San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and creating a world where all life thrives. Empowering people from around the globe to support our mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships, we support cutting-edge conservation, and bring the stories of our work back to our two world-famous front doors — the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park — giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The deep and extensive knowledge gained from more than a century of experience in wildlife care, health, veterinary services, nutrition and conservation makes us invaluable in the global effort to save species. Our team members play a crucial role in driving our conservation efforts forward and bringing us closer to a world where all life thrives. 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. 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.