UF Online M.S. in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation Alum Finds Dream Career with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Rikki McDaniel
Rikki McDaniel

After working as a crime scene investigator and high school teacher, Rikki McDaniel finally landed her dream job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, thanks in part to a prestigious fellowship she received while enrolled at the Maples Center for Forensic Medicine.

Working part-time from home at the start of the pandemic, McDaniel needed an online degree program that could fit with her schedule. In July 2020, she enrolled in the University of Florida’s online M.S. program in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation program offered by the UF Maples Center, a perfect match for her goals. “The online Wildlife Forensics program was the only reason I was able to get a master’s degree,” she said. “With a passion and background in both wildlife and forensics, there aren’t many choices combining the two, and the odds of finding one decline significantly when you are looking for online programs.”

Rikki McDaniel is a wildlife intelligence analyst for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rikki McDaniel is a wildlife intelligence analyst for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

During her final summer of coursework, McDaniel earned a prestigious Directorate Fellowship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which offers lifelong connections and life-changing opportunities in the field of conservation. Following her graduation from the master’s program in December 2022, she transitioned seamlessly into a full-time role as a wildlife intelligence analyst within the Office of Law Enforcement, focusing on law enforcement efforts to combat wildlife crimes.

Originally from the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, McDaniel first moved to Florida to attend the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where she earned a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Forensic Science and Chemistry. She began her career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Marine Research Institute, gathering catch and effort data from local commercial fishing vessels. As a military spouse and mother of two, McDaniel and her family moved frequently, leading her to pursue diverse roles across the country. Her career journey has included jobs as a crime scene investigator with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a biology and chemistry high school teacher, and a criminalist specializing in DNA and serology for the San Diego Police Department before her current position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

McDaniel’s current role in the Wildlife Intelligence Unit within the Office of Law Enforcement is integral to supporting special agents and wildlife inspectors in both domestic and international investigations.  Her extensive responsibilities include intelligence gathering, mapping, monitoring social media, analyzing global trends, tracking shipping information, and conducting criminal history checks. Her work helps uncover connections across cases and strengthens enforcement efforts against wildlife crimes. “The job is awesome, but my team and the leadership are my favorite part,” she said.

Before transitioning into her position, McDaniel completed a distinguished fellowship with U.S. Fish & Wildlife during her final semester in UF’s online wildlife forensics program. The Directorate Fellowship she pursued, titled Modeling Trends in Wildlife Investigations: Zoonotic Disease, aligned closely with her classes. Her fellowship goal was to analyze historical intelligence data collected by special agents and wildlife inspectors, assessing how it could inform operational planning related to wildlife trafficking and zoonotic diseases. She examined 10 years of data, performing trend and cross-analysis with known zoonotic disease data from the CDC and USDA, aiming to guide future investigations. She also identified data gaps and explored ways to make the existing information more effective in supporting wildlife law enforcement efforts.

The UF Wildlife Forensics and Conservation program broadened McDaniel’s expertise in key areas she was eager to develop. “With a background in human forensics, I had a pretty good understanding of the forensic part of the program, so I focused my efforts on the law and mapping classes as well as wildlife genetics,” she said. Analyzing DNA for a single species like humans is already complex, but wildlife genetics, especially DNA identification, demands a broader scope of species. Building comprehensive nonhuman DNA databases for comparative purposes is a massive task, often constrained by regional specializations across the U.S. Although foundational testing methods, principles, and protocols from human genetics are applied, analyzing and identifying nonhuman DNA presents unique complexities that require specialized approaches and a high level of precision.

The legal courses in the Wildlife Forensics program offered McDaniel invaluable insights into wildlife laws directly relevant to her work. Federal laws for managing wildlife and habitats within the United States and internationally were entirely new to her when she joined the program. Wildlife laws covering the movement of wildlife and their parts, as well as consumer products derived from wildlife, are uniquely complex. Gaining this understanding was crucial for McDaniel’s role supporting special agents and wildlife inspectors on both domestic and international cases.

McDaniel offers advice to current and prospective students who are also interested in pursuing an online degree in Wildlife Forensics and Conservation at UF. “Go into the program with an open mind and don’t decide too early what direction you’d like to take,” she said. For example, she loves genetics and wanted to focus her studies on the topic. However, the program’s required core coursework helped her explore other subjects. Her favorite courses were U.S. Wildlife Law, Policy & Ethics, and GIS Fundamentals, both highly applicable to her current job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rikki McDaniel is a military spouse and mother of two daughters, with one daughter currently attending UF as well.
Rikki McDaniel is a military spouse and mother of two daughters, with one daughter currently attending UF as well.

The M.S. in Wildlife Forensics and Conservation online program offered by UF’s Maples Center for Forensic Medicine was instrumental in preparing McDaniel for her essential role with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With its interdisciplinary blend of forensics, conservation, medicine, and law, the program provided a solid, well-rounded foundation that aligns closely with her current responsibilities. The program’s emphasis on real-world application empowered her to directly apply what she learned to practical scenarios, further equipping her for success in wildlife forensics and conservation.

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The UF Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation online program offers a Master of Science in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation, a Graduate Certificate in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation, and online continuing education courses. The program allows students to interact with the content in an asynchronous, online-delivery format on their schedules while taking coursework covering contemporary issues in domestic and international wildlife protection and conservation, current laws and regulations, and the handling and interpretation of evidence found in wildlife crime activities. The program is designed for students and working professionals in wildlife conservation, ecology, and animal protection. Explore programs and apply online.