Employment and Internships
Positions in the department and on campus, employers within the community, and summer internships.
On Campus Employment
A. In the Department
Individual instructors hire readers and tutors for their classes. Ask your instructors about these opportunities.
1. Readers
Faculty may hire readers to assist with reading and grading course assignments, quizzes
and exams. If you did well in a class, consider asking the professor if he or she
is looking for a reader for the following semester.
2. Tutors
Tutoring is offered both on campus and by Zoom. If you want to work as a Zoom tutor,
it is important that you have the necessary resources - access to a web cam, a laptop
and a reliable internet connection. If you're interested in working as a tutor for
a class that you excelled in, contact your instructor. If you're chosen as a tutor,
please complete your hiring paperwork promptly so you can start helping students in
the first weeks of the semester. You can complete your hiring paperwork over the summer
for work in the fall semester and at the end of fall semester to tutor in the spring.
Tutor Hiring Information.
3. Student Lab Assistants
Student Lab Assistants help the lab technicians with the set up. break down, and clean
up of the student labs in the lab rooms. We already have our student lab assistants
for fall 2024. If you're reliable and hard working and would like to considered for
a student lab assistant position in spring 2025, please come by the Biology office,
EBS 212, sometime in November to learn more about being a student lab assistant.
B. On Campus
The Campus Bookstore and the Cafeteria both hire students. Ask about these openings in the Bookstore. Some departments post job openings on SBCC's Job Connection. Local employers will also post listings with the Job Connection. Access this service by logging into the campus portal. Under the "Student" tab, choose "Student Resources". In the "Student Resources" section on the bottom right of the web page, select "Jobs & Internships (Job Connection)".
Employers within the community
The three goals of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden are:
I. Plants: Study, protect, and restore California’s native plants and habitats to
support a healthy environment.
II. People: Create a diverse community of people who actively support California’s
native plants and habitats.
III. Place: Provide outstanding stewardship of the Garden’s land, collections, historic
features, and infrastructure; cultivating a special place for everyone.
The Garden offers a variety of ways to volunteer and sometimes offers internships and apprenticeships. Current job opportunities
"The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History seeks individuals who want to make a difference in the natural world and our community.
People who want to work together to further our goals of scientific research, education,
collaboration with each other, the community, and other partnering organizations.
If you are looking for a place that values these qualities then you have come to right
place! Science and nature bring us together, collaboration and inclusion makes us
stronger. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to ensure all applicants
and employees receive equal and fair consideration and treatment."
Current job opportunities
"The Santa Barbara Zoo is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and enhancement of the natural world
and its living treasures through education, research, and recreation. Main job classifications include guest services entry level, animal care, skilled
worker, educational, and general business positions. Most positions require some related
experience and/or an educational background in a related field. If offered employment
at the Zoo, you must be able to present proof of citizenship or legal right to work
in the United States. The busiest recruitment period occurs a month before the spring
and summer school breaks; most positions available at this time are seasonal, entry-level
positions and seasonal Zoo Camp positions."
Current job listings
The Parks and Recreation department hires camp counselors for its summer programs and hires drivers for its youth buses all year. The City also hires Downtown Ambassadors and Parking Lot Attendants. Job opportunities are linked from this page. They also offer volunteer opportunities.
"Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service connects people to nature and to
each other. As a Federal agency in service to the American people, the Forest Service
cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological,
and social vitality. In doing this, the agency supports nature in sustaining life."
Job Opportunities with the USFS
Jobs for students and seasonal employment can be found on job boards such as Indeed.com, LinkedIn, Internship.com, and Craigslist . SBCC's Career Center hosts the Job Connection. This is a database of hourly positions and internships offered by local and national organizations.
Many internships and seasonal jobs are filled at the park level so contact the park that you are interested in working at. Also look at the usajobs.gov website. Volunteer positions in National Parks are listed on the volunteer.gov website and advertised at the park level. Internships are listed on this website. Scroll down for the list.
Local Non Profits
"Channel Islands Restoration protects rare and endangered plants and animals by restoring habitat in sensitive
and unique natural areas on the California Channel Islands and adjacent mainland.
We educate a variety of groups about the value of native habitat and how to protect
it."
Volunteer
"Since 1970, CEC has incubated and innovated real life environmental solutions that
directly affect the California Central Coast. Our current work advances rapid and
equitable solutions to the climate crisis – including ambitious zero carbon goals,
drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. Our
programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction
of single-use plastic."
Jobs and Internships
Volunteer
"Explore Ecology is an environmental education and arts nonprofit located in Santa Barbara, California.
