To get accepted to a college with a decent science program, you need to maintain good grades throughout your years in high school.
Take a balance of liberal arts, foreign language, chemistry, physics, and math courses. Calculus is required to enter most paleontology graduate programs, and it should be taken as early as possible in your undergraduate years. Courses that are most important to paleontology are mineralogy, stratigraphy/sedimentation, sedimentary petrology, invertebrate paleontology, ecology, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, evolutionary biology, and genetics. You can find these at 4-year colleges.
You need to know how to use satellite-based geographic information systems (GIS). This is used in managing databases for fossils and collections data. [1] X Research source You’ll have to take classes in college to learn digital mapping.
For example, invertebrate paleontology requires a combination of biology, botany, environmental science, paleontology, and zoology courses. If you choose to specialize in vertebrate paleontology, you will take biology, marine biology, paleontology, and zoology courses. Another specialization to choose is bio-stratigraphy, the study of vertical distribution of fossils in rocks. [3] X Research source You may choose paleo-botany, which is the study of plant fossils, especially algae, fungi, and land plants. You can also study proto-human and prehistoric human fossils in paleoanthropology.
Individual universities have their own requirements for people seeking graduate degrees in paleontology. Searching a university’s website for the graduate programs is your best bet. One example is UC Berkeley’s program. They offer masters degrees in paleontology through their integrative biology and geography departments. [5] X Research source For example, to qualify for an advanced degree in paleontology, you need to take courses from the geography, geology, and biology departments. These courses may include mineral sciences, zoology, evolutionary paleo-biology, structural geology, vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, and so on. [6] X Research source You can also study abroad through a variety of programs such as Geophysicists in Brazil, Geologists in Columbia, Petroleum Engineers in Bolivia, Petroleum Engineers in Romania, and Petroleum Engineers in Spain.
Keep up on searching for internships all year, because companies and organizations often post opportunities online. You can do a simple online search for internships in the field of your interest to start finding opportunities. [7] X Research source For example, the Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute offers internships in fossil preparation, digitizing collections, education, grant writing, marketing and promotion, web development, and nonprofit management. It could be helpful to speak to a paleontologist at a local museum to tell you how to start collecting fossils on your own.
During the Paleontological Society Mentors in Paleontology Career Luncheon, grads and undergrads can listen to and speak to a panel of professionals about careers in paleontology.
Graduate students may also go to the Bahamas to research environments on San Salvador Island. This is offered by the University of the Bahamas Gerace Research Center. [10] X Research source
In high school, students should go to science summer camps based on paleontology. There’s a camp called Paleontology Research Team offered through the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Volunteers will learn how to make casts of bone and teeth and view them with an electron microscope. You’ll be taught how to install facilities for fossil preparation and learn to clean fossil bones.
Environmental companies often take on these jobs and hire people with the training in fossil collection and preparation. A likely candidate for this type of work would have a master’s in geology or biology with paleontology fieldwork experience. When you apply for these jobs, emphasize your fieldwork experience in surveying fossils.
It’s also a great path for anyone who is passionate about promoting preservation of public resources, such as fossils.
You’ll be required to assist in research, update computer systems, lead public tours, and train docents and volunteers. A Master of Science may be required, but they also accept PhD’s with the possibility of a higher salary.
For example, write a list of the job requirements that are in the job description, go over them, and pull out 3 that you believe are the most important to the job. Organize your resume based on those 3 important requirements. List those qualities first on your resume and explain how you have fulfilled those tasks in past jobs.
For instance, an employer at a gas company may be interested in your fossil survey and salvage experience. Special skills may involve computer, paleontology and geology, and desktop publishing and graphics.
For instance, if you’re applying as a museum curator, talk about anything you’ve done pertaining to managing databases and collections of fossils. If you have design experience, you discuss that, as you may need to create diagrams for museum displays. Be specific about research you’ve done if it pertains to the job. Emphasize your ability to interact with the public, because that may be a job requirement depending on the position you’re applying for.
