College of Science

Department of Applied Environmental Science

Environmental Science Careers & Testimonials

ESTP alumni next to hellicopter
ESTP alumna as a hydrographer

Environmental Science, Technology and Policy (ESTP) alumni are currently working in many different capacities for organizations across the nation. Click below to explore the current job titles and organizations that employ ESTP graduates.

  • Senior Positions

    • Assistant Professor - University of Notre Dame
    • Assistant Professor - University of Arizona
    • Senior Water Resources Engineer & Fluvial Geomorphologist - AECOM
    • Senior Environmental Specialist - Fugro Engineering Inc.
    • Senior Consultant - ERM
    • Senior Project Manager - EMC Planning Group
    • Senior Planner / Environmental Scientist - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Senior Environmental Scientist - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Senior Planner - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • President - Turf Image
    • Senior Environmental Projects Analyst (Water Resources Supervisor) - City of Santa Cruz
    • Water Resources Program Manager - Calaveras County Water DIstrict
    • Epidemiologist/Program Manager I - Monterey County Health Department
    • Supervising Hydrographer - East Bay Municipal Utilities District
    • Sediment Laboratory Chief - USGS
    • Aircraft Commander - NOAA/CORPS
    • Senior Environmental Health Specialist - County of Monterey
    • Research Program Manager - The Climate Corporation
    • Director of Nature Education - Severson Dells Nature Center
    • CEO - Off the Ground Farms

    Mid-Career Positions

    1. Consulting
    • Land Surveyor - Polaris Consulting
    • Party Chief - Whitson Engineers
    • Licensed Land Surveyor - Whitson Engineers
    • Junior Inorganic Chemist - ICF International
    • Storm Water Environmental Scientist - Ahtna Government Services Corporation
    • Assistant Engineer - Northwest Hydraulic Consultants
    • Water Resources Specialist (Hydrographer) - Ventura County Watershed Protection District
    • Environmental Consultant - American Environmental Group
    • Biologist - Sequoia Ecological Consulting
    • Consultant Utility Forester - Environmental Consultants, Inc.
    • Wildlife Biologist - Burleson Consulting Inc.
    • Biologist #1 - Burleson Consulting
    • Biologist #2 - Burleson Consulting
    2. Government
    • Environmental Projects Analyst - City of Santa Cruz
    • Watershed Coordinator - San Mateo County
    • Environmental Specialist 1, Watershed Science - Sonoma County Water Agency
    • Registered Environmental Health Specialist III - County of Monterey
    • Registered Environmental Health Specialist - County of Monterey
    • Water Conservation Specialist I - Marina Coast Water District
    • Program Specialist - Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
    • Fisheries Biologist - NOAA/NMFS
    • Program Coordinator - USGS North American Bird Phenology Program
    • Hydrographer - USGS
    • Commissioned Officer - NOAA/CORPS
    • Water Resources - City of Santa Cruz
    • Water Quality Chemist - City of Watsonville
    • Environmental Scientist - CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
    • Steelhead Biologist - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
    • Environmental Scientist - CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
    • Environmental Scientist - State of California
    • Environmental Scientist #1 - CA State Parks
    • Environmental Scientist #2 - CA State Parks
    3. Non-profits, education, etc.
    • Assistant Preserve Manager - The Wildlands Conservancy
    • Restoration Specialist - Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
    • Automation Specialist - Hortau Irrigation Management Systems
    • Environmental Educator - Watsonville Wetlands Watch
    • Logistics Coordinator - Colorado Outward Bound School
    • K-5th Science Education Consultant - Seattle Public Schools
    • Group Programs Director - Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation
    • Security Engineer - Cadre Information Security
    • Retail Sales Manager - REI
    • Hydrologic Modeler / Associate Specialist - UC Santa Cruz

