Steph Walden
USA
Career Wildlife Field Technician / Baker
Steph Walden grew up in the suburbs of Detroit but didn't stick around areas of high human population for long. She headed to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology. About a year into her studies, she began putting the pieces together that such a degree would probably lead to a job spent sitting at a desk while analyzing data, writing reports, and sending other lucky souls into the field. Preferring to spend as much time outside as possible and live in the middle of nowhere while studying wildlife, Steph created an interdisciplinary degree called Nature Photojournalism, which is a combination of Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources Management, and Photojournalism courses.
Armed with an adequate selection of science courses and a DSLR camera, Steph started the life of a career seasonal wildlife field technician. Research positions carried her from the top of Alaska to an island in Antarctica, from a private island in New Zealand to an oil camp in Alberta, and to places in-between. Most research has been on various bird species, but she's also had the chance to work with fur seals, leopard seals, and wildlife scat detection dogs. Two months of volunteering in the Bolivian jungle gave her experience caring for rescued wildlife.
When Steph is not collecting quality data and baking in field camp, she enjoys world travel (surprise!), backpacking/hiking, running, reading, cooking, baking, cycling, petting puppies, and stressing over Michigan State football and basketball. “Home” has consisted of a storage unit, bike, and a friend's couch for 9 years.