HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION
The Conservation Science Summer Fellowship is a 12-week program in which undergraduate students work directly with a mentor from the Conservation Science team on a specific laboratory, field, and/or community-based project. During that time, the Fellow gains hands-on experience while completing their project under the supervision of a mentor and then presents their research findings to SDZWA staff, donors, and collaborators at the end of their 12-week Fellowship.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Perform a variety of laboratory, diagnostic, animal care, educational, and/or field duties.
• Collect, collate, maintain, process, and/or analyze records relevant to current project.
• Prepares reports and presentations to communicate research findings.
• Collect and record data utilizing spreadsheet and database systems.
• Prepare, arrange, and maintain data.
• Manages project timelines and ensures research objectives are met.
• Collaborates with team members and stakeholders to develop and implement conservation initiatives.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Our Conservation Science and Wildlife Health Teams have 14 Fellowship opportunities for our 2026 Summer season. Please see below the different opportunities you are able to apply for in our SDZWA Careers Page.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Current undergraduate students must be officially associated with a college or university to be eligible for the Fellowship program. Undergraduates who are currently enrolled in college meet this criterion, as do graduating seniors who are continuing their education in the fall following graduation. Recent graduates who are not continuing their education in the fall of the same year are not eligible to apply. 

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Previous experience in conservation research or community engagement is preferred. 
• Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing 
• Strong analytical skills to conduct research and analyze data. 
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 
• Able to operate moderately complex computer software programs 
• Able to work effectively with others in a diverse environment and with diverse populations 
• Able to learn and perform data and sample gathering techniques 
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods 
• Familiarity with conservation issues and strategies. 

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Location: Escondido, CA 
• Position Type: Full-Time, 12-Week Fellowship
• Stipend Pay: $8,520

What We Are Looking For:

Req 4354 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Disease Investigations – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Disease Investigations’ mission is to remove disease as a roadblock to wildlife conservation. They identify and solve health problems by carrying out comprehensive disease surveillance programs, disease outbreak investigations, and targeted disease research for the animals in our facilities and field conservation programs. Fellowship research projects generally focus on molecular biology, toxicology, and/or pathology. This fellowship is based either at the Beckman Center (Escondido, CA) or the San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA). This summer we plan to work with our summer fellow to develop disease testing platforms, which may include Oxford Nanopore Technology, Biomeme technology, and/or gold standard testing with PCR and qPCR in house. The goal will be disease testing that can be used both in-house and in the field. This work will mainly be at the Beckman Center with the option to visit San Diego Zoo for pathology experiences. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4353 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Population Sustainability, Conservation Technology – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Population Sustainability uses an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on innovative technologies and ecology, to assess and address challenges to the persistence of threatened species. The team is seeking two fellows with backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field (or with related experience) to work in our Conservation Technology Lab, one for each of the following two projects: • One fellow with interest and capabilities in computer vision and/or machine learning. The fellow will work on software systems for processing image and/or video data from field camera systems deployed in a variety of ecosystems globally to automatically produce derived data about the species and individuals present in the imagery and/or their behavior. • One fellow with an interest and capabilities in programming embedded systems, particularly in contexts where power is limited. Interest in machine learning inference on constrained devices (e.g. TinyML) and/or low-power radio communication (e.g. LoRa) is a plus. The fellow will work on projects where image and/or sound data is processed directly on field equipment so that small reports can be transmitted over low-bandwidth connections and/or the equipment can respond autonomously. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4352 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Conservation Planning and Strategy – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

