QUENTIN FAIRCHILD, CONSERVATION ASSOCIATE BIOLOGIST - DATABASE BIOLOGIST
Did you know that the museum’s staff plays an active conservation role in Mississippi and the nation? For instance, the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program (MNHP) identifies and maps in a database the localities of Mississippi's rarest plants, animals, exemplary natural communities, and special geological features.
Quentin Fairchild is responsible for updating and maintaining this important database that is used to guide conservation action and facilitate wise management of Mississippi's land and water resources.
Get to know Quentin in the article below.
WHAT’S YOUR WORK DAY LIKE?
My typical work day revolves around the computer and the Natural Heritage Program’s database.
I collect, organize, and integrate species datasets from other biologists, professors, and graduate students into our database. I then use this database to help map and write environmental reviews for construction projects that come in daily. I also extract specific requested datasets from the database for researchers, United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s species status assessments, private landowners, and biologists trying to determine a species known range.
Occasionally, I assist with museum events. I also assist other biologists with field work.
ANY FUNNY WORK STORIES?
You’re trying to get me in trouble aren’t you?
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND & EDUCATION
I was born in Mississippi and grew up in Madison. I guess you can say I had a typical suburban childhood, played video games, spent my weekends at the hunting camp during deer season. I would spend part of my winter break and summer with my aunt and uncle. They had a creek behind their house that ran into the Chickaswhay River and they had some farming / hunting property a few minutes down the road.
After graduating from high school, I went to Hinds Community College for two years on a band scholarship, and then transferred to Mississippi State University as a “Wildlife Pre-Vet” Major. After taking all my pre-vet requisites and a few wildlife classes, I decided I wanted to focus more on wildlife than becoming a veterinarian, so I switched my major to “Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture”.
While still at MSU, I took my first wildlife job as a part-time technician, checking Sherman traps in large native-grass and switchgrass fields. The following summer, I worked for then Ph.D. student Dr. Nicole Hodges (who is now my boss at the museum), collecting vegetation and soil samples and chemically extracting the nutrients from them in a lab.
After graduating with my B.S. in 2014, I got a job with The Nature Conservancy at Camp Shelby as an “Invasive Species Technician”. As the name suggests, my main job was to map and treat for an invasive species of grass called cogangrass in the Camp Shelby training areas in the DeSoto National Forest. I also assisted with prescribed burns, monitored habitat for various projects such as the Camp Shelby burrowing crayfish and dusky gopher frog, and assisted the herpetologist with his snake traps and gopher tortoise surveys.
From there, I started in a temporary position at the museum for a few months in 2017, followed by a few jobs that weren’t related to the field of wildlife or conservation. I’ve been back at the museum since June 2019, reorganizing and entering data into the database, conducting environmental reviews, and responding to data requests.
Quentin’s office where he manages the Natural Heritage Database
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER?
I don’t think there’s a single reason for my choice in wildlife. I’ve always had a love for animals and nature, along with a constant exposure to the outdoors thanks to multiple family members and family friends. I always enjoyed watching how animals interacted with each other and their environment. I found it fascinating how different trees and plants had different uses, for both wildlife and humans.
Then, there’s a philosophical aspect to it.
To paraphrase my college advisor, nature is important because we as humans reflect ourselves upon on it, whether we use nature as a natural resource to build houses or furniture, as a mascot for a sports team, or as a symbol of a nation. I want to make sure that nature is here to stay and for everybody to enjoy.
HOW DOES YOUR JOB CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION?
My main duties help contribute to conservation by informing developers and government agencies of potential conflicts with species of concern and how to complete their work while minimizing impacts. It also allows me to provide additional data for other biologists to help them get a better understanding of a problem or potential research question for any species of interest.
And of course, field work such as assisting with prescribed fires helps with habitat restoration and sampling gives us more data and documentation for analysis.
ANY ADVICE FOR A STUDENT INTERESTED IN A BIOLOGY OR MUSEUM CAREER?
I could write a 5-page essay on this subject.
Wildlife is a field that is highly competitive and with few job opportunities. To keep it short and simple, if you are truly serious and passionate about the field of wildlife - and with a little luck - most things will fall into place, because you will have naturally put your own meaningful effort into it.
That being said, as a general guide to get your foot in the door, you will need to treat your academics like a job and dedicate the hours between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (if not more) to school. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish during downtime between classes.
Just as importantly, you should look for and take any opportunity to work with graduate students, professors, and biologists in their research/work that matches your interest, as actual field experience will be a huge plus on your resume. Those graduate students and professors, who already got their feet in the door, can also help guide you and act as a reference that can vouch for your academic and work ethics.
Not to deter those who are serious about working in this field, but to serve as a warning: I know a lot of people who spent 4-6 years at school, went into considerable debt, got their degree, but never worked a day in this field afterwards. Most of these people weren’t very proactive or insightful, as they didn’t do anything other than go to class and pass their tests. In the end, they didn’t have any work experience or references when it came to applying for jobs in the field of wildlife.
Click here to learn more about the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program Database.
