Recruiting the 2025 Class of Graduate Student Research Fellows

National Wildlife Federation’s Education and Engagement Department regularly supports a cohort of Graduate Student Research Fellows who contribute to the advancement of programs across the department through dedicated research projects. Past fellows have completed research projects on a variety of topics including community partnerships, NWF’s EcoLeaders Community, environmental justice, Tribal Colleges and Universities to name a few.

The new cohort will join a national network of alumni, many of whom have gone on to lead new businesses, agencies, and programs for sustainability all across the U.S. 

Read their stories and connect with them directly in the NWF EcoLeaders Community

This Year’s Fellowship Research Focuses

The 2025 Fellows will contribute to important research efforts across the department in four specific focuses.

• NWF EcoLeader Community: To strengthen our ability to serve constituents and foster deeper community engagement, the EcoLeader Research Fellow will support the development of innovative engagement strategies and user experience enhancements for the NWF EcoLeaders Online Community. The specific goals and outcomes of the Fellowship will be tailored to the interests and strengths of the Fellow, as outlined in their application.

• Native Plant Habitat Education: To enhance the impact of NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® program, the Native Plant Education Fellow will conduct a comprehensive literature review on the effects of wildlife gardening and Certified Wildlife Habitat landscapes on wildlife, biodiversity, communities, and climate. In addition, the Fellow will play a key role in designing and distributing a survey to affiliate partners, community members, and municipal leaders to uncover opportunities for local policy changes, ordinances, or incentives that promote native plant habitats and sustainable practices in communities.

• Project Management Office Development: The Project Management Research Fellow will play a crucial role in supporting the growth of the newly established Education and Engagement Department’s Project Management Office (PMO) by conducting in-depth research and analyzing valuable data. This position offers an exciting opportunity for students with project management experience to enhance their skills while contributing to impactful work within an environmental non-profit organization.

• Wildlife Education: To strengthen the Wildlife Education program at the National Wildlife Federation, the Wildlife Education Fellow will support an initiative to assess the programs and resources of NWF’s state and territory affiliate partners, with a special focus on threatened and endangered species. This research will involve a combination of online investigation and virtual interviews with affiliate partner organizations, providing a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful conservation efforts while gaining valuable insights into wildlife education.

Timeline and Requirements

We are accepting applications for our 2025 Graduate Student Research Fellowships until April 20, 2025. The approximate start date for fellows will be May 15, 2025.

Fellows will be asked to create a four- to six-month work plan to complete their research goal. During the Fellowship term, Fellows will check in regularly with NWF staff, submitting regular updates on their research. At the end of their term, Fellows will develop and submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the NWF team.

Benefits and Compensation

NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend for their work. Throughout the course of their term they will be provided with professional development resources, assistance, and networking. Fellows will also have the option to earn academic credit for successful completion of their project, as an independent study or integration of fellowship project into course curricula, dependent upon university requirements.

To Learn More

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review further information on all four of the Fellowship offerings in the NWF EcoLeader Community.

To Apply

Graduate students from any college or university within the U.S. are eligible to apply and if awarded the Fellowship must submit a W-9 and provide proof of valid work authorization to receive stipend payment.

Applicants should carefully review the full Request for Applications document prior to completing the application. All applicants must identify and work with an Advisor for the duration of the grant period and procure a letter of recommendation from their identified advisor. Applications are invited from students in all disciplines.

Contact Fellows@nwf.org with any questions.