Early Career Professionals Resources

ESA supports early career professionals (ECPs) as they build their careers in entomology. The first years after earning a final degree can be both exciting and uncertain. This period often includes transitions, temporary positions, and the search for full-time employment. ESA provides the connections, resources, and opportunities to help individuals succeed and thrive in the profession.

ESA Membership

To help graduates establish themselves financially, ESA offers the following discounted membership categories: 

  • Student Transition Member
    Student Members who have recently graduated are eligible for a member discount of 50% for two years. 
  • Early Career Professional Membership
    Individuals who have recently graduated (and were not Student Members in the previous year) are eligible for a member discount of 25% for five years. 

ESA Sections

ESA membership is organized by subject matter-oriented Sections which offer members opportunities to network and interact with others sharing their specific interests. These sections are: 

  • Formal & Informal Teaching (Pilot Section)
  • Plant–Insect Ecosystems
  • Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology
  • Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity
  • Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

ESA Branches

ESA's Branches are designated on the basis of geographical contiguity for the purpose of holding meetings, providing an opportunity for presentation of papers, and stimulating interest in entomology. These branches are:

  • Eastern
  • North Central
  • Pacific
  • Southeastern
  • Southwestern
  • International

ECP Committee

Composed of representative from all geographic Branches and subject matter-oriented Sections, ESA's Committee on Early Career Professionals is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in entomology. You can find the Committee on X, view the full roster (ESA member login required), or send the Committee a message. 

Publication Opportunities

Entomology Today
The news site of the Entomological Society of America, reaching over 11,000 subscribers across the globe. From groundbreaking research to personal perspectives, Entomology Today covers it all. The ECP Committee's “Standout ECPs” series celebrates the achievements, passion, and impact of early career entomologists. 

American Entomologist 
A quarterly magazine published by the Entomological Society of America, featuring a range of peer-reviewed articles accessible to a broad entomology audience. The Subimago column provides a platform for ECPs to share a short writing pieces that tackle issues in entomology from an ECP perspective. Topics may includes science-related, professional development and career, and other topics related to the ECP experience. Learn more and submit today.

Other ESA Publications

Career Development Programs

Professional Advancement Career Training (PACT)
ESA’s Professional Advancement Career Training (PACT) program can help you develop the leadership capacity and “soft skills” sought after in today’s highly collaborative work environments—both within and beyond academia.

Science Policy Fellows Program
The Science Policy Fellows (SPF) program is a two-year active training program to teach entomologists the skills needed to successfully advocate for the discipline. The training focuses on federal policy in Washington, D.C. Each year, a handful of applicants are selected by a competitive application process.

Earn a Certification
Board certification in entomology is a way for professionals to stand out from the crowd, to prove their capabilities to customers and employers, and differentiate themselves from others in the field. ESA offers the following opportunities: 

Mentorship

Connect with a mentor through Entomentos, a FREE flexible and informal mentorship program geared toward supporting entomology students and early career professionals. Through June–November, participants can attend weekly meetings about a broad range of topics like building a CV, financial management, and networking. 

Job Searching

ESA's Career Center
This is an excellent resource for job seekers in the field of entomology. It includes a range of career opportunities from academic positions to industry roles. 

Find your perfect position. Sign up for job alerts that match your qualifications and interest. Submit your resume to the resume database (members only).

Take advantage of discounted career services. Enjoy member pricing on resume writing, coaching, reference checks, and career development resources.

Networking Events

Attending ESA meetings is a great way for ECPs to find job opportunities and connect with mentors or potential employers. Every year, ESA offers a national Annual Meeting in the fall, as well as local Branch Meetings in the spring that offer numerous sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. 

Salary Benchmarking

ESA offers Insect Science Career Data, ESA offers Insect Science Career Data, a salary, compensation, and benefits benchmarking survey tool that will help you see how your position compares to your peers.

Career Development Articles

Consider some of these links below to get you thinking about how you can best position yourself for a long career in entomology.

Career Development Webinars

From interviewing skills to hacking the academic job market, ESA’s exclusive members-only webinars offer a variety of professional development and career-related learning opportunities.

External Resources

The following resources may be of use to ECPs and ESA members of all levels of experience in navigating career planning.  

Please note, links to external resources are provided for convenience, and ESA does not guarantee the content on these sites is accurate or current.   

Career Resources  

Articles and how-to guides 

Sample resumes 

Writing resources  

  • Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)  
  • In-person resources: Your local community center, library, or university’s career services department (i.e., Harvard’s Writing Center) may offer resume workshops or other writing support.  

Diversity and Inclusion Resources 

Job Boards  

Science-focused job boards 

General job boards with entomology positions 

Fellowship and internship programs  

Labor and Insurance Resources  

The following resources may be of use to ECPs navigating questions about insurance, legal support, and other administrative issues.  

Health, Life, and Other Insurance 

For information on health insurance plans available under the Affordable Care Act, visit Healthcare.gov or check your state’s specific health insurance marketplace.  

Find more resources about health, life, and other insurance at the Insurance Information Institute and Policygenius.  

Legal Support 

Visit the Legal Services Corporation’s directory to find more information about accessing Legal Aid. 

Unemployment  

If you have recently lost your job, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website to find unemployment benefits specific to your state. If you are unable to work due to a disability, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance. 

Unions and Labor Rights 

Resources include the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Labor Notes, and the National Labor Relations Board.  

Want to learn more? See other content tagged with
early career professional
early career resources

©️ Entomological Society of America