Nonprofit science careers at Wild Animal Initiative and beyond
February 9, 2026
With widespread hiring freezes at major universities, shrinking graduate cohorts, and instability across academic research — from federal agencies to R1 universities — many in the scientific community are rethinking their careers.
If you’re experiencing disruption in your scientific career as a result of policy shifts in the US, we want you to know that your work still matters, your skills are valuable, and there are meaningful ways to continue making an impact.
Here are some ideas for staying on track in science without relying on opportunities in government or academia — including a role that’s open right now at Wild Animal Initiative.
Alternative career paths in nonprofit settings
Whether you’ve worked in government agencies, federally-funded research, or academic research support, your experience is transferable to scientific nonprofits.
Researchers who have spent their careers writing successful proposals, managing complex projects, building partnerships across sectors, and navigating diverse priorities already have the foundation to thrive in nonprofit science. If you’ve spent years facilitating research as a lab manager, program coordinator, or academic administrator, you already know how to keep complex operations running smoothly.
Nonprofit roles need exactly these skills — and often offer more autonomy and mission alignment than university positions. They can also enable PhD students or postdocs to stay connected to cutting-edge science without having to secure tenure at institutions with frozen hiring.
Nonprofits like Wild Animal Initiative often rely on private philanthropy and foundation grants, which can remain stable even when federal funding becomes volatile. Scientific nonprofits can also offer room for creativity and the opportunity to prioritize impact over publication quotas.
“When Florida politics started targeting higher education institutions, I transitioned from working at a public university there to my current job at WAI, transferring the skills and knowledge from my student affairs role to supporting wild animal welfare researchers. At WAI, I found work that was meaningful, stable, and stimulating, while avoiding the impacts of government interference in public universities, like pressure to meet quotas that didn’t benefit students, pushes to end remote working, and monitoring of employees’ political views.”
— Grey Fernández, Wild Animal Initiative Services Manager
Support novel research to help wild animals
Wild Animal Initiative (WAI)’s mission is to accelerate science that helps wild animals by advancing the emerging field of wild animal welfare science. Working toward our vision of a future where the wellbeing of wild animals is a priority, we conduct and fund research and offer professional support for the scientific community.
Wild animal welfare science leans on methods from ecology, animal behavior, animal welfare science, and other related fields, asking research questions about the wellbeing of individual wild animals. While conservation biology focuses on preserving ecological health, wild animal welfare science explores the conditions shaping individual animals' lives, and asks how humans might responsibly improve them.
Traditional academic hiring may be in a period of stagnation, but wild animal welfare science is growing. We’re building infrastructure, launching programs, and expanding our research portfolio.
Open role: Services Coordinator
This growing field is nurturing passionate, skilled scientists — especially those with interdisciplinary backgrounds. To do this, WAI is seeking a Services Coordinator. This role is ideal for someone who understands academic culture (through research participation, lab management, or program coordination) and specializes in facilitating rather than leading research. The Services Coordinator will manage our Discord community, run a mentorship program, and coordinate events — keeping researchers connected and supported. It's a role for someone who wants to remain a part of the research ecosystem without the pressure of publishing or securing grants yourself. We encourage you to visit our Careers page to learn more about the opportunity and, if you think you could be a strong fit, submit an application.
Even if WAI doesn't currently have an open role that’s right for you, we'd love to stay connected. We regularly hire for roles in research, grantmaking, field building, fundraising, operations, and communications. Join our Talent Database to stay on our radar for future openings.
Additional resources
There are many other organizations looking for scientifically-minded people to advance work that helps animals. A few great places to start your search include:
Career Options in the Life Sciences: Guide Research for Your Path Beyond Academia (institutional access required)
Many researchers are discovering that their path to impact doesn't have to require a faculty position or a federal grant — they may just need to find the right organizational fit. Whether you’re an academic coordinator seeking stability, a postdoc exploring alternative career paths, or a lab manager facing policy changes or funding restrictions, your skills have a place in mission-driven nonprofit work.
If you’re ready to explore how your background could help advance wild animal welfare science, we’d love to stay in touch. Join our researcher community or subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected.
