Careers & Alumni
Where an LES degree can take you, and the graduates who are already there.
Where LES Graduates Go
LES graduates are prepared for careers in academia, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations, in areas such as climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and decision support for resource managers and policymakers.
*Employment outlook for program graduates, as reported on the EECB website.
Career Paths by Program
A few of the careers each program prepares you for. Some of these careers might require education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Environmental Systems Science
ESS graduates are prepared for jobs with government agencies (EPA, USGS, NPS, USFS), nonprofits, or private companies.
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
Graduates with a B.S. in EECB possess a specialized skill set that can open doors to several professions in academia, government, NGOs, and the private sector.
Biological Sciences
While skills learned from each of our offered majors can be applied to any field, here are examples of career paths specific to biology.
LES Graduate Program
Graduate students build careers in academia, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations. Common roles include:
Alumni Stories
Where a few of our recent graduates are now.
Antonio Gonzalez
Antonio worked in two research labs as an undergraduate—the Stable Isotope Ecosystem Lab and the Agroecology Lab—while also gaining field experience through the Natural Reserve System. Today, he's a researcher at UC's Lindcove Research and Extension Center, working on citrus agriculture.
"These experiences continue to yield lasting returns. I'm grateful for the people and opportunities that defined my time at UC Merced."
Jocelyn Rojas
Jocelyn worked in three labs during her time at UC Merced: the Sexton Lab studying plant ecology in the Sierra Nevada, the Moran Plant Lab researching climate adaptation, and the Ryals Agroecology Lab exploring community composting and soil health. She's now a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz, studying urban community gardens as both social and ecological spaces.
Are you an LES alum?
We'd love to hear where your path has taken you. Share your story and inspire the next class of LES students.
Career Support at UC Merced
Visit campus or ask us a question — we’re happy to help.