The Conservation Planning and Strategy team is a small team of professional conservation planning and strategy experts working to maximize the impact of SDZWA's conservation work. They work across all teams within the Conservation Science and Wildlife Health (CSWH) department to plan and continually evaluate the institution's ~35 global conservation projects, which are divided into eight geographic hubs. CSWH uses the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards) for conservation planning, and the Conservation Planning and Strategy team helps the CSWH department apply the Conservation Standards to their projects to ensure this work has measurable impact for wildlife, landscapes, and people around the world. They also disseminate information about our conservation projects, overall conservation strategy, and the Conservation Standards across all of SDZWA. The conservation fellow would assist the Conservation Planning and Strategy team in their efforts. They will have the opportunity to work with the full range of SDZWA's conservation projects, from polar bears in the Arctic to butterflies in the southwestern United States. The exact way a fellow contributes will vary depending on their strengths and interests but would likely involve assessing data from across SDZWA's conservation projects to identify trends, areas of strength, and areas that could be improved. Furthermore, a fellow may assist in reviewing the experiences of other conservation organizations to help identify what works well and what should be avoided. Finally, a fellow may assist in the communication of formal conservation planning materials. Overall, the fellow will gain valuable experience related to planning and implementing impactful conservation projects. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowship is 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4351 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Recovery Ecology, Burrowing Owl – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Recovery Ecology leads large-scale conservation programs that advance the recovery of endangered and threatened species locally and globally. The team applies behavioral and ecological science to address pressing conservation challenges. Their toolbox includes the development and testing of conservation breeding methods, reintroduction and translocation strategies, and long-term monitoring and adaptive management in species recovery programs. By integrating behavioral, population, and spatial ecology with other disciplines, Recovery Ecology develops evidence-based solutions that improve conservation outcomes. One fellow will have the opportunity to work with the burrowing owl recovery program to assist with piloting the use of a novel camera trap system for assessing prey species populations. This project will include looking at prey species in grazed and ungrazed plots. In the long term, we aim to understand the drivers of burrowing owl population trends, including prey availability. The project will be conducted across sites in San Diego County and will help us develop best practices for the use of this camera trap method. These data will be critical for developing protocols for monitoring in grassland ecosystems, and inform monitoring plans for burrowing owl and other grassland species of conservation concern. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowship is 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4350 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Recovery Ecology, Kangaroo Rat – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Recovery Ecology leads large-scale conservation programs that advance the recovery of endangered and threatened species locally and globally. The team applies behavioral and ecological science to address pressing conservation challenges. Their toolbox includes the development and testing of conservation breeding methods, reintroduction and translocation strategies, and long-term monitoring and adaptive management in species recovery programs. By integrating behavioral, population, and spatial ecology with other disciplines, Recovery Ecology develops evidence-based solutions that improve conservation outcomes. One Fellow will have the opportunity to work with the kangaroo rat recovery program to assist with research on the impacts of artificial night lighting on foraging behavior and habitat use. This project combines fieldwork and computer-based analyses to evaluate how lighting intensity, spectrum, and/or spatial distribution influence kangaroo rat activity patterns and habitat selection. Fieldwork will be conducted at study sites in Riverside and/or San Bernardino Counties. Findings will inform strategies to mitigate the effects of light pollution and support habitat management recommendations for at-risk kangaroo rat populations. In the long term, this research will contribute to understanding how anthropogenic disturbance shapes species persistence and behavior in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowship is 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4349 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Conservation Genetics, Stem Cell – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Conservation Genetics, Stem Cell Team uses innovative genetic and cellular approaches to assess, monitor, and manage endangered species, contribute to their sustainability, and prevent species extinction. They conduct collaborative research using cellular biology and genome-wide sequencing to develop tools for species of conservation concern. They use cells as models to advance conservation efforts, propagate and reprogram tissue culture cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells, and direct their development for genetic rescue efforts for critically endangered species. The team is seeking two fellows, one for each of the following projects. The summer fellow will assist the stem cell team in reprogramming Pacific pocket mouse fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells. We will focus on optimizing the reprogramming process, culture conditions, and testing differentiation potential of the generated cell lines. We will also test methods for confirming pluripotency including antibody screening and quantitative PCR primer design and testing. The fellow will gain experience in sterile techniques, the differences and similarities in culturing endangered species cells, and testing/modifying differentiation protocols. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowship is 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4348 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Conservation Genetics, Cell Culture – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Conservation Genetics, Cell Culture Team uses innovative genetic and cellular approaches to assess, monitor, and manage endangered species, contribute to their sustainability, and prevent species extinction. They conduct collaborative research using cellular biology and genome-wide sequencing to develop tools for species of conservation concern. They use cells as models to advance conservation efforts, propagate and reprogram tissue culture cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells, and direct their development for genetic rescue efforts for critically endangered species. The team is seeking two fellows, one for each of the following projects. This fellow will be working on Safeguarding Hawaiʻi’s Forest Birds from Extinction by optimizing biobanking protocols for ESA-listed Hawaiian Bird Species. This project aims to enhance species-specific cell culture by evaluating tissue types (skin, lung, muscle) and media formulations to improve fibroblast establishment and growth rates. Because protocols are highly species-specific, optimizing these methods is critical for successfully biobanking endangered species. Furthermore, we will validate cell viability by analyzing proliferation, morphology, metabolism, and senescence markers in established primary cells. These comprehensive assessments will ensure the banked material is viable for future biotechnological applications. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowship is 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4347 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Community Engagement – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Community Engagement is driving conservation action through science education and community collaborations. Our applied conservation social science group conducts research on human-wildlife interactions so that conservation strategies address both the threats species face as well as the needs of local communities. The work of the team involves understanding human behavior and viewpoints to inform species conservation planning. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowship: • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4346 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Plant Conservation – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Plant Conservation researches the restoration and management of rare plant populations, both ex situ and in situ. This team is seeking two research Fellows, one to join the micropropagation and cryopreservation lab and one to join our Native Plant Gene Bank on seed banking, testing, and propagation. Independent projects are developed with mentors to meet program and conservation needs and aligned with the skill sets and interests of the selected applicants. For the micropropagation project, we would introduce the Fellow to growing plants in controlled environments (i.e., in vitro) and adjusting that environment to produce certain tissue types. Their independent project would work on an aspect of micropropagation of a rare species to work towards developing material for cryopreservation or helping recover material post cryo-freeze efficiently and effectively. The Native Plant Gene Bank Fellow will learn various aspects of seed banking from population research and identification in the field to germination testing of collected seed in the lab. Their independent project would look at factors influencing the germination of rare plants and/or their propagation. In addition to independent projects, selected Fellows will round out their Fellowship with work on all facets of Plant Conservation programs. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Req 4345 - Conservation Science Summer Fellow – Reproductive Sciences – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Reproductive Sciences innovates and applies science and technology to solve reproductive challenges and to support the conservation of endangered species. The major areas of investigation include gamete physiology, assisted reproductive technology, hormone monitoring, environmental toxicology, cryobiology and biobanking, avian physiology, cell culture, and stem cell biology. Fellowships are based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, unless otherwise stated. Applications for the 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships can be submitted until February 15, 2026. Applicants should specify which CS team’s Fellowship they are applying to. Applicants can only apply for one Fellowship to one CS team, not multiple teams. If applicants apply to multiple CS teams, the first application submitted will be the only one considered. Summer 2026 Conservation Science Summer Fellowships: • Monday, May 18, to Friday, August 7 • Monday, June 22, to Friday, September 11 Fellowships are 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. Applicant must submit Resume and Cover Letter.