We work with over 30,000 children a year, inspiring them to engage with the natural
world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship. Explore
Ecology programs include the Art From Scrap Creative ReUse Store and Gallery, Environmental
Education, Watershed Resource Center, and School Gardens."
Current Job Openings Volunteer Opportunities
Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute’s mission is to build environmental and societal
sustainability through hands-on education. Our programs focus on the integration of
self-reliant technology coupled with agricultural, watershed, and resource management
projects. Students study real-world issues using a theme-based educational setting
gaining a sense of stewardship and practical real-world job skills.
Volunteer, internship, and job opportunities
"Heal the Ocean focuses on wastewater infrastructure – sewers and septic systems –
as well as ocean dumping practices that have contributed to ocean pollution. We are
focused on Santa Barbara County, but our methods are now serving as a model for other
coastal communities across the country. "
Volunteer
"The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has helped to preserve over 27,000 acres
of natural resource and agricultural land, including the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, Sedgwick Reserve, Carpinteria Bluffs, Coronado Butterfly Preserve, Point Sal, Carpinteria Salt Marsh and several ranches on the Gaviota Coast."
Current Job Openings Volunteer Opportunities Internships
"Los Padres ForestWatch protects wildlife, wilderness, water, and sustainable access throughout the Los Padres
National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. We achieve this through education,
advocacy, and when necessary, legal action for the benefit of our communities, climate,
and future generations."
Current Job openings and internships. Volunteer Opportunities
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the
Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds. Through science-based advocacy, education,
field work and enforcement, Channelkeeper defends our community’s right to clean water
and informs, inspires and empowers people to speak and act for our waterways.
Volunteer Opportunities
WYP envisions teaching the next generation to be peaceful, respectful and confident
stewards of our world. We take our participants to resource-rich locations such as
the creeks, beaches, mountain trails, and open spaces in Santa Barbara’s abundant
front country. Our core routines include child-centered exploration, awareness, and
the building of naturalist skills. We use a nature-based mentoring curriculum that
combines experience in nature with a hands-on learning process. We also teach the
“Principles of Peace,” which focus on conflict resolution, communication and peacemaking.
The improved outcomes we have tracked for our participants include individual growth
and self-assurance, interpersonal skills, physical competence and an increased respect
for the natural world.
Current Job Openings and Volunteer Opportunities
Summer Internships
Search for an internship the same way as you would search for any job - tap into your network, use personal referrals and target companies that interest you. Use job boards to search for internships as well as the websites that specialize in internships. A Google search for "find a summer internship" will bring up many options. One example is the Clegg website which offers information on the internship process and a guide to finding a summer internship. This Forbes article (from 2015) lists their 10 best websites for finding internships.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project and works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. A REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.
Use the web page, Search for an REU Site, to examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. You can also search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location. Students must contact the individual sites for information and application materials. NSF does not have application materials and does not select student participants. A contact person and contact information is listed for each site.
Most REU application deadlines are in February. In many instances community college students are welcome to apply. If it does not say so specifically in the REU description, email the contact person and ask. If you are overwhelmed by the number of REU programs available, the site REU finder can filter the results so you just see the sites that accept community college students.
"UCSB, its regional community college partners, and the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute co-developed an innovative collaborative program to engage diverse students in experiential learning centered on multi-disciplinary conservation strategies, biodiversity research, and green careers in STEM. We are looking to support STEM students who are first generation and/or low-income. Students must be enrolled fulltime at UCSB, Oxnard College, Santa Barbara City College, Allan Hancock College, Ventura College, or East LA College. Participants must maintain “good standing” and be willing to try new and challenging experiences in a team environment." Enrollment and Application Process. Deadline Feb. 15, 2024.
"In the summer 2024 (May 7-July 22), Pepperdine University will host the Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biology (SURB) developed specifically for students who are interested in pursuing a career in biological research, science education, environmental science, biomathematics or biotechnology. Pepperdine biology faculty will work closely with selected students in diverse areas of biological research. Successful applicants will be provided a generous stipend, on-campus housing, a unit of biology research credit, funding for travel to Malibu, and a budget for the purchase of research supplies. Students will be introduced to varied research tools and techniques and will partner with a faculty member to develop a project idea for their summer research. Then the full SURB group will complete their research proposals and engage in a research retreat at the James Reserve near Idyllwild CA. Over the remainder of the summer, students will pursue individual research projects under the direction of their faculty mentor. Guest scientists will periodically visit the program to give seminars and meet with the SURB research students. The research program will conclude with a student research symposium in late July."
A copy of your online application, a brief essay stating the reason(s) why you would like to participate in this program, and unofficial college transcript(s), needs to be uploaded to interfolio and received before 12:00 AM Midnight (EST) on February 7, 2024.