys at the Catoctin Zoo. My girl Mary just had a baby this past Spring!
