Recent grad Ethan Rosenfeld tracks wildlife for Pacific Northwest preservation project

Brandeis Stories

Recent grad Ethan Rosenfeld tracks wildlife for Pacific Northwest preservation project

By Michelle Gaseau
Photography by Lea Nash
July 27, 2026

The job title - Carnivore Research Intern - was fire, and Ethan Rosenfeld knew it.

Rosenfeld, who graduated this past May with a bachelor's degree in environmental science (summa cum laude, thank you very much), had coveted this internship opportunity with Cascadia Wild's Wolverine Tracking Project in Oregon for some time now. He tried no less than three times to get it, and persistence paid off this summer.

With an abiding interest in wildlife conservation, this internship opportunity in the Pacific Northwest hits right in a sweet spot: allowing Rosenfeld ample access to wildlife and the ability to use his analytics skills to help the project monitor Oregon's rare carnivores - wolves, Sierra Nevada red foxes, pacific martens, and wolverines, as well as black bears, cougars, and coyotes.

Brandeis caught up with Rosenfeld from his internship office in Oregon to learn more about the opportunity and how Brandeis helped him determine his future track.

How did Brandeis prepare you to succeed in this internship?

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Brandeis gave me exposure to a lot of great research opportunities, from conducting population biology fieldwork while studying abroad in Panama to engaging in ecology research alongside my professors last summer in the Arnold Arboretum, which I ultimately turned into an honors thesis. Most directly transferable, I worked with Professor Colleen Hitchcock to manage a network of camera traps in Sachar woods, recording observations of coyotes, deer, and other wildlife, which gave me directly applicable skills for this internship. These experiences helped confirm my love of science and the outdoors, and along with the excellent mentorship from my professors and advisors, I felt very ready for my next steps.

How do you see this internship paving the way for a career after Brandeis?

I'm very interested in large carnivore ecology and wildlife conservation, and this internship is a great exposure to the field and has allowed me to expand my professional network in the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention, this position has given me experience with wildlife identification, data management, science communication, and fieldwork, all crucial skills for graduate school and a future career.

Was there a class, professor, or project that helped spark your interest in this field?

I have always been interested in wildlife and the natural world, but that passion was elevated after taking both Ecology and Conservation Biology with Professor Colleen Hitchcock early in my Brandeis career. I had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for Professor Hitchcock shortly after, where helping other students learn and get excited by the material only fueled my own interest in getting more involved with the fields of wildlife ecology and community science.

What are you most excited to learn or experience in this role?

Since we work with a network of volunteers, being able to connect with people from all across the Pacific Northwest, all of whom are passionate about conserving our rare wildlife, is a big highlight for me. It's especially rewarding when I get to share the images that our community has helped to collect. Plus, getting to see large carnivores in the wild is really neat!

Why is this internship important to you?

This is my first role out of college, and being able to get my feet wet in the field that I want to pursue a graduate degree in makes me much more confident in my ability to succeed in the future.

What is one thing (even if small!) you have already learned?

Bears are really aware of their surroundings! They consistently notice our cameras and often put their face right next to it to investigate, which usually provides a pretty fun image.