Environmental Research Defies Economic Doldrums

Research is one professional field that is bucking the trend in terms of job opportunity and none more so than in the specialized field of environmental research. The economic downturn that has affected so many other professional fields has not managed to curb research opportunities. This is mainly due to the international importance placed on environmental clean-up and sustainability.

As an occupation, environmental research is a great field for recent graduates to consider as a lucrative and interesting career. For the seasoned researcher, job growth continues and there is no shortage of work on the horizon.

Jobs in Environmental Research

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency alone has twelve primary research branches which include:

• Clean Air Research
• Human Health Risk Assessment
• Computational Toxicology Research
• Land Research
• Drinking Water Research
• Nanotechnology Research
• Ecosystem Services Research
• Pesticides and Toxic Substances Research
• Global Change Research
• Sustainability
• Human Health Research
• Water Quality Research

That is an impressive list from a single agency, albeit a major American institution. But this volume and diversity of research opportunity is not confined to government.  Other research opportunities exist in the areas of:

• Agriculture
• Alternative Energy
• Bio Informatics
• Bio Technology
• Climate
• Energy
• Food
• Transportation
• Life Sciences
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology

So What Does an Environmental Researcher Do?

Basically an environmental research job entails finding solutions to environmental problems. This involves discovering how human and animal interaction with nature impacts the planet and the environment. A researcher assesses the possible or probable impacts of future development. In addition, an environmental researcher will probably be involved in finding new ways to approach industrial growth and energy alternatives which may include anything from how to efficiently produce healthy food using methods that are good for the planet, to discovering the untapped energy resources of space. This Researcher may also be involved in the study of acid rain, global warming, transport emissions and ozone depletion, whilst also concerning themselves with the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife. Wow!

For the student soon graduating who loves the learning environment, research is an amazing and lucrative option.