For our first Lunch and Learn of the new academic year, Amie Black shared her career journey. She began as a Master’s student focused on the ecology of marine birds in the Arctic. After graduation she worked as a contractor for conservation and government organizations and, eventually, this led to her current position managing research through the public service. She described how the leadership skills gained by managing field teams and logistics as a graduate student translated to her current role. As a Research Manager in ECCC’s Science and Technology Branch, she helps keep environmental research projects running smoothly by managing budgets, administration, and the behind-the-scenes work that supports aligning federal environmental research priorities to policy and management needs. While juggling all this, Amie’s role still gives her opportunities to get out in the field and lend a hand with wildlife and ecology research projects.

We also discussed how research informs policy and the different timelines researchers work under in government compared to academia. While projects to inform federal policy often move at a faster pace, they still rely on strong science and academic partnerships to support decision-making. She also noted that legal mandates don’t shift as fast as policy, and that for example, species at risk and migratory birds, will remain a federal priority.

To wrap up, Amie shared advice for students interested in government careers. This includes using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method in applications and interviews, gaining skills like leadership, project management, and problem-solving, and connecting with people already working in government for guidance. A quick conversation can go a long way in helping you understand and navigate the hiring process and learning about a day in the life of a public servant in conservation research.