    Entry-level Positions

    • Research Scientist - Oregon State University
    • Research Scientist - NASA ARC-CREST
    • GIS/GPS Technician - Clean Lakes
    • Survey Technician - Polaris Consulting
    • Drafter - BKF Engineers
    • GIS Associate - Michael Baker International
    • GIS Mapping Technician - Insight Global
    • Environmental Field Technician - Cardno ENTRIX
    • ESP Technician - DHI
    • Field Technician - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Assistant Scientist - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Staff Scientist - D-Max Engineering, Inc
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Wildscape Restoration
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Burleson
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Burleson
    • Lab Technician I - City of San Jose
    • Vector Control Technician - County of Santa Cruz
    • Laboratory Intern - Marina Coast Water District
    • Lidar technician - US forest Service
    • Hydrology technician - USGS
    • Hydrologic Technician - USFS
    • Hydrology technician - USGS
    • Natural Resources Maintenance Aid - California State Parks
    • Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician - SPCA of Monterey County
    • Research Technician - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
    • Rangeland Habitat Technician - The Great Basin Institute
    • Restoration Intern - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
    • GIS Technician - Apple Inc. via Apex Systems
    • GIS Technician - Apple Inc. via Apex Systems
    • Lead Technical Specialist - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

    • Seed Health Technologist - Sakata Seeds

    • Research Scientist - Oregon State University

    • Research Scientist - NASA ARC-CREST
    • GIS/GPS Technician - Clean Lakes
    • Survey Technician - Polaris Consulting
    • Drafter - BKF Engineers
    • GIS Associate - Michael Baker International
    • GIS Mapping Technician - Insight Global
    • Environmental Field Technician - Cardno ENTRIX
    • ESP Technician - DHI
    • Field Technician - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Assistant Scientist - Denise Duffy and Associates
    • Staff Scientist - D-Max Engineering, Inc
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Wildscape Restoration
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Burleson
    • Biologist/Field Technician - Burleson
    • Lab Technician I - City of San Jose
    • Vector Control Technician - County of Santa Cruz
    • Laboratory Intern - Marina Coast Water District
    • Lidar technician - US forest Service
    • Hydrology technician - USGS
    • Hydrologic Technician - USFS
    • Hydrology technician - USGS
    • Natural Resources Maintenance Aid - California State Parks
    • Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician - SPCA of Monterey County
    • Research Technician - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
    • Rangeland Habitat Technician - The Great Basin Institute
    • Restoration Intern - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
    • GIS Technician - Apple Inc. via Apex Systems
    • GIS Technician - Apple Inc. via Apex Systems
    • Lead Technical Specialist - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
    • Seed Health Technologist - Sakata Seeds
 
“Rigorous coursework helped me build strong quantitative skills in mathematics, statistics, GIS, and numerical modeling, as well as important life-skills such as time management and how to write a resume. Developing these and other skills positioned me well for success as a graduate student. I believe I would not be where I am today if it were not for the support of some of the most student-dedicated faculty and staff I know. They facilitated many of these opportunities, and I believe they genuinely cared as much about my success as I did. In my opinion, the ESTP faculty and staff are what make the program such a success. I am grateful that my BS degree in ESTP prepared me so well for the demands of graduate school, which continues to prepare me for what lies ahead in academia.” - Sara Kelly, PhD Candidate, Watershed Sciences, Utah State University
 
“Overall, the ESTP program provided me with a well-rounded and solid foundation in the environmental science field, and was a great launching point for my future. Opportunities were presented in the program that gave me a unique skill set that was exclusive to the ESTP program. The location of the school, the quality of the education, and the countless opportunities provided through the ESTP program allowed me to excel in my early career. Special thanks to the professors and staff that work tirelessly to provide this level of education and expertise.” - Scott Soares, Environmental Scientist, California State Parks 
 
“I am responsible for the quality control of all spatial data generated within my department. I continue to apply what I learned through the ESTP program on a daily basis. I am certain that the program has prepared me for success because it gave me the knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving skills needed to excel in my field.” - Ruby Kwan, Restoration Specialist with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy