Recruiting the 2026 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 2026 Fellows will contribute to important research efforts across the department in three specific focuses.

NWF EcoLeader Community Research

The EcoLeaders Community has recently completed a series of site enhancements designed to improve user experience and platform functionality, informed by feedback from community members and former research fellows. Building on this foundation, the fellowship will focus on the critical examination, refinement, and expansion of the community’s resource content to ensure it reflects current research, emerging trends, and evolving member needs.

NWF EcoCareers Green Jobs Research

The EcoLeaders Community has recently completed a series of site enhancements designed to improve user experience and platform functionality, informed by feedback from community members and former research fellows. Building on this foundation, the fellowship will focus on the critical examination, refinement, and expansion of the community’s career exploration and preparation content to ensure it reflects current realities, emerging trends, and evolving member needs.

Wildlife Education Research

The goal of the Wildlife Education Research Fellowship is to support research and content development focused on threatened and endangered species. This work will build upon the existing database created by previous Fellows, analyzing and synthesizing prior and ongoing projects to identify gaps, themes, and opportunities for future content creation. The Fellow will extract actionable ideas and recommendations that can inform educational materials and strengthen the impact of current wildlife education efforts.

Timeline and Requirements

We are accepting applications for our 2026 Graduate Student Market Research Fellowships until April 5, 2026. The approximate start date for fellows will be May 1, 2026.

Fellows will be asked to create a 4-6 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 $4,750 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 three 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.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY! Contact Fellows@nwf.org with any